LETTER OF
The GOSPEL TRUTH CHARLES G. FINNEY
1865
To John Moody
1 November 1865
[MS in Finney Papers, supplement #152]
Oberlin Ohio. 1st Nov. 1865.
My Dear Brother Moody,
Yours of the 13. Oct. is recd. Charles
has returned with his wife, to
Oshkosh. He is not yet mustered
out of service, but hopes to be soon,
& does not expect to be ordered to
the field again. He informed
me some time ago that he had
ordered his agent to pay over
the money to pay taxes &c.
He will, no doubt, settle
up with you as he agreed,
if he lives. O, I hope it may be that
God will allow us to see eachother
again in this world. Julia, my
last unmarried child has [ ]
is about to be married & for a few years
to reside in Rio de Jeneiro, Brazil,
South America, where her husband
is U.S. Consul. At the close of
his consulate they expect to return
[page 2]
to Oberlin & remain here. He is
one of our College Professors & will
most likely be my successor as
the President of this College.
Seeing myself about to be left alone
I have taken to myself another wife,
& am well pleased & happy with
her, & my people are greatly pleased
with this arrangement.
I have also to tell you that God
is reviving his blessed work amongst
us & that many are turning to the
Lord. I have seldom seen a
more powerful day than last Sabbath
was in our congregation. Hundreds
were deeply affected & at the close
of the P.M. service nearly the whole
congregation arose & in prayer solemnly
consecrated themselves to God.
The meeting for inquirers in
the evening was large & one
of the most deeply interesting that
I have seen for many years.
[page 3]
I am glad to hear you speak
as you do of Mr. Emerson.
I have no doubt but that he & Charles
will amicably & as speedily as
possible settle up your affairs
at Oshkosh.
Our College is progressing well.
We have a larger number
of students than we have
had since the war began.
Many of our old students
have returned from the
war & many who have been
in the army who were never
here before are now here. A
more serious, earnest & well
behaved set of students than
these returned soldiers are
no one needs to see. The
war has been an excellent
School for them. Life & death,
& God, & country, & government,
& liberty, are momentous things
[page 4]
with them. Indeed this war
has wrought almost a miraculous
change in the views & character
& the great mass of the people,
"Young America" has in four short
years grown to be old America.
We have emerged from this sea
of blood a sobered & thoughtful
people. We are not all right
politically yet. We are progressing
with the settlement of many
grave questions in the reorganiza
tion of the rebel States. We want
now to make all men white
& black equal before the law.
I will send your letter to Charles as
I wish him to perceive just how you
feel about your affairs. With
love to Ann & Mr. Potter & to all
friends I am as ever your
Brother in the Lord,
C. G. Finney
Footnotes:
A word is crossed out here.
This word was probably underlined by John Moody.