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Finley Letters

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Letter from John McDonald to James B. Finley

John McDonald
February 21, 1844; Poplar Ridge

McDonald writes that their old friend, John McCoy, who built the first log cabin in Chillicothe, has died. He is writing a biography of McCoy for the Western Christian Advocate. The temperance cause in their area is holding its own. Many who have not signed the pledge are actually practicing temperance. McDonald has not joined the local Methodist Episcopal church because he does not believe in the doctrine of the Trinity as held by the MEC. However, he attends church regularly, supports the church financially, and reads the Bible with great interest. He considers the doctrine of Original Sin (fall of man) to be allegorical. McDonald tactfully requests that Finley use better penmanship in future letters. The "crooked marks" are "hard to decipher." Abstract Number - 1162
Letter from Henry S. Gunckel to James B. Finley

Henry S. Gunckel
February 24, 1844; Columbus

Henry S. Gunckel is serving as a member of the Ohio State House of Representatives (from Montgomery County) at the time this letter is written. He describes in great detail the Whig Convention of November 22, 1844, at which Mordecai Bartley was nominated as candidate for governor of Ohio. He also discusses serious banking issues being discussed at the time. Abstract Number - 223
Letter from William S. Morrow to James B. Finley

William S. Morrow
March 08, 1844; Sidney (Shelby County), OH

Morrow (Presiding Elder, Bellefontaine District, North Ohio Conference) tells Finley that the people on his side of the Scioto River have been talking about a potential division of conferences within the state of Ohio, and would prefer to be part of the Ohio Conference.The location is difficult to supply as it is. Morrow would like to see Richwood, Bellefontaine, West Liberty, Port Jefferson Circuit, Sidney, and Greenville Circuit moved to the Ohio Conference. Abstract Number - 1216
Letter from T.A.G. Phillips to James B. Finley

T.A.G. Phillips
March 16, 1844; Granville

Rev. Phillips is currently serving the Granville Circuit under Presiding Elder James B. Finley (Zanesville District). He encloses $7.62 from the Granville Circuit and $2.50 from the Johnstown Circuit (Rev. David Lewis). Phillips asks Finley to forward a letter for him to the book agents concerning his subscription to the Christian Advocate & Journal and back issues of the Methodist Magazine and Quarterly Review which were never received. Abstract Number - 219
Letter from J.M. Stevenson to James B. Finley

J. M. Stevenson
March 30, 1844; Troy, Ohio

Rev. John M. Stevenson (serving as preacher of the Presbyterian Church at Troy) sends an outline of his sermon on infant baptism to Finley, as requested. Abstract Number - 220
Letter from Uriah Heath to James B. Finley

Uriah Heath
June 04, 1844; Newark, Ohio

Heath has been following the progress of the 1844 General Conference through newspapers and the Christian Advocate. He tells Finley that "the action of the present General Conference will exert a powerful influence upon the destinies of the nation." Folks in Ohio are reading about Finley's important contributions regarding slave-holding/Bishop James Andrew at the Conference. Heath has conversed with Ohio itinerant preachers -- Whitcomb, Simmons, Hamilton, Smith, White, Bateman, Doughty, Davis and Newson, as well as local preachers and members, "who, without a dissenting voice approve of the action in the Harding case and the action in the case of Bishop Andrew so far as it has gone. The ministers generally say let him be deposed." There is also indignation in Ohio concerning Brother E.W. Sehon, who appears to have succumbed to the slave-holding influence. The letter is meant to support both Finley and the Ohio delegation in their efforts to fight slave-holding among bishops and ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Abstract Number - 799
Letter from A.H. Ferguson to James B. Finley

A.H. Ferguson
June 05, 1844; New York City

Ferguson reminds Finley that he had offered to provide the autographs of Bishops Asbury, George, and McKendree to him. Ferguson is collecting the autographs "of our Bishops and old preachers," and would be grateful if Finley would send them. He also wants Finley's autograph. Abstract Number - 547
Letter from William S. Morrow to James B. Finley

William S. Morrow
July 02, 1844; Sidney (Shelby County), OH

Morrow (Presiding Elder, Bellefontaine District, North Ohio Conference) liked the firm stand taken by the north and west at the General Conference (1844) regarding the case of Bishop James O. Andrew. It is high time that the free states "wake up." He bewails that fact that President John Tyler and Secretary of State John C. Calhoun are about to involve the country in a war with Mexico over the issue of Texas annexation. Lastly, he asks Finley for a transfer to the Ohio Conference. Abstract Number - 224
Letter from John McDonald to James B. Finley

