February 14,
2007
Column #1,329
Advance for Feb. 17, 2007
"Amazing Grace" - The Story of William Wilberforce
by Michael J. McManus
This Sunday thousands of churches will sing "Amazing Grace," written by John
Newton, a former slave ship captain who converted and became a pastor. This is
to promote a major new Christian film. "Amazing Grace" opening across America
February 23.
The movie is not about Newton, but William Wilberforce, the person responsible
for the abolition of the British slave trade on February 23,1807, exactly 200
years before the film's opening. Abraham Lincoln said, "Every schoolchild should
know the name of William Wilberforce." No one does today.
Born in a wealthy family, Wilberforce spent more time gambling and partying than
studying while at Cambridge. Ambitious and charming, he was elected to
Parliament at age 21. One of his closest friends there was William Pitt, who
became prime minister.
However, at age 25, Wilberforce experienced a religious conversion that he
called "the great change," which he regarded as the supreme event of his life.
He believed that "God's good providence" had turned him around "through a
miracle of mercy."
He confessed, "The first years that I was in Parliament I did nothing - nothing
I mean to any good purpose. My own distinction was my darling object," he wrote
as quoted in a superb biography, "Hero for Humanity" by Kevin Belmonte.
He considered leaving Parliament to become a clergyman. William Pitt and John
Newton dissuaded him of "the belief that one could best serve God in sacred
rather than secular activities." Newton advised him to "keep up your connection
"with Pitt and to continue in Parliament."
But what should he do now? He began getting up early, spending hours reading
Scripture and praying. What moved him was the commandment to love "thy neighbor
as thyself."
On Sunday, October 28, 1787 he wrote in his diary, "God Almighty has set before
me (ital) two great objects (cl ital) the suppression of the slave trade and the
reformation of manners" (morals). He researched the slave issue and found that
the ships carrying blacks from Africa treated them so badly that 5 to 10 percent
died en route; in some cases, a third expired.
Each year he introduced legislation to end the slave trade, only to see it fail.
His goal seemed impossible. Ending the trade would be a "financial disaster,"
warned opponents since it was a source of Britain's wealth, as British ships
transported slaves captured in Africa to the Americas for sale. He was mocked by
politicians and even by such poets as Lord Byron. Slave traders threatened his
life.
In 1796 Wilberforce was so discouraged he considered resigning from Parliament,
but Newton wrote, "You are not only a representative for Yorkshire, you have the
far greater honour of being a representative for the Lord, in a place where many
know Him not."
Pitt, a great supporter of abolition, died in 1806 and was replaced by Lord
Grenville, an old friend of Wilberforce who urged him to take on the fight 20
years earlier. As Prime Minister, he gave it enthusiastic support. Another ally
was a former enemy, Charles Fox, the leader of the opposition, and a person
Wilberforce had verbally lambasted in 1784 before his "great change"
spiritually. After his conversion, Wilberforce apologized and won Fox's respect.
In the final debate on abolition, Wilberforce was praised by his colleagues. One
compared him to Napoleon "who knew the height of earthly ambition" yet returned
home "tormented by bloodshed and the oppressions of war." By contrast,
Wilberforce would return to "the bosom of his happy and delighted family," able
to lie down in peace because he had "preserved so many millions of his fellow
creatures." The vote was 283-16.
Slavery still existed, however, in the British colonies. The small, frail
legislator dedicated the rest of his life to abolishing slavery itself,
achieving it in 1833, as he lay on his death bed.
Contrast his victory with what happened in America. Jefferson tried to pledge
an end to the slave trade in the Declaration of Independence, but had it edited
out. He dropped the battle. The U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1787 said
Congress could not abolish slave importation until 1808, but it was delayed
until 1822.
"Here is a man who resisted temptation, who took the longer view of making a
better world,"said Chuck Stetson, director of the Wilberforce Project to honor
him. "We have a lot to learn from his character traits. In Parliament he sought
others out, liked to work behind the scenes, who saw his position as a vehicle
to get things done and was known for his self-denial and humility."
|
| |
30+ Years / 1700+ Columns |
| |
LATEST ARTICLE |
| |
June 22,
2017: Column 1869: The Need For Stronger Gun Laws |
| |
Recent Columns |
| |
Trump Should Be Impeached |
| |
Can Euthanasia Be Justified? |
| |
Trump's Budget - A Disaster |
| |
Trump Eliminates U.S. Abortion Funding Abroad |
| |
Comey Fired for Wrong Reasons |
| |
Should FBI Director Comey Be Fired? |
| |
Cohabitation: A Growing Problem - Part II |
| |
Cohabitation: A Growing Problem - Part I |
| |
Texting While Driving - A Killer |
| |
Why Have "Religious Nones" Tripled? |
| |
Norma McCorvey Roe of Roe v. Wade |
| |
The Worst Valentine: Cohabitation |
| |
Pornography: A Public Health Hazard |
| |
Christianity Gives Women Equal Opportunity |
| |
Sextortion Kills Teens |
| |
Assisted Suicide Is Growing |
| |
Muslim Violence
Against Christians |
| |
Recent Searches |
| |
alcoholism,
prayer,
guns,
same sex marriage,
abortion,
depression,
islam,
divorce,
polygamy,
religious liberty,
health care,
pornography,
teen sex,
abortion and infanticide,
Roe+v+Wade,
supreme court,
marriage,
movies,
violence,
celibacy,
living+together,
cohabitation,
ethics+and+religion,
pornography,
adultery,
divorce,
saving+marriages |
|
