Wilson, Douglas L., ed.; Davis, Rodney O., ed.; Ray, Charles H. 'Charles H. Ray to William H. Herndon' in 'Herndon's Informants: Letters, Interviews, and Statements About Abraham Lincoln' . Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1998. [format: book], [genre: letter]. Permission: University of Illinois Press
Persistent link to this document: http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/file.php?file=herndon208.html

146. Charles H. Ray to William H. Herndon.

Chicago, Feby 11th 1866

My Dear Foolish old Fellow,

— Foolish because you suppose that I have any cause to "cut" you — most foolish in the assigning of a reason for that cutting which never happened. Your letter came to me in Canada when I was digging oil. I had, before its receipt, read your admirable lecture on Lincoln; ^[1] and if I did not immediately answer, it was because I had nothing to add to your able and comprehensive estimate of that great man's character.

There, now are you satisfied that all your old friends have not deserted you?

I do not see how I can aid you. You knew Mr. L. far better than I did though I knew him well; and you have summed up his leading characteristics in a way that I should despair of doing if I should try. I have only one thing to ask — that you do not give Calvinistic theology a chance to claim him as one of its saints and

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