John McDonald
July 22, 1844; Poplar Ridge

McDonald has been reading coverage of the late General Conference where the question of Bishop Andrew's slave ownership has been front and center. McDonald does not believe that it is proper for the Methodist Episcopal Church to bring this political issue into its church life. Matters related to slavery are civil in nature and should be resolved in the civil arena. He considers the division of the Conference into northern and southern divisions to be a prelude to a national division of the states, along the same lines as proposed by the Conference. In sum, slavery is a political issue that should not be legislated in the church. Even though he disagrees with Finley's stance on Bishop Andrew, he still loves and respects him. Abstract Number - 800
Letter from Thomas Brown to James B. Finley

Thomas Brown
August 17, 1844; Dayton

Brown is pleased to hear that Finley is considering limiting his ministry to Finley Chapel in Dayton, and believes that there will be support for it. He discusses possible housing options. Abstract Number - 225
Letter from Robert D. Smith to James B. Finley

Robert D. Smith
August 17, 1844; Vicksburg, Mississippi

Rev. Robert D. Smith, a member of the Mississippi Methodist Episcopal Conference, does not want to remain in the south now that the southern states plan to secede from the MEC to form the Methodist Episcopal Church South (MECS). He considers himself to be part of the non-slaveholding or anti-slavery part of the church. Smith writes to Finley as "one of the old order of the itinerancy," hoping that the Ohio Conference will consider appointing him to a congregation within its bounds. The letter demonstrates the conflict experienced by anti-slavery preachers living in the south at the time of secession. Abstract Number - 801
Letter from Robert P. Finley to James B. Finley

Robert P. Finley
August 25, 1844; Wilmington

Robert (Finley's nephew) is pleased to hear from James about the General Conference. Robert thinks the Conference did well and did it right. The question now is whether slavery shall be recognized or not. Robert tells James that the eyes of all are upon the Church as in no other period in its history. Everyone is watching for a compromise and all wait to hear the North announce its readiness to meet the South on some grounds. Robert tells his uncle that he did not like his "substitute," but after he understood it, he gave his hearty assent. It is likely the subject will be discussed at the Ohio Conference. Bishop Soule will be in attendance to see to the interests of the South. Included in this letter is a short note from Robert's wife. She invites James to visit them in the fall. Abstract Number - 976
Letter from John McDonald to James B. Finley

John McDonald
August 27, 1844; Poplar Ridge

McDonald reports that a huge camp meeting was held near their meeting house August 15th through August 20th. The meeting was conducted by Rev. Brown and Rev. Stewart. Thousands attended. He says he is one of the" irregulars" in the church but is trying his best to do what is right. Abstract Number - 226
Letter from Samuel F. MacCracken to James B. Finley

Samuel F. MacCracken
August 30, 1844; Lancaster

MacCracken writes to Finley concerning the appointment of a successor to Rev. William P. Strickland for the Lancaster Station. The congregation would be very pleased if Rev. John W. Weakly could be appointed. Abstract Number - 227
Letter from Leonidas Lent Hamline to James B. Finley

L.L. Hamline
September 14, 1844; Xenia

Bishop Hamline writes a congratulatory letter stating that the 1844 General Conference action (approval of Finley's resolution that Bishop James O. Andrew desist from exercising bishop duties until he no longer owns slaves) has quieted abolition excitement in the M.E. Church in "these northern regions where all was strife and bitterness and war to the knife." He also says that thousands of Methodists who sympathized with the Scottites (Wesleyan Methodist Church founded by Orange Scott -- primarily abolitionists) have "gone away in the other direction" (toward the MEC). Abstract Number - 802
Letter from Joseph S. Tomlinson to James B. Finley

Joseph S. Tomlinson
October 31, 1844; Augusta, KY

Dr. Joseph Tomlinson (president of Augusta College in Kentucky) writes to let Finley know there is a strong feeling in Kentucky against the proposed division of the Methodist Episcopal Church. If the southern Methodists should decide on division, Kentucky, Western Virginia and Missouri will stand firm against secession and remain part of the northern church. If we secede with the south, we will be "thrown into the arms of heightened proslavery nullifiers" and the cause of emancipation will be "thrown back to a far greater extent than it has ever been done by Abolitionism." Abstract Number - 803
Letter from Michael Marley to James B. Finley

Michael Marley
November 27, 1844; Milford

Marley (Marlay) writes to Finley bewailing the state of the country and the church. With regard to the church, he is very upset to see "principle men" attempting to ruin each other's reputations. He has less trust in men generally than ever before. The spirit of religion is low in his district. He does not think there will be a separation (North and South) of the denomination before the next General Conference, if ever. Abstract Number - 804
Letter from John Brown to James B. Finley

