Part 6 (pages 78–91)
After meeting Lydia in Utica, Charles struggled to put her out of his mind. Even when he prayed, his thoughts tended to stray to the beautiful young woman. When this first happened, he thought it sinful to be thinking about her instead of the Lord. But soon he began to understand that the Lord had brought Lydia into his life intending her to be his wife.
. A short time later, Charles asked Lydia to marry him.
Looking at her earnestly, he said, “Lydia, you’re only twenty, I’m thirty-two. Would you be content to be the wife of a minister?”
Happily, she replied, “Oh, Charles. I’ve loved you se- cretly ever since I was a small girl. I was one of the band that prayed for your conversion. And I am afraid I prayed as much that you might be mine as that you might be saved.” Shortly after that, the two were married.
After the wedding, the couple left for a brief honey- moon. Then Charles left his bride in Whitestown, while he rode back to Evans Mills to arrange for their move to that town. They planned on Charles returning the follow- ing week to get Lydia.
While in Evans Mills, however, Charles received word from Christians in nearby Perch River, requesting that he come and preach to them. He had spent some time in Perch River shortly before his marriage, and in their message to him, they said there had been revival stirrings in their area ever since those meetings. Charles usually was unable to resist such appeals, so he agreed to go the following Tuesday evening. Then the next day he would travel on to Whitestown to get his new bride as they had planned. :
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When: Charles’ preached: at ‘Perch-River: on: Tuesday, night, however, the:Spirit:of God: moved greatly: upon:the people..Charles.could not leave. Jt didn’t take: Jong for him to.realize that he would be unable to:return to, Whitestowni: for Lydia: ‘The revival-spread to Brownville,ia-villagé:sey- eral miles from-Perch:Riyer: There-were nearly: two:thou: sand adults in the town; and the believers urged:Charles:to come and:minister to:them. He-felt impressed to:go ;
: He realized: he needed to: decide; what‘ to ,do. about Lydigi ‘He: knew -hé: would: be involved: in: the: revival for several weeks, and-it would not:be long-until-cold: weather set in, making travel difficult. Would: Lydia understand?; Af -he:stayed, -it:could:mean: months ‘of separation, -and: they had had. only a‘brief honeymoon ‘together. No doubt itwas difficult for/Charles to ‘write: to:her‘and: tell hi new: development: B
But from the, outset tof their mariage; os Lyi shi
Charles: She: said: she would wait} for: him: to: det ee “God aebmned, to o:epen ‘the dpprt :
The work i in: Brownville proved: difficult; The people;:i in: cluding: even: the. :pastor' of: the: church: that:-had:invited ~ Charles;:seemed cold and indifferent: Sometimes: thé:min- ister: and his: wife: would ‘be absent, from the services, ‘and Charles would learn they had attended.a party.-It:was dif: ficult: for Charles :to‘work in: such:a.cold place:with his - new: wife so far away.-He admitted Jater,:“I labored there that winter. with great pain and had many serious obstacles. to overcome.” Even though the revival did not: seem to _ Charles Finney
affect people as deeply as the ones at Antwerp and Evans Mills, there: were some significant conversions.
In the spring of 1825, Charles left Brownville in his horse and buggy to go to Lydia. They had been married for six months, and the letters they-were able to send through the minimal mail service were a poor substitute for being together. Charles felt a surge of joy. At last he was on his way to see his wife. He had gone about fifteen miles when he realized that his horse was smooth-shod, and.it was dangerous to travel like that on the slippery roads. So’he stopped at the small village of LaRayville to have his horse reshod.
