Emphasis Preaching Journal
On February 20, 1862, 11...
Illustration
On February 20, 1862, 11-year-old Willie Lincoln died. President Lincoln was devastated by his son's death. The first Thursday after Willie died, the President shut himself in his room. The next Thursday he did the same thing. Then Lincoln received a visit from Dr. Francis Vinton, the pastor of Trinity Episcopal Church in New York City. Dr. Vinton told Lincoln that he was behaving like a heathen. He did not have to be so grief-stricken. "Your son is alive in paradise," said Dr. Vinton. At first Lincoln seemed deaf to these words, then they struck him. Lincoln said, "Alive?