John Brown
January 01, 1845;

Brown expresses his sorrow about not being able to attend Conference, which means a great deal to him. He will not be able to see Finley, who also means a great deal to him, but due to legal difficulties it will be impossible. He asks Finley to speak a word for him in explanation. Abstract Number - 246
Letter from Uriah Heath to James B. Finley

Uriah Heath
January 01, 1845; Franklinton

Heath has talked with preachers James Gurley, David Reed, Joseph McDowell, Stephen Conrey and Joseph Smith on the subject of freemasonry. They are all opposed to the freemasonry evil. David Whitcomb and James Armstrong are both members of the Masonic Fraternity and are supportive of it. Heath told Armstrong and Whitcomb, in a friendly way, that he is opposed to their membership. Central in the letter is the notion that preachers ought not to be freemasons. Abstract Number - 629
Letter from W.H. Raper to James B. Finley

W.H. Raper
January 01, 1845; unknown

At Finley's request, Rev. Raper recalls the story of Lydia Osborn, the "lost child" who disappeared from her Williamsburg home (Clermont County) in 1804. A very large search party failed to find Lydia. It was assumed at the time that the lost Lydia had been captured by Indians who were hunting in the area. Lydia's father searched for 19 years, visiting many Indian nations, but never found his daughter. Abstract Number - 247
Letter from David Reed to James B. Finley

David Reed
January 01, 1845; Chillicothe

Reed writes to his uncle from his appointment at Main Street Chillicothe. He wants Finley to know how proud he is to acknowledge his "consanguineous relation" who acted so boldly at the General Conference of 1844 with regard to the "fowlest system of slavery which ever saw the sun." The southerners will attempt to call themselves the "Southern Methodist Church", but the whole world will unite in calling it the "Slave-Holding Church" or the "Pro-Slavery Church." Bishop Soule's invitation to Bishop Andrew to attend the southern conferences is a violation of the advice of the General Conference and will not be submitted to quietly. Soule will have a lot to answer for. Reed is very proud of the stance taken against slavery by the MEC in previous years. Abstract Number - 658
Letter from J.W. Stone to James B. Finley

J.W. Stone
January 01, 1845; Newark

Rev. John W. Stone writes to his Presiding Elder, James B. Finley, from his new appointment in Newark. Stone reports that he sometimes feels discouraged about the "backwardness" of Newark church members, but conditions are slowly improving. He expresses gratitude to Finley for attending a quarterly meeting. Finley's labors during that meeting will be "long remembered." Stone needs Finley's help to settle a problem from his previous appointment -- Putnam. It appears that he did not receive pay that was owed to him from the stewards. The stewards are arguing that rent was provided in lieu of pay. Stone is adamant that this is not the arrangement he had with the stewards. Abstract Number - 522
Letter from Hannah Finley Hough to James B. Finley

Hannah Finley Hough
January 22, 1845; Shelby County, IN

Hannah Finley Hough (Huff), informs her brother James B. Finley of the death of her husband Joseph on November 21, 1844. She is very anxious for Finley to visit her and give her advice. She would like Finley to preach a funeral sermon. Abstract Number - 229
Letter from Leroy Swormstedt to James B. Finley

Leroy Swormstedt
February 01, 1845; Cincinnati

Leroy Swormstedt (principal Book Agent at the Western Book Concern in Cincinnati), responds to Finley's letter concerning unpaid subscriptions to the Western Christian Advocate. Rich Harrison and Harry Wilson both owe money to the Book Concern for past subscriptions. Finley will apparently attempt to collect the money. Swormstedt then turns his attention to the potential division of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He deplores the prospect of division. He invites Finley to attend the Book Concern meeting in March. Abstract Number - 548
Letter from James B. Finley to Leroy Swormstedt

James B. Finley
February 10, 1845; Zanesville

James acknowledges receipt of the circular which Rev. Swormstedt sent him to sign several weeks ago. He is returning it without his signature and without his approval. James gives reasons why he objects to the circular. If it is actually printed in the Western Christian Advocate, Finley asks Swormstedt to send his letter to Charles Elliott to publish in the same issue. Finley writes as a member of the Committee (commissioner) of Nine appointed at the General Conference of 1844 to make recommendations for property division in the event that the southerners formed a separate organization. He argues that the agents and commissioners of the committee have no legal authority to issue such a circular. He advises against publication. Abstract Number - 805