CLICK HERE TO ORDER THIS WEB SITE ON CD FOR $15
A Jubilee Volume of Semi-Historical Anecdotes connecte with
the past and present of
OBERLIN COLLEGE.
________
1833-1883.
Rich fifty years! Their worth out-weighs
The gold since found western slopes:
In sacrifice and works of faith
Must rest at last a nation's hopes.
"First to the Lord; then to the work"--
This blazoned on thy earliest page,
shall lead thee in thy larger life,
And by thy proubest hertage.
BY
Printed by Home Publishing Co., Cleveland. O.
1883.
[ Retyped for the Internet by Rick Friedrich in 06/99
Not to be sold without permission. ]
CONTENTS.
____________
Planting of the colony--Early persecution--"Marriage Extraordinary"-- "Damnable Theology "--First prayer meeting--The child named--Olivet founded--Slavery discussions--Lane Seminary accessions--Old slab Hall--Early diet--Sabbath worship--Various stories. 9-21.
Treatmen of students abroad--An Elyria chase--Hoaxing slave-hunters--A load of hay--A painted Ethiopian--Shields Green--Rescue of Johnston--Hunting down "Darkies"--Various ruses--Only a ram, 22-35.
The Felon's Feast--Anti-slavery eloquence--The 37 in jail--Sabbath-school excursion-- "Rescuer" wit--Two jollifications--"Deacon" Gray converted, 36-43.
"Sophomore Sawdust Seremonies"--Prof. Cochran outwitted--The gorilla persecuted--A Chapel bell scrape--Mending sidewalks--Our cane rush--The Oberlin Squad frolic, 44-50.
The Oberlin laundryman--Red houses--Oberlin mud--Various crazes--Vegetable diet--Ice-water baths--Religious characteristiecs--No use for tobacco--Second Adventism--Cultivating the campus, 50-57.
" Old Accommodation" at home--Real-life biographies--Uncle Tom--Little Eva--Aunt Choloe--George Shelby--Things not told in Uncle Tom's Cabin, 57-60.
Mock conventions--Pandemonium upon Garfield's election--Trip to Mentor by special train--President Fairchild's speeh--General Garfield's response--An omen--Decoration Days--Other incidents, 60-66.
Intoductory sketch--Arrival in Oberlin--Interview with Tilton--Characteristic sermons and prayers--Dealings with skeptics--And immense calf--his absent-mindedness--Prayers for rain--Converting Abraham Lincoln--Couble abstraction--Almost an oath--"Hurrah for the devil"--Praying for Johnson, 67-81.
An awful punster--Early laundry facilities--Early table-ware--A singular courtship--Another ditto--Mrs. Crosby's Garden--Unwittingly selfish--Kept his pledge--One chair for two--A Professor's courtship--Woman's rights triumph--The "Oberlin Step"--Projected removal of the College--Botanizing--Tappan Hall, the Laboratory and the Historical Elm, 82-96.
Hon. J. D. Cox--Prof. Fred. Allen--Levi Bauder and chess--Elisha Gray--U.S. Geologist Hayden--Prof. Gunning's revenge--Rev Anna Oliver--Lucy Stone--Antoinette Brown--Lettice Smith--Judge Ingersoll--Glee Club tour--J. M. Langston--Prof. Barbour--Dr. Emerline Horton Cleveland--Emily Huntington Miller--Company C.--An old-time lark--Prof. Churchill, 96-110.
Oberlin College Hymn--Society songs--First printed poem--Historical Epic--Ode to Prof. D's skeleton--Raving by Poh!--Selections from writings of Miss Fanny Jackson, C. S. Wood, W. H. Buss, B. A. Imes, Emily Fay, W. J. Vickery, and many others, 111-147.
"Preserving the Principal "--A dougnut incident--Tutor Hodge's puns--Miscellaneous incidents--Organization of the college societies--Willard Sears--Base ball--A fift to Garfield--The Female Fire Brigade--Statistics--The "jumps"--College journalism, 148-161.
A typical mass meeting--Exterminating saloons--Lynching Garnett--The Red Pepper Campaign--The tobacco rule--Raxing a saloon and floating it down Black River--A warm reception to Gilmore's band--The New Oberlin escapade, 161-169.
A Jubilee peep into the various college departments--Joseph Cook's eulogy--Tribute from teh Advance--Other good words, 169-175.
To the memory of the saints who, relying upon God, with courage and patience conceived and founded
OBERLIN COLLEGE;
to the friends who have given their prayers and mans to preserve the noble inheritence; to the Professors and Teachers who, in self-denying love and wisdom, have worked and taught to the highest good, walking in the footsteps of the Fathers; to the Oberlin men who, having shared in the toils and pleasures of college life, in every land have born and are bearing "witness to the truth"; to our
ALMA MATER,
dearest of college homes, we humbly but
lovingly dedicate this volume.
