Lincoln and God

What actually happened?: As a result of his religious experience following Willie's death, President Lincoln not only approved the new motto, In God We Trust, but he also emancipated southern slaves, proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving, and extemporaneously included the words "Under God" into his Gettysburg Address (which would later be added to the pledge of allegiance). His Second Inaugural address was called a sermon by Ronald White, as it highlighted God's reason for bringing about the Civil War.

Lincoln's Pastor at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington was Rev. Phineas Gurley, with whom Lincoln spoke often regarding Wille's death and God's will. Rev. Gurley explained Lincoln's transformation:

“After the death of his son Willie, and his visit to the battle-field of Gettysburg, he said, with tears in his eyes, that he had lost confidence in everything but God, and that he now believed his heart was changed, and that he loved the Saviour.”

Gurley presided over both Willie and Abraham's funerals.

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