Charles+Finney

Charles Finney was born on August 29, 1792 in Warren Connecticut. Mr. Finney was the youngest of fifteen children. He studied as an apprentice in a law firm but after a series of events that took place in his life he was converted to a Christian. Charles Finney at the age of 29 under George Washington Gale, Finney studied to become a licensed minister in the Presbyterian Church. As he progressed a s a young man he became a great preacher. He was a Presbyterian and Congregationalist figure in the Second Great Awakening. Charles Finney was a great preacher and he was called “The Father of Modern Revivals.” In addition to being a Christian Evangelist In 1835 he moved to Ohio where he became a professor and later president of Oberlin College. Mr. Finney wrote extensively about “Freemasonry” there are over two hundred letters related to Masonry in personal papers and he published several articles on Freemasonry that were republished in 1869 as “The Character, Claims, and Practical Workings of Freemasonry.” Finney was a primary influence on the “revival" style of theology which emerged in the 19th century. Though coming from a Calvinistic background, Finney rejected tenets of "Old Divinity" Calvinism which he felt were unbiblical and counter to evangelism and Christian mission.