American Minute

August 16

Charles Finney died AUGUST 16, 1875.

An attorney, Finney saw so many Scripture references in Blackstone's Law Commentaries that he bought a Bible and came to faith.

Charles Finney's 1835 Revival Lectures inspired George Williams to found the YMCA-Young Men's Christian Association-in 1844, and William Booth to found The Salvation Army in 1865.

Charles Finney formed the Benevolent Empire, a network of volunteer organizations to aid poor with healthcare and social needs, which in 1834 had a budget rivaling the Federal Government.

Concerning the Kingdom of God, Charles Finney wrote:

"Every member must work or quit. No honorary members."

While Charles Finney was president of Oberlin College, 1851-1866, it was a station on the Underground Railroad smuggling slaves to freedom and it granted the first college degree in the United States to a black woman, Mary Jane Patterson.

Charles Finney wrote:

"The time has come for Christians to vote for honest men, and take consistent ground in politics or the Lord will curse them...

Politics are a part of a religion in such a country as this, and Christians must do their duty to their country as a part of their duty to God."

Charles Finney concluded:

"God will bless or curse this nation according to the course Christians take in politics."

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