Mark Small

One can misinterpret a situation. Finney, who inspired Noyes, advocated social reforms, such as abolition of slavery and equal education for women and African Americans. “Presidents of Oberlin College,” Oberlin College Archives. 17/29

Finney taught @/president of Oberlin College: students were accepted w/o regard 2 race/sex Faculty & students :activists 4 abolition, Underground Railroad, & universal education. Hambrick-Stowe, “Charles G. Finney and the Spirit of American Evangelicalism,” 1996, p. 199. 18/29

Oberlin College mere name - “the concept, the notional idea of it seems to represent something deeply evil and threatening to the right-wing commentariat.” Spencer, “Why do conservatives hate Oberlin so much?” Salon, 06/18/19. 19/29

Rev Beckwith quotes Finney - who inspired a community accused by regressive people of having orgies - on the website of what I infer is Rev Beckwith’s pro-trump candidacy. 20/29

I cite GOP leaders for specific stands, but never have adopted every point of each. During his fourth debate with Stephen Douglas, in 1858 Lincoln made grossly racist statements. 21/29

Theodore Roosevelt busted monopolies and favored progressive income taxes, yet also was a militarist; he created the national parks, but blew away beautiful wild creatures. 22/29

USA was founded on gross hypocrisies. Constitution speaks of “Justice” & “Liberty” yet protected the most vile of institutions, slavery. Inconsistency between stated values and conduct is American as chop suey. 23/29

Rev Beckwith should clarify. To quote Washington, a deist, to advance a political agenda steeped in religion is inconsistent with Washington’s beliefs and misconstrues the first President’s use of the term “Heaven.” 24/29