The Rev. Dr. Smith affirms that he converted Lincoln to a belief in "_the divine authority and inspiration of the Scriptures._" It was imperative that he should, for, said he, "It was my honor to place before Mr. Lincoln arguments designed to prove _the divine authority and inspiration of the Scriptures._" As a matter of course, "the result was the announcement by himself that the arguments in favor of _the divine authority and inspiration of the Scriptures_ were unanswerable." Consequently, "Mr. Lincoln did avow his belief in the _divine authority and inspiration of the Scriptures_." Impressed with a deep sense of the gravity and importance of his work, he declares that "It is a matter of the last importance not only to the present but to all future generations of the great Republic, and to all advocates of civil and religious liberty throughout the world that this avowal on his part,... should be made known to the public," coupled with the more important fact, of course, that it was Dr. Smith who did it. It is to be regretted that his waiting until after Lincoln's death to announce it, prevented the convert's Christian friends from tendering their congratulations and extending the hand of fellowship. It is possible that he counseled Dr. Smith not to divulge the secret for fear it might injure his political prospects. Certain it is, his neighbors were ignorant of this remarkable change. When Holland canvassed Springfield, in 1865, eager to obtain a morsel of evidence upon which to base his claim that Lincoln was a Christian, he failed to catch even the faintest whisper regarding this alleged conversion. When Dr. Smith's letter was made public, the Christians of Springfield generally smiled, but said nothing, while unbelievers laughed outright and pronounced it the acme of absurdity. Dr. Reed read it to his audience and tried to look serious. Concerning this claim, Lincoln's biographer, Colonel Lamon, says: