Lincoln Days

Much excitement in Springfield this weekend, as citizens gather to mark the 198th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. A reception for distinguished guests will be held at the Iles House at 6 pm on Sunday, February 11.

On Monday, February 12, the Abraham Lincoln Association will hold its annual dinner at the Lincoln Hotel and Conference Center. The Association president this year is Richard E. Hart, a Springfield attorney and founding member of the Iles House board.

The banquet speaker is Jon Meacham, editor of Newsweek and author of distinguished books on civil rights, the Roosevelt-Churchill friendship, and religion in American political life. His address title is "The Will of God Prevails: Abraham Lincoln and American Religion."

Also of historic note: on Saturday, February 10, the junior U. S. Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama, declared his candidacy for President in the 2008 election. His setting was the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln made his famous "House Divided" speech against slavery.