. . .
the habit of taking a daily walk in which he regularly met a young man whom he always saluted with, "Good morning. I've met you before, I am sure. What is your name?" The young man, weary of making daily reply, one morning responded with a new name:
"Tom Nokes, Sir."
The President stopped short, surprised by the unfamiliar name, and fastening his eyes on the accustomed face, exclaimed brusquely, "Why, John Steele, how you do lie."
It is presumed, that he was never puzzled for the right name afterwards.
* * *
During the war, before Abraham Lincoln was fully converted to the anti-slavery movement, President Finney wrote three letters to, him. " On bended knees," said he, "I wrote one, and then I prayed God so earnestly all the while that it might move him. But no answer came. I could not be at peace. I wrote again and waited. This time there came a little note, giving no thanks nor promises, only asking a question. I answered it, and knew that God had prevailed." It was not long after that that the Proclamation of Emancipation was made.
* * *
Mr. Finney took great delight in music, but had no sympathy with what was simply artistic. Once, after his church choir had rendered a difficult anthem, the words of which had not been distinctly articulated, he stepped forward on the pulpit and prayed
"Oh Lord, we trust that Thou hast understood the song they have tried to sing; Thou knowest that we could not understand. a word of it."
We have been reminded of the great sermon on "Wages." Very many persons will also recall with interest President Finney's dis bourse on the Prodigal Son. Professor Monroe speaks of the great power added to the vivid words of the speaker by his dramatic gestures. When describing the loving anxiety of the father, he would shade his eyes with his hands, and then look far off for the boy. Then he would feel for his eyeglasses, and no one would for a moment think of the anachronism, so naturally and pathetically was the action represented. To illustrate further this great point of the anxiety and constant watching of the parents, he would walk to the 'end of the platform and, looking as if into the distance, would say:
"Ma, don't that look like our James?"
And would thus continue until there would not be one in the audience before him but would be stirred by the truths set forth.
* * *
Dr. Morgan himself relates the following: During a period when rain had been greatly needed, he officiated one Sabbath morning in the First Church, and during the services offered a fervent prayer for rain. Before the meeting closed a slight shower occurred, which, while not heavy, was still very grateful. On his way home from church, the preacher happened to walk behind two students between whom the following conversation took place. Said one:
"Did you notice what a remarkable answer to prayer we witnessed this morning? Rain was asked for, and a shower came. To be sure, not very heavy, but yet it did some good."
"Oh," replied the other, "that was nothing. You should hear President Finney pray for rain. When he asks for it, it comes down in a flood."
* * *
To instance the power in prayer and faith of the subject of these sketches, we have included the following well-known incident.
A very severe drought occurred during the year 1853. The fields were dry and the cattle suffering. The prospect of rain was almost hopeless. One Sabbath, when not a cloud was in the sky, Mr. Finney made the opening prayer of the church a cry for rain. After describing the sad condition of the people, he continued: "O Lord, send us rain! and send it now! Although there is no sign of it, it is an easy thing for Thee to do. Send it now, Lord, for Christ's sake!"
The services proceeded, but by the time he got half through his sermon the rain came down in torrents, so that he could scarcely be heard. He stopped and said: "We'll praise God for this rain," and gave out the hymn beginning,--
Many in the congregation could not sing for weeping.
* * *
At another time Mr. Finney illustrated the familiar and argumentative way in which he was accustomed to approach and address the Deity, by a prayer for rain, in the following words: "O Lord, the long looked-for clouds are at last over our heads, and we pray that they may now burst and deluge the parched earth. Do not let them pass by and discharge their water upon the lake, as the clouds have done so often of late; for thou knowest that there is already water enough in the lake."
* * *
In this connection it will be proper to insert a poem written by a well known journalist, and which, with comments attached, appeared in the Lorain County News of May 2d 1866.
"Editor News:--I think your readers will feel a special interest in the poem 'Bless God for Rain', (a recently prepared manuscript copy of which I enclose,) because of the circumstance of its origin, and the recent visit of the author at Oberlin, and his public lectures delivered there.
" Several years ago, during a severe drought, prayer was offered in some of the churches for rain. Rev. Charles G. Finney made it the subject of special prayer day after day, and when the rain came the author of the poem heard him exclaim: 'Bless God for Rain!' He spoke with so much unction, while the tears ran down his face, that all who saw and heard him were deeply-impressed by his exclamation of gratitude. The poem was first published in the Christian Citizen; and since that has made the tour of the press in Europe as well as this country:"
BLESS GOD FOR RAIN.
By GEORGE W. BUNGAY.
* * *
Deacon Pease was what might in this generation be regarded"as a rather austere man. He would criticise a man because there
were more buttons than were actually necessary upon his coat. One Sunday President Finney preached on "Pride." After handling the subject in its more common phases he began to show how even the professing Christians are guilty of pride. He told how some were actually proud of their humility or their unselfishness. "Why," said he, "I shouldn't wonder if even our good Brother Pease is guilty of taking pride at times in the reflection that he has so little pride!"
