LETTER OF
The GOSPEL TRUTH CHARLES G. FINNEY
1844
To Hamilton Hill
5 January 1844
[MS in Correspondence of Oberlin College, 7/1/5]
Boston 5. Jan 1844.
Dear Br. Hill.
A Lady called on me yesterday & proposed
to give $500 or therabouts to Oberlin, on the condition of receiving
the interest an[n]ually during her life. She is, I should
think, near 70 years of age. Perhaps older & perhaps younger.
I did not inquire her age. I judge only from her appearance.
She is a maiden Lady. Whether this is her whole property I
dont know. She said a part of it could be had at any time.
Something like $.200. were at Worcester which she could
get by going after it herself, which she prop[os]ed to do early
in summer. & the remainder she could not say exactly
when it could be had. She expected it soon however.
$.100. in this city could be had at any time. I presume that
should it be necessary she would go to Worcester soon & get
that 200. She wished me to write & inquire whether the
Institution would like to have the money on those conditi
ons. To wit. She will donate the principal, only reserving
the interest, annually, while she lives.
Another Lady called a short time since to consult me
about making her will. She wished to bequeath to Oberlin
to the use of female department $.2000. She is a maiden
Lady. has a sister, also a maiden lady, & her aged parents.
She wished to have her will so drawn as to secure the inter
est to her parents & sisters should they out live her, during
their lives, & afterwards to have the principal & interest appli
ed for the education of poor & pious females at Oberlin.
[page 2]
Her Sister is the Miss Whiting now at Oberlin. After cons
ultation I did not write her will myself but directed
her to a Lawyer in Boston, one of my spiritual children
who I presume has done or will do it. The Lady thinks
of visiting Oberlin next summer. It is however uncertain.
She seemed anxious to help Oberlin & the young Ladies.
She is herself a Teacher of a Young Ladies Seminary in
Rhode Island. From the representations of her sister she
thinks highly of Oberlin & wishes to appropriate all
she has to the education of young Ladies at that Institution.
Before I recd your letter I supposed that you had heard from
me through My Dear Wife not to trouble yourself further at
present about that borrowed money, as I had recd a check
from Br. Chapin which would meet my present necessities.
The affair of Mr. Taylor is horrible!- My own health pretty good for me
The Lord is now evidently in our midst. But so many obstacles
as are here to be overcome I never saw any where.
Love to your Dear Family. & to all friends.
Your Brother
C. G. Finney.
P.S. I presume the excitement about Mr. Taylor prevented
Mrs F. from reminding to send you the information relative
to the borrowed money above alluded to. I wrote to Br.
Mahan the same thing requesting him to inform you so
that I presumed you had recd the information or I should
have written to you before. C. G. F.
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P.S. I have written several times to have the pamphlet
containing the report of the discussion of the 2d Advent
question sent me & have not received it. Will you
ask Br. Gillett to send it if [it] has not been sent before
this reaches you. C. G. F.
Addressed:
Hamilton Hill Esqr.
Oberlin. Lorain co.
Ohio.
Postmarked:
BOSTON MS JAN 5
Footnote:
This was Miss Rebecca Eaton. See Finney to Hamilton Hill, 5 February and 13 February 1844.
Report of a Discussion on the Second Advent Near, by Rev. Chas. Fitch, Rev. Henry Cowles, Rev. Asa Mahan, etc. Lately Held at Oberlin (Cleveland: 1843). These were discussions Fitch had with the Oberlin faculty May 10 and 11.