Abraham Lincoln and the Lutheran Church

"The Lutheran General Synod, that met in Philadelphia passed a resolution telling Lincoln that the Lutheran Church of the United States was praying for him and for the saving of the Union. My father, the Rev. Levi Sternberg, D.D., was appointed chairman of the committee to deliver in person the resolution. With him was my uncle, Alfred Hiller, and the Rev. Dr. Pohlman. After the resolution was accepted, my father introduced Dr. Pohlman who told Lincoln the following story that occurred on the floor of the synod. A German minister from Nashville, Tennessee told of praying for Lincoln. Some one asked him if he was not afraid to do so. "Oh! no," he said, "I prayed in German and the rebels don't understand German, but the Lord does." Mr. Lincoln laughed heartily. During his speech at Gettysburg he saw and recognized Dr. Pohlman and said "So the rebels don't understand German".

Typed manuscript from the Lincoln Financial Foundation's Abraham Lincoln Collection - "Abraham Lincoln and Religion: Lutheran"