* * *
To illustrate his power of double abstraction, Professor Penfield relates that on one occasion, while hearing a recitation from the theological students, while one was speaking he was observed to have his eye' fixed on the window before him. Walking slowly across the room, and waving a few circles with his finger, he suddenly brought it against the pane, exclaiming, "Why, I declare, the first mosquito of the season!" The laughter of the class caused him to turn with the remark, "Go on with the lesson, gentlemen. I heard every word."
* * *
When Theodore Tilton was bidding him farewell at the close of his visit, while shaking his hand, Mr. Finney said: "Theodore, why did you print those loose articles on divorce? Theodore, you'll go to hell as surely as you live." Tilton told this story to one of the members of the Faculty, remarking: "But Mr. Finney was sincere, and it didn't seem strange to hear him say it."
* * *
Scene: Tappan Square. Time: generations ago. A knot of students on the walk and a young theologue approaching in the distance.
First student.--"Boys, yonder comes B--. Let's see if I can't make him swear." (Addresses B--,) "B--, they say that you think a great deal of President Finney, but you must acknowledge that that sermon of his last Sunday was the most wishy-washy thing ever uttered in that pulpit."
B--, (with frenzy) "Gosh! When the Lord God Almighty left off making President Finney's heels he just began on most men's heads."
This same student, whom many will recognize by his favorite interjection, used to get so enthusiastic while listening to President Finney's preaching that he would be betrayed into the same form of expression. One of the members of the present Faculty tells of seeing him bring his fist down upon his knee in the First Church gallery with an emphatic, "I say amen to that,--by gosh!"
* * *
Oberlin has always contained a strong anti-secret society sentiment. At the present day the rule still holds in the First Church prohibiting the admission to membership of persons belonging to "any masonic organization." In 1867, for nearly two months extra meetings were held every week, and often twice a week, to consider this important question. Mr. Finney took two entire Sabbaths in which to discuss the subject of Masonry. Up to the time of his conversion; the speaker himself had been a Master Mason, but gave up the lodge when he was converted, and daring the remainder of his life was its bitter opponent. His principal objections to the system were that its spirit is intensely selfish and exclusive, and while claiming to be benevolent, shuts out more than two-thirds of the race, and those the most needy. "A Mason voluntarily commits his soul for a-lifetime to a course of partiality, which is the direct opposite of that universal benevolence which is the essence of holiness, and which it is the aim of the Church to promote. Hence, though its members may intend no such thing, the Masonic institution is antagonistic to Christianity. And an intelligent and sincere Mason--one who knows the purpose and plans of Masonry and adheres to them, taking extra-judicial oaths contrary to the laws of the land--cannot be a Christian, and hence should not be received into church-fellowship."
* * *
Like Gough, he gestured a good deal, but much more appropriately. Thus in the pulpit, 'one Sabbath, he spoke of the wicked combining against God, and said that they might just as well stand on the corner and ring a bell, shouting: "Hurrah for the Devil!" and, lifting his arm, he repeated this shout of the enemies of the Almighty, "Hurrah! hurrah for the Devil."
* * *
"He was one of the most generous-minded men I ever knew generous to those who made mistakes, generous to children. My little girl would get hold of his hand and walk clear home with him. My wife went to him at one time and told him that Mr. Spencer, a missionary among the Ojibway Indians, had no overcoat, and he sent him the best overcoat he had, one that had doubtless cost him fifty dollars.
He had no tinge of asceticism about him, not a single particle. He believed that self denial was a condition of discipleship, but he had no asceticism.
There was never a man that trained himself more like an athlete for his work, in eating, drinking and sleeping. How many miles I have walked with him in hunting! How often we knelt beneath those tall oaks in prayer! In all my intercourse with him, I never knew apy bitterness of spirit in him."
* * *
Dr. Morgan tells of hearing Mr. Finney pray somewhat as follows, once: "And now, oh Lord, we pray Thee for Andrew Johnson, Wilt thou show him that he is only a man, and after all a very poor specimen of a man. But if he persists in misapprehending himself, then wilt thou put him to bed. Put a hook in his nose and keep him from doing this mischief."
* * *
One time when President Finney was visiting in the East at the house of a friend, a young lady was introduced to him whose physiognomy seemed to him to indicate Jewish descent. Referring to this incidentally the lady showed that offense had been taken, which the President perceiving, said: "All the daughters of Sarah are not as beautiful as Sarah was." With this delicate compliment he completely disarmed the displeasure of the lady.
Rick Friedrich
1350 Parkway Dr. NE 303
Grand Rapids, MI
49525
Click here to order by credit card:
Total = $17.50. 
Click here if you would like to:
to furthering this ministry.
