LETTER OF
The GOSPEL TRUTH CHARLES G. FINNEY
1868
To Samuel Bond
1 July 1868
[MS in Finney Papers # 1910. Copy in the handwriting of Rebecca Finney]
Oberlin Ohio 1st July 1868
My Dear Br. Bond,
On looking over the article again, to which I referred
yesterday, I find I cannot at all credit his professed
extract form the record. His extracts represent me as
acting Secretary pro. tem. from 24th Feb 1820 to Dec. 14th
1820, nearly a year, and this before I was a member of the Lodge.
This must be a mistake. "Dec 14th 1820, Charles G. Finney
having been duly admitted a member of the Lodge
by ballot, duly elected secretary." This is the first men-
tion of my admission to the Lodge. Again he says "30th Oct. 1823.
Bro. Finney was at the Lodge (more than a year after his
conversion) and served as Sen. Warden pro. tem." He at-
tended the next meeting &c. &c. This same evening was
election night for the ensuing year 1824." "Thus two years
after his conversion he was in the Lodge." Here again
is a palpable mistake. I was converted Oct 10th 1822
The 30th Oct. 1823 would be twenty days over one year.
He says I attended the next meeting when their of-
ficers were elected for 1824. But this he says was two
years after my conversion. But his figures show that
it was but a little over one year. This would be of
no consequence, but for the use he makes of his own
blunders. He finds no record of my presence in a Lodge af-
ter this, but says 6th May 1824. I was discharged at my own
request. My request had been presented the year before,
or I entirely misremember. It may have been acted
upon & granted as late as May 6th 1824. Did the pro-
fessed christian masons of Adams sanction such a
use of their records as this? I should like to know Bro.
Bond, for I may need to use this to illustrate the workings of the Institution
God bless you Dr. Br. C. G. Finney
Finney received the following letter from S. N. Bond:
Adams July 7 1868
Revd C. G. Finney.
Dear Sir
Yours of June 30th
& 1st sent to my father were recd by me
[smudge] in reply would say that Father
went out to Iowa last May, and I
do not know how soon he will return
In yours of 30th ult you mention that you
think he with Dea Stone became masons
after you left Adams = They never
became masons were always Antimason
The Presbyterian Ch records show that you
came before the Session Dec 31. 1821 and
Benjn Wright Jany 1822 and both recd
into the Ch Jany 1822 and Benjn Wright
was elected and elder in the Ch in
1827 --I am not a mason and of
course have no access to the records
of the Lodge
Respectfully Yours &c
S. N. Bond
Footnote:
Finney repeats the error in the date. It should be 1821.