The Greeneville Sun - News Story

Presentation Is First

Local Observance Of

Lincoln Bicentennial

By JIM FELTMAN
Staff Writer/Photographer

Abraham Lincoln, represented by a reenactor, was the featured speaker on Saturday at a "Freedom of Religion Day" event at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Greeneville.

President Lincoln was portrayed by Chris Small, of Greeneville, whose physical appearance, 19th century garb including top-hat, and studied speaking style create a convincing combination that seemed to bring the nation's 16th president back to life.

The presentation was the first local event related to the nationwide commemoration of the bicentennial of the birth year of President Lincoln in 1809. A variety of other local activities and events are planned for the rest of 2009, according to Small.

Small's presentation drew both laughter and shouts of "Amen" as he told stories about President Lincoln's life and his faith journey.

"My mother introduced me to the Bible, and although we had only a few other books, it was the one my mother insisted that I read," said the Lincoln reenactor.

"I've since read a great number of other books, but none compared. All thing necessary for man's welfare can be found in the Bible."

He said that as he grew older, he became a skeptic. "I began to think that simple, common reason would answer everything," he said.

However, the Lincoln reenactor said, through study over the years he (Lincoln) became more and more convinced of God's existence and unable to understand a skeptic friend's opinions.

"I cannot conceive how they can look up into the starry heavens and believe that there is no God." Lincoln said.

Religious Freedom

He also elaborated on his view of the concept of freedom of religion.

"Religious liberty is central to our way of life," he said. "The first amendment to the Bill of Rights established a wall of eternal separation between church and state. Is this not religious liberty?"

The reenactor presented several examples of Lincoln's devotion to religious freedom.

In exasperation with some merchants, who happened to be Jewish, who were charging the Union inflated prices for goods, Ulysses S. Grant ordered all Jews in Tennessee and several other places, to leave the state.

"Once I became aware of Grant's action, I immediately canceled it," said the Lincoln reenactor.

Another of the 16th president's actions regarding religious freedom involved concienceous objectors.

"I became aware that some of our Union citizens were being persecuted, and even facing firing squads, for their unwillingness to take up arms.

Among these were the Quakers, Shakers, Mennonites, and members of the recently-formed Seventh-Day Adventists," the reenactor quoted Lincoln.

"I instructed our military commanders to find non-combat roles for people who had religious beliefs that prohibited them from taking part in battle," he added.

The reenactor repeatedly referred to the Bible and his mother's influence on his life and decisions. "I always remembered by mother's last words, "Keep the commandments," he said.

"Without the assistance of the Divine," he said, "we cannot win. With it, we cannot fail.
"I could not do my job without faith accountable to God."

The Lincoln reenator then recited part of his Gettysburg Address, thanked the congregation, said farewell and, donning his famous stovepipe hat, walked down the aisle and left the sanctuary.

The Lincoln Project

Small, who first portrayed Lincoln in 1997, founded what is known as The Lincoln Project in Livonia, Mich., in 2003, when he was a resident there. He and his wife moved to Greeneville in 2006.

He himself has a graduate degree in Communication, with a specialty in Interpretation & Performance Studies, and has directed Playback Theatre, Bibliodrama, and Sociodrama.

He has formerly served as a university lecturer and a Christian minister.

The Lincoln Project (which he emphasizes is not to be confused with The Papers of Abraham Lincoln) is the primary sponsor and promoter of Lincoln Bicentennial celebrations in Greeneville.

In explanatory material, he notes that Greeneville is the hometown of Lincoln's successor, President Andrew Johnson, whose bicentennial year was celebration here in 2008.

Small states in a Lincoln Project news release that hundreds of Abraham Lincoln-related events are taking place around the United Sates during the Bicentennial of his birth.

According to lincolnbicentennial.gov, the release says, "the official [Lincoln] public Bicentennial Commemoration launched February 2008 and closes February 2010, with the climax of the Commemoration taking place on Feb. 12, 2009, the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth."

Small pointed out that Lincoln connections to Greeneville include the fact that Johnson's marriage to Eliza McCardle was performed in the late 1820s by a relative of the 16th president, Mordecai Lincoln, a resident and public official of Greeneville.

The news release explains that "The Lincoln Bicentennial events in Greeneville are meant to complement the Johnson Bicentennial.

"The Johnson Bicentennial Steering Committee and supporters did an outstanding job. I doubt the local Lincoln events will have the same scale as those for our own 'favorite son.'

"However, they will give Greeneville the chance to honor Johnson's presidential predecessor and the amazing Lincoln legacy."

For continuing information on the Lincoln Bicentennial events in Greeneville, the public is invited to visit www.thelincolnproject.com and look under the tab "Bicentennials" for the most up-to-date news.

Small can be reached at (423)620-3604 or (423) 638-7808, or by sending an e-mail to thelincolnproject@yahoo.com

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