While he waited for the blacksmith to shoe his horse, Charles was approached by the townspeople and asked to preach at one o’clock that afternoon. As usual, he gave in to their requests. He never could resist an invitation to preach. Since there was no.church in town, the meeting took place in-the schoolhouse. When he arrived early that afternoon, the building was filled with people eager to hear him. ~
After Charles had preached .a short time, the Holy Spirit fell on the townspeople.:They begged Charles to stay, and he wanted to. But what should he do about his patient wife? They had-been married for six months and had scarcely seen each other. The townspeople. won out, and Charles said he would preach. another night. The revival began to spread, and more meetings were arranged. Charles decided that he would send a good friend to go for Lydia. At long last, the young couple were reunited. The revival continued to spread, and within a few weeks, it seemed that most of the population of LaRayville had been converted. ; Ghat é Pinney E
“neredibly’ iwihen: ‘Lydia rj oined her: ‘husband; she: did “not: appear: upset. over the strange:introduction the past six‘months had given:her to:married life. She seémed:to be understanding, taking: everything: in’stride: ‘riends « described: their! marriage: as: that of a: “lovable: couple’ Bee Charles, according to these! friends; provided: the’ seri: ousness: for: their: relationship, while vydia. brought the : sunshine. fe Lydia steupated: at: ‘thes: to adjust to life. with such:a: famous and: powerful preacher. Sometimes; however, her. husband frightened LydiaShe made‘ point of telling him. ~ “on: one occasion? “Oh-my’ dear, though:I know you-love : me, yet:you' are terrifying when the power of God.comes upon ‘you. Yow stand 'there:like:a ‘mightyangel, shouting .~ the: Gospel and wielding the flashing:sword. of judgment.” The young couple would face adjustments throughout their: marriage:“Lydia’s : willingriess:: to countérbalance : Charles’s: oceasional: pessimism ‘was ‘one of her strongest characteristics Hie : ; As: Charles finished’ his last faye in. n LaRayvill ‘his oo good friend: Father Nash’ came to' see him: By. this ‘time, the two were fast: friends; and: Father: Nash prayed: much : for the evangelist’s meetings. : i Although Father Nash: was the: subject of some: corit ae icism such ‘as “he prays’ ‘too loud,” he: shrugged: itioff. But«at:times:theold' man: prayed :out:loud? and. some= __ times he bordered on being downright noisy: -Even: when he closed himself in: his:room’ or prayed:4 in the ‘woods: : people: could:easily. hear him: y 30 : : -One:time: when he was: working: with Charles, Father. *- : Nash went: into the woods ‘to pray. “As usual,’ he: prayed.’
loudly, crying out to God. It so happened that someone who opposed the revival overheard him, and even though he could not understand..one .word in the old .man’s prayer, hé knew who it. was and what he was doing. At once, the man came under conviction and found:no relief until he gave his life to Christ. ;
After the meetings at LaRayville, Charles received an invitation to preach in the town of Rutland. Father Nash traveled with the Finneys to. this next: meeting place. Again God poured out His Spirit. An interesting new development in Charles’s ministry occurred during these meetings—one that still impacts modern evangelism. Charles explained what happened: “At the close of the sermon, I did what I do not know [had ever done before, called upon any who would give their hearts to God, to come forward and take the front seat.”
Charles’s issuing. this call branded him as a forerun- ner of modern evangelism. Today, we recognize what he did as an invitation to accept the gospel, but. such an action was unheard of prior to that time. The invitation, and other evangelistic means that Charles adopted, came
IQ 6
to be known in time as Finney’s “new measures.”
While in Rutland, Charles kept thinking of a revelation he had received from God during those long winter months in Brownville: “God: revealed to me, all at once, in a most unexpected manner, the fact that He was going to pour out His Spirit at Gouverneur, and that I must go there and preach. Of the place I knew absolutely nothing, except that, in that town, there was so much opposition manifested to the revival in Antwerp, the year before.”
