LETTER OF
The GOSPEL TRUTH CHARLES G. FINNEY
1854
To George Whipple
Secretary of the American Missionary Association
3 November 1854
[MS in American Missionary Association Archives #100556, Amistad Research Center, Tulane University]
Oberlin 4 Nov, 54
Rev. Geo Whipple
Enclosed is a line
from our beloved Professor of Theology
which will nearly explain the
amount of what we wish to com
municate.
Our attention has been drawn
to Northern Iowa where 300
families have gone in per week
(as the public journals report)
for the past season.
One of us having been urged to
look to this field as his future
place of settlement, we thought to
go out & labour for the coming
say 5 or 6 or perhaps 7 months
among that people or elsewhere
as the Spirit may direct, possibly
nearer the centre of Iowa.
[page 2]
We have both laboured in
revivals & have been very greatly
blessed.
We are about 28 years of age
robust & ready to enter on the
work wherever God in his Providence
may lead. All we ask is to be
sustained. One of us will probably
be licensed before starting. at
present neither of us are
We design remaining only till
Pres Finney recommences his
instructions in Theoly. Possibly
we may go previous to hearing
from you, & risk any encourage
ment from you, as our studies will
be intermitted until Spring
very shortly. (We have taken the
liberty to copy Bro Finneys letter
as there is a blot on it ie. the original)
[page 3]
Oberlin 3rd Nov. 1854
Dear Bro. Whipple
Brs McLain & Stuart
propose to go West under your
patronage. I believe them both to
be excellent Brethren & just such
young men as will do good. Bro.
Stuart has not been here long
he brought the highest recommenda-
-tions from his Pastor in Canada West.
He sustains well the character given him
Br. McLain is now full of the Spirit of
revival & I trust will remain so. They are
both doing much good here & will I trust
wherever they go. We have a good work
of grace in progress here. With high
regards for your dear wife & yourself
I am as always your Br.
(signed) C. G. Finney.
[page 4]
What we propose to do is
to go into a place or places
where there is no preaching
at all or nearly none. gather
the flock & feed them for the winter
& we believe God will be pleased
to revive his work graciously.
We prefer to do this to labour-
ing here where we may during
the winter gather a half dozen or
more souls, for we thus get among
the totally destitute & hope to
to make a more direct breach on
Satans kingdom.
Hoping this is all the requisite
information we remain yours for the
cause of the Redeemer
J.M. McLain &
D.M.V. Stuart
Please write us immediately for we
wish to start soon if we go this winter
Yours J. M. McLain
[endorsed]: Passd Nov 29/54
Footnotes:
J. Milton McLain.
Duncan M. V. Stuart, from Bowmanville, Canada.
The word "to" is repeated.