During most of Lincoln's presidency the rector at St. John's was Dr. Smith Pyne, who assumed the position in 1845. Although this Oxford-educated minister grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, he proved staunchly loyal to the Union cause. His son Charles joined the Union Army in 1861 and was wounded at the Second Battle of Bull Run. The Lincoln administration called on Dr. Pyne to conduct the White House funeral of Colonel Elmer Ellsworth on May 25, 1861. He also offered the prayer at a flag-raising ceremony on the White House south lawn on June 29, 1861. In 1864 Dr. Pyne petitioned Lincoln on behalf of Admiral Wilkes, who had been court-martialed and suspended from the Navy, writing, "I have long felt myself bound to you both in your official and personal character." Whether in response to this plea or from his friend Orville Browning, who represented Wilkes, Lincoln reduced the suspension several months later.
During most of Lincoln's presidency the rector at St. John's was Dr. Smith Pyne, who assumed the position in 1845. Although this Oxford-educated minister grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, he proved staunchly loyal to the Union cause. His son Charles joined the Union Army in 1861 and was wounded at the Second Battle of Bull Run. The Lincoln administration called on Dr. Pyne to conduct the White House funeral of Colonel Elmer Ellsworth on May 25, 1861. He also offered the prayer at a flag-raising ceremony on the White House south lawn on June 29, 1861. In 1864 Dr. Pyne petitioned Lincoln on behalf of Admiral Wilkes, who had been court-martialed and suspended from the Navy, writing, "I have long felt myself bound to you both in your official and personal character." Whether in response to this plea or from his friend Orville Browning, who represented Wilkes, Lincoln reduced the suspension several months later.
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