Although he still had two or three appointments -to preach in the area of Rutland, Charles wanted to know something of Gouverneur. He thought it would be good for them to travel there next. So he said to Father Nash; “You must go to Gouverneur and see what is there, and come ‘back and make your report.” After. being gone about three days, Nash returned, and said that he “had found a good many professors of religion, under consid- erable exercise of mind; and that he was confident. that there was a good deal of the Spirit of the Lord among the people.” He added, however, that “they were not: aware what the state of things really was.” ;
So Charles sent Father Nash on ahead to Gouverneur to tell the people when to expect him. The preacher had to ride about thirty miles-in a driving rain storm to reach the town, and when he arrived, a judge told him he thought the night’s meeting had been called off because of the weather. But Charles went on to:the meeting place and found it packed with people.
Charles had not spent time preparing for the meeting, but as he remarked, “The Lord gave me a text, and I went into the pulpit and let.my heart out tothe people. The word took: powerful effect. That was manifest to every- body, I think. I dismissed the meeting, and that night got some rest.”
Opposition to the meeting, however, had already: be- gun. Thefirst person to challenge the preacher was a well-known doctor in town who managed the local hotel. The next day as Charles mingled with the townspeople, he met the doctor at the tailoring shop. The doctor, who was a Universalist, let Charles know that he disagreed with him on certain points.
But the evangelist was wiser than when he’d first begun preaching, so he said he would be willing to have a discussion if they could agree on the method. Charles told him: “First, we should take up one. point .at a time, and discuss it till we had settled it, or had no more to say upon it, and then another, and another, confining our- selves to the point immediately in debate; secondly, that we should not interrupt each other, but each one should be at liberty to give his views upon the point, without: interruption; and thirdly, that there should be no cavilling or mere banter, but that we should observe candor and courtesy, and give to every argument due weight, on whichsoever side it was presented. I knew they were all of one way of thinking.” Charles understood that the group in the tailor’s shop had come together to uphold each other’s views and to best him. -
By this time, Chatles Finney had learned how to set up a debate properly. He no longer relished debate unless exact terms and methods were agreed upon. He knew, too, how aggressive Universalists could be, but he sensed that he owed the doctor an accurate response to his questions about the gospel. Charles’s skillful training and experience as a lawyer and his own argumentative expertise soon helped him to best the doctor, who went home looking downcast.
At home, the doctor was restless and paced up and down. His wife, a dedicated Christian, asked him, “What is the matter?”
The doctor looked at her and retorted, “Nothing.”
“Doctor, have you seen Mr. Finney this morning?” she asked.
Her question troubled him and caused him abruptly to burst into tears. “Yes,” he replied, “and he has turned my weapons on my own head.”
With that, the doctor’s agony and conviction became intense. Charles observed about him that “as soon as the way. was opened for him to speak out, he surrendered himself up to his convictions, and soon after expressed hope in Christ. In a few days his companions were brought in, one after the other, till, I believe, the revival made a clean sweep of them.”
After he dealt with the doctor and. the Universalists, Charles had another situation to handle. There were two churches in the community, a Baptist and a Presbyterian, but ‘only the Baptist church had a pastor. When revival broke out under Charles’s preaching, the Baptists began to oppose it—perhaps because the evangelist did not empha- size baptism by immersion. Of course, Charles was per- fectly willing to immerse individuals and had done so on a number of occasions. Since he always desired to keep unity in his meetings, the evangelist and his praying part- ners began to bring the situation-before the Lord.
One Sunday, several young Baptist men marched into the revival meeting intending to stir up trouble. The air was filled with tension as the service started, yet the men remained quiet. All at once Father Nash stood up, struck the pew in front of him with his fist, and with flashing eyes glared at the young men. He proclaimed loudly: “Now, mark you, young men! God will break your ranks in less than one week, either by converting some of you, or by sending some of you to hell. He will do this as certainly as the Lord is my God!”
The meeting place became “still as death,” accord- ing to Charles. He regretted that Father Nash had gone so.far; but the thing was done. Father Nash had com- mitted himself.
