To George Whipple
12 September 1850
[MS in American Missionary Association Archives #F1-12377, Amistad Research Center, Tulane University]
London 12th Sept 1850.
Dear Br. Whipple.
I am so weary that I
am about to go over to the
continent for a little rest.
The work has been great &
precious. I send brother Beecher
the Banner of this week which
contains Dr. C's valedictory.
I write this note to introduce
the bearer, George Morris. a
poor young man who, like
thousands here, is out of business.
I have interested myself to get
his expenses paid to America.
He may need a friend to advise
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him when he arrives as he
will be nearly out of money.
He will tell you his story
& I think he will tell you
the truth. He may or may
not need your advice
in regard to getting some
employment until he can
help himself. Wife goes with
me to the continent & joins
in much love to yourself
& Mrs W. In great haste
I am your Brother.
C. G. Finney.
P.S. Br. Weed is at chester
very low.
Footnotes:
That is, Henry Ward Beecher, who was in New York and on the editorial staff of the Independent.
John Campbell's report "Rev. C. G. Finney" was published in The British Banner (London) (11 September 1850), pages 617-618.
Edward Weed.
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Charles Finney (1792 - 1875)
Known as one of the leaders in the Second Great Awakening revival in America. He was a revivalist who called for deep introspection of sin and preaching of the law to bring about sin. He was known to preach 30+ nights on sin and than the last night on Christ to have people flee to Him for mercy. Used greatly in the book: "Revivals of Religion" which is a classic on the subject of revival.He preached on the true Baptism of the Holy Spirit and its necessity. In his revivalistic campaigns he was used of the Lord to bring some estimate over 50,000 souls to the Lord which many were sound converts. There has been questions raised surrounding his theology in the later years of his ministry but this does not discredit that God used him powerfully in revival and for God's kingdom.
Charles Finney was born in Connecticut to an ordinary family and life that gave little hint of the great things God had in store for him. He was a schoolteacher and then a lawyer before his conversion at age 29. Finney was filled with the Holy Spirit on the same day he was saved and immediately began witnessing to friends and family members. More than twenty people were saved in the 24 hours following Finney's conversion. Finney's personal evangelism soon became public evangelism as he began to travel and preach in extended revival meetings. He considered revival to be a natural result of following the instructions God had laid out in His Word.
During Finney's fifty years of preaching, more than 500,000 were saved. He wrote many books, the most enduring of which are The Autobiography of Charles Finney and Lectures on Revival of Religion. After ill health forced him to stop traveling in meetings, he accepted the pastorate of a church in New York City. From 1852 until 1866 he served as president of Oberlin College in Ohio. Although some of his theology was lacking, he was a powerful, Spirit-filled soul winner who brought revival to cities and towns across the eastern United States.