LETTER OF
The GOSPEL TRUTH CHARLES G. FINNEY
1871
To Jacob Dolson Cox
2 September 1871
[MS in J. D. Cox Papers, 30/3, Oberlin College Archives]
Oberlin 2d Sept. 1871.
Dear Son Dolson,
Yours of the 30th ult is recd.
We are disappointed. We
were looking for you this
week. But we submit beca
use we can not help it,
& because we sympathize
with you in your efforts
to reestablish your business &
are not upon the whole sorry
that you have so much
business that you can
not come. We must for
the present consent to
deny ourselves for the
furtherance of your
business. We thought it
doubtful whether Helen
would be able to come.
Helen wrote Ange that you
[page 2]
were about to purchase a
house. You say nothing
of it from which I hope
that you did not complete
the bargain.
I am glad that you don't
go on to the stump this
fall. It is unnecessary I
I hope as the party is
ably represented. Besides
I do not wonder at your
deep disgust with politics.
Monroe is in his element,
He is a born politician -
i.e. he aspires to statesman
ship. Whether he can ever
be a statesman remains
to be seen. I have always
feared for him because
he left the ministry for
politics. Perhaps it was
a call of God, but I fear
[page 3]
it was not.]
What am I to understand
by your "long hearing" of
R. R. cases. Do you mean
that you now counsel
or referee. I take it the
former. Charles & family
are still here. Charles
health is poor though
improving I think. It
is not likely that he
ever will quite recover
his former health. He
is out of business because
he does not feel able
to commit himself
to any thing at present.
He feels almost discoura
ged at times. The blues
is an old disease of
his. From his boyhood
he has had his turns
[page 4]
of discouragement. He will
hit upon some course
that will interest him
in due time. He has
recently been at Oshkosh
arranging his affairs there
He takes but little interest
in politics. I have always
thought that both you & he
made a mistake in
breaking up & going to
Washington. I am
however quite reconciled
to your movement, for though
it was a damage to you
in a pecuniary point of view
it worked a great awaken
ing on the question of civil
service reform, & also elevated
you much in public estim
ation. Your martyrdom if
it shall prove to be such, will bear
abundant fruits in the end.
[page 5]
I have handed my
resignation of the Pastor
ate to the Deacons &
assured them that this
action on my part is
final. It will be accepted
next week & this load
of care labor & anxiety
under which I have
so long groaned will I
hope be rolled off, as I
am really unable
to perform the duties
of Pastor of this great
Church. I tried last
year to resign but failed
to get the consent of the
church. I have now given
them to understand that
they must consent.
If they continue to run to me
I shall be obliged to leave
Oberlin. Dolson what are
[page 6]
we to think of your spiritual
state. When you Mother
read your last letter
she sighed & said O, that
he was an earnest Chris
tian! She much admires
you & dearly loves you.
Will you tell us what
we may think of your
spiritual state so that
if you should die
suddenly as so many
do we should not be
in doubt as to your
future & eternal state.
All here wish to be most
kindly remembered to
you & to all your family.
God bless you all
C. G. Finney
Footnotes:
The "I" is repeated again here.
George Frederick Wright in his sketch of James Monroe, recalled that he had been an antislavery lecturer before becoming a teacher at Oberlin College:
Naturally he continued to be interested in the anti-slavery cause, and as the war approached he was elected to the State legislature, and became one of the most influential members in shaping the course of the State in those troublous times.
President Finney, however, was much exercised in his mind over Professor Monroe's entering the political arena, and at one time preached a most powerful sermon to try to dissuade him from running as candidate for the State Senate. The scene was one of the most memorable of my experiences in Oberlin. Professor Monroe sat in a conspicuous place in the church, and listened with rapt attention as the eloquent preacher endeavored to prove that a man of high moral principles who had entered the arena of moral reform could not run for office without lowering his standard and compromising his character. Such a man cannot get the votes of the people except he come down to their level. Professor Monroe, he contended, is too good a man to do this. He can't afford to do it. He should remain on the high pedestal of moral principle where he now is and strive to draw all men up to it. If he gets down to the level to which he will have to fall if he gets the votes of the people, he never will rise again to his original high standard. "Professor Monroe," said the preacher, "is too good a man to run for the legislature of Ohio."
Just then Professor Peck, who sat near, rose in his place and lifted his hand in token that he wished to speak. President Finney turned his great eyes toward him, and perceiving what was wanted said, "Speak on Bother Peck," and sat down while Professor Peck finished the sermon in trying to show that we were not going to lose Professor Monroe from the ranks of high moral reform, but were going to have him in both capacities as reformer and legislator. When Professor Peck finished his well-chosen remarks, Finney, with tears in his eyes, prayed that we might all be led aright, and dismissed the meeting (G. F. Wright, The Story of My Life [Oberlin: Bibliotheca Sacra Co., 1916], pp. 62-63).
Monroe was elected and re-elected to the National House of Representatives for five successive terms (from 1870-1880).
This word is unclear.
Cox had been made Secretary of the Interior by Grant in March 1869, and moved to Washington. An obituary of Charles Finney in the Northwestern (Oshkosh), 23 April 1896, states:
As soon as his brother-in-law became a cabinet minister, Major Finney left Oshkosh and proceeded to Washington where he served as private secretary to the head of the interior department. Gen. Cox resigned his position in December 1870, on account of a disagreement with the president. Major Finney remained in Washington several months, and subsequently removed to San Buena Ventura, California, where he purchased a fruit farm.
An entry in the Church Records under the date of Thursday, September 6, reads:
The church met, by call of Pres. Finney on the previous Sabbath to consider his resignation which he had tendered.
His resignation was read out and a vote taken. There were 58 for and 90 against. His wish to resign was not finally granted until 2 May 1872. (See First Congregational Church Records, 1857-1891, Oberlin College Archives, 31/4/1.)
See Finney's letter to the Church (10 December 1870)