However, as Charles noted, “On Tuesday morning of - the same week, the leader of these young men came to me, in the greatest distress of mind. He was all prepared to submit; and as soon as I came to press him he broke down like a child; confessed, and manifestly gave himself to Christ. Then he said, ‘What shall I do, Mr. Finney?’ I replied, ‘Go immediately to all your young companions, and pray with them, and exhort them, at once to turn to the Lord. He did so; and before the week was out, nearly.if not all of that class of young men, were hoping in Christ.”
Many other conversions took place at Gouverneur, so many that as Charles noted, “The great majority of them [the Gouverneur community] were converted to Christ.”
From Gouverneur, Charles traveled.on to De Kalb, a village about sixteen miles to the north with an adult population of 355. An old feud had continued to fester between the Presbyterians and the Methodists. Some years before, the Methodists had had a revival, with people lit- erally fainting under the conviction of sin. But the Pres- byterians, far more rigorous in their religious expression, were dismayed at such emotional manifestations. The Methodists, however, considered their expressions gen- uine. When Charles arrived in the community, everyone thought the old animosities had been forgotten, but they were not. They were lying just below the surface waiting to erupt.
“charles Finney: fe
AS: the? revival: “opened in De’ Kalb: ‘under Charles Finney’ $s preaching;‘a:‘man ‘fell from ‘his: séat “under the. power of God.” People gathered around, to:help::Charles: thought he:was ‘a:Methodist and: was.concerned that’ the: old ‘feud: would ‘flare up: and dampen‘ the Holy: Spirit's:
_ impact. Much:to ‘Charlés’s amazement; however; the:mari: who: had’ fallen 'was:4'leader:in:the' ‘Presbyterian Church::
Several::other ‘instances “of: people: “falling: underiithe: -. -
power of God’ occurred: during 'the services. Each time,: the person, was ‘a, Presbyterian... These. episodes led-to:a! wonderful »‘healing :betweén the’ methbers::.of."the Presbyterian and the: Methodist churches. It-also drew two ‘churches together in new unity: -: i As«ther'revival movement: cofttinied;! tremendous, mahifestations-of:God’s power. occurred? At timescit was: so: great that Charles. could’ not: ‘even see: to: “preach. e wouldiexplain:that-all.hedid swas. “sit still and:see the sal: vation of. God.” With: the: numerous: conversions: and: the: order maintained: throughout'the meetings; the: evangelist had‘to:admit‘he had: never: witnessed such an n outpouring: of God's power: bEshguy bei u . Outstanding: characteristics of n mary of: the converts were their honesty-and humility: Two men who.came into: an: afternoon: meeting provided a:wonderful example of — lives: changed through this revival:-Charlésknew thé one: man,:an elder, but thé other. was a:stranger. to ‘him: \As' soon-as the man ‘entered the room;he: looked at: Charles;, caine straight toward him, and lifted-him:up in-his arms,’ saying, “God:bless you! God bless: you!” He: then: turned:. to the: ‘Congregation 2 and‘told eb them: whats the Lord had. ust : done for his soul... meer oe eee oe Charles noted that “his countenance was all in a glow; and_was-so changed in his appearance, that those that knew him were perfectly astonished at the change. His son who had not known of this change in his father, when he saw and heard him, rose up and was hastening out of the church. His father cried out, ‘Do not leave the house, my son; for I-never loved you before.’ He went on to speak; and the power with which he spoke was perfectly astonishing. The people melted down on every side; and his son broke down almost immediately.”
Father Nash rejoined Charles during the De Kalb awakening. The two worked very well together, and the evangelist relied heavily on his friend’s prayers. As Nash prayed in his loud, boisterous manner, he received consid- erable criticism from some of the community. One critic claimed Nash used the term “God Almighty” sixty-three times-in one public prayer. But others wondered why the critic was spending prayer time counting such things.
The whole community became caught up in interces- sion for the revival. The attitude of prayer that. prevailed in De Kalb was unusual and marked the entire revival. Groups of Christians even gathered in small groups on the streets and would fall on their knees in fervent prayer.
