The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-01
FINNEY OF OBERLIN.
His Earnestness in Doing and Saying What
He Thought
Cleveland Special.


He Thought.
Cleveland Special.
Charles G. Finney, the famous President of
Oberlin College, must have been a cheerful and
pleasant gentleman to know if one-half the sto-
res told or him by those who lived near him are
true He has left an autobiography in which, it
is unnecessary to state, the best of these anec-
dotes do not appear.
If ever there was man who was terribly in
earnest, and who believed that he had mission
to save souls, President Finney was the man. He
did not preach for money, nor fame but because
his conscience would not let him dc auy thing
else. When he went out after souls he chose the
weapon OF attack nearest at hand, and gained
some remarkable victories He did not Otter
pare his words down to make them round and
smooth. He blurted forth any truth that might
come foremost into his mind On one occasion
Theodore Tilton, who was in the West, called at
Oberlin and spent the day with him. In the
course of their conversation Tilton said Mr.
Finney, l have always thought you were good
man, but don't agree with you in all your re-
ligious views"
why, what viewsf" asked the President
swell. for instance, the doctrine of the ex
istence OF a personal devil"
Mr.. Finney looked at him q moment, and then
pointedly said: WELL If you only will resist
him. you'll find out that there is one"
The students had to stand some sharp shot at
times. 1t was MIR. Finney's custom to offer
short prayer after each recitation. Ore day,
when the class in theology had been airing some
weighty views of their own and showing off"
so to speak, he arose. and closing his eyes, said
''Oh Lord, don't let these young men think be-
cause they have let down little line in the inf
mite Of Thy greatness that they have sounded
all its depths. Save them from conceit, Oh
Lord" On another occasion, when his class had
been careless and inattentive, he prayed with
deep fervor: ooh Lord, go with these wretcked
boys and help them fish up their lost souls"
One day, as he was out walking, he met
tailor named Cody. and. as was his custom on
seeing a stranger in Oberlin, stopped him and
said 'I don't think I have met you before
What is your nameP
'Godly,o was the reply.
swell, are you Christian, Mr. GodlyP
81 am not"
Then" said Mr. Finney, sorrowfully, "your
name might as well be Un-godly."
One night grist-mill was burned down. The
President was present, and, on his return home,
he met young man, to whom he said: Good
evening. We've had quite fire. Are you a
Christian" Then he passed on without waiting
for reply.
that sounded artificial and worldly to his old-fash-
Toned hearing, he prayed: "Oh, Lord, we trust
that Thou hast understood the song they have
tried to sing Thou knowest that we could not
understand word of it."
One night, at the regular prayer meeting one
of those sd and sorrowful women who think the
world alf destruction and birthstone IL heaven
does not Come with rosemary and lavender scents
each morning into their windows arose, and in
whining tone began to air her wrongs. She said
she had moved to Oberlin because she thought
it was godly place, and that she would be
among sanctihed people. She had sadly found
her mistake, discovered that they were much
like the people of the world, and much more
stuff of the same sort Right in the midst OF
her wall. Mr., Finney abruptly asked: ''Sister,
how much have you done to make Oberlin
better since you arrived among usp She thought
a moment in confused silence. and then sat
down. She aired her melancholy views in public
no more.
letters to President Lincoln on the slavery cues
ton. In speaking of them he afterward said:
"On Bonded knees wrote one, and then prayed
God so earnestly all the while that might move
him. But no answer came; could not be at
peace. wrote again and waited. This time
there came little note. giving no thanks nor
promises, only asking a question I answered
it, and knew that God had prevailed" This was
only short time before the Emancipation Pro-
clamation was issued.
AS revivalist he had natural power that
made Itself felt in many ways. He seemed to
absolutely sway the souls of those about him.
After one of his sermons he approached young
man and asked him about his SOUL The accosted
man grew very angry. and at last spat in Mr.
Finneys face and then rushed away Later at
night the venerable President heard ring at the
door bell, and on answering it saw his assailant,
who said: Mr.. Finney l am no less skeptic
than was before, but | want to apologize for
my conduct towards you tonight" The Presi-
dent gave him solemn, serious look, and with
out word shut the door. The young man
walked away. The look haunted him. He
wandered about, and long after midnight again
went to Mr. Finney's door and begged for coun-
sci and help He was taken in and earnestly
prayed with, and soon after joined the church.
An infidel once accosted MIR. Finney, prepared
to show his wisdom in a discussion Of the truths
Of the Christian religion. The other gave him
but one look, which read him through and
through, and without a word passed on. He
was soon after converted, and said he had never
known himself until he was revealed in the
light of that one look. One student who was
listening to powerful sermon on a Sunday
morning could stand it no longer but cried out
that he was sinner and must be saved. Mr..
Flnney stopped in the midst of his sermon,
called the young man 20 the altar and prayed
for him. A young lady, who often initiated Mr..
Finney's voice and gestures for the amusement
OF her friends, was at a service one night when
the gallery partly gave way, and a panic was
threatened. In her fright the girl rushed to the
pulpit and threw her arms around the minister,
and Cried Save mel Save me-" One student,
who protested to be an infidel, in order to pro-
yoke an argument. one day said: Mr.. Finney,
I am afraid that have committed the unpardon-
able sim" II guess you have was the only re-
Spouse vouchsafed him.
He was preaching one day on "Pride," and in
the course OF his sermon said "Why, shouldn't
wonuer II even our good protner Pease Is guilty
of taking pride at times in the reflection that he
has 30 little pride" He was in the habit of thus
illustrating his discourse by reference to mem
bers of his audience turning toward one and
saying: us brother This fully alive to the work."
or How goes it now with the soul of brother
THAR When he was bidding Theodore Tilton
farewell on the occasion above referred to- he
said: Theodore why do you print those loose
articles on divorced Theodore, you'll go to hell
as surely as you live!' Once he was praying for
Andrew Johnson and said: "And now, o Lord,
we pray Thee for Andrew johnson. Wilt Thou
show him that he is only man. and. after all,
poor specimen of a man. But if he persists in
misapprehending himself, then wilt Thou put
him to bed Put hook in his rose and keep
him from doing this mischief"
He had the greatest confidence and the most
sincere respect of the people of Oberlin, many of
whom believed that he could do anything. 1t is
recorded that the following conversation occurred
between two of them one morning on their way