Before they ministered in the De Kalb awakening, Charles and Lydia were used to walking from their host’s home to the church services. For all the good that Charles did in his preaching, he and Lydia actually had few mate- rial possessions. But while in De Kalb, a wealthy Presbyterian elder presented them with a new horse and - buggy. By: the time of the October 1825 Presbyterian Synod meeting in Utica, they were able to ride in style.
ely : ~ Charles Finney:
“~The year ‘of 1825. was important: for the Mohawk: _
Valley of western New York. One of the most significant: ‘events took place when the governor symbolically emp- tied.a keg of Lake Erie water into New York Harbor, offi-
cially opening the Erie Canal. But a much more significant event happened as revival began. to sweep over:much of western New York. : :
While many evangelists eached during this revival, none was more used of God than Charles. Finney. He had’ matured: considerably: from: the raw, country. preacher’ _ who first appeared at his ordination. He had-learned how to. handle opposition. Perhaps more important, his theo-.~ logical concepts were now well-formed and became: x use- ful in his “new measures.” ;
"Charles had learned: that he. was: conipletely diner dent-on ‘prayer ‘forthe: moving: of God's ‘Spirit! Now, all: was'in réadiness for thé next move of God in’ the: ‘revival explain ‘that! would: ‘come fo: ‘as. state of New York.
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Finneys traveled to the small town of Western,
New York, in Oneida County. When Charles began to preach, revival. broke out, and an awakening began to spread throughout the entire area. The several towns that benefitted from his ministry were not the leading cities of America, but it was through this movement of the Holy Spirit that the relatively unknown lawyer-preacher came to more prominent attention of the general public.
When Lydia and Charles first arrived in Western, they greatly enjoyed the beauty of the place. Located on the eastern edge of Oneida Lake, Western was perfectly situ- ated. The moral and spiritual atmosphere of Western, however, fell short of its lovely surroundings. Sabbath- breaking, a serious offence in early nineteenth-century America, proved to be quite common.
fter leaving the. 1825. Utica Synod meeting, the erend Sone Gale. Becatine of health, Pastor. Gale had moved to:a‘farm: near: Western. As they:rode-along. toward
Western; they met Mr: Gale in ‘his: carriage ‘on his.way.to;-. Utica. ‘Charles was amazed. at -his-old pastor’s greeting’. “He! leaped: from: his carriage, and:said, “God: bless: you, Brother Finney! Lwas going down:to. the synod toseé yous: _ You must: go: home. with me; I cannot:be:denied. 1: -do. not believe. that I. eyer:was converted;-and..I wrote the, other: .day to.Adams; to know. where:a letter would reach:you; as T wanted. to: open:mymind to..you ;on* the: ‘subj Charles was impressed by his old pastor: $.earnestne consented to: preach’in Western.’ : » Unknown: to: Charles, ithe Christians in Western: had: been praying f fora Jong time that God-would revive. them: But Charles: was appalled when he. first: heard:them: pray: _ at‘a meeting of about twe e:church leaders, ‘Their; prayers; weré'cold and lifeless: They reminded: himof ‘his pr conversion days in Adams. ?; ~: ts : “To ‘his dismay, - “The: mosting:¥ was opened ty, one: of; the elders;.who.read:a chapter.in the Bible, then:a’hymn,’ _ which they :sung..Afterthis he: made: along: prayer, .or perhaps:I:should say an: exhortation; .0r gave: an: ative = hardly know what to: call. it, He. told the Lord-how. many: years ‘they ‘had been: holding: that prayer-meeting weekly, ‘and, that: no: answer ‘had “been: given: to: their prayers. He made-stich. ‘statements: ‘and confessions: as - greatly: shocked me. ‘After he-had’ done, another: elder’ - took: up. the samé. theme..-He; read.a. ‘hymn; and: after. singing, engaged i ina long prayer, in which be; went 0 ver -