March 19th: William Wilberforce

Speaker: Chris Cooper

An independent member of Parliament, Wilberforce set himself to achieve the abolition of the slave trade, and the freeing of all slaves.

Suppose you’re asked to write your own obituary.
How would you like to be remembered? What would you write?
Do we long to have a life that makes a difference?
President Kennedy once said “Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.” Perhaps as believers we should say, “Ask not what the Lord can do for you, but ask what you can do for the Lord”.

Whatever our life’s sphere of influence – family, church, university, work place, nation we can have a life that counts if we develop true, Christian character. If we have godly objectives and faith that He will enable us.

Today’s subject is one such man. William Wilberforce. Not a preacher or pastor but a politician.
Not your average politician driven by party or desire for power, but a man of principle and a single steady aim at lifelong objectives.
Probably the most significant achievement of any politician in this country or even in the world. Great impact on world history.

HIS EARLY LIFE
Born 1759 in Hull same year as Napoleon and Duke of Wellington (Battle of Waterloo) and William Pitt (youngest ever prime minister).
Father died young when W was 9. Wilberforce was a weak, sickly child.
Mother sent him to stay with relatives – evangelical – friends of George Whitfield and John Newton (author of Amazing Grace etc).
He had early spiritual impressions there and loved the relatives as parents.
Mother was horrified they might turn him into a Methodist so took him away. He was heartbroken.
His family then pushed him into worldly social life – theatres, parties, great suppers – at first he hated it but came to enjoy it.

At 17 went to Cambridge. Wealthy young man. Did not need to work.
Fell in with hard drinking men with filthy conversations – but after a year tired of them and separated himself. Before leaving Cambridge – 3 possible careers:
1.    A life of pleasure – he knew it didn’t satisfy him.
2.    Business – others could manage his fortune.
3.    Public service. Decided to stand for parliament at 21. MP for Hull.

Note the youth: in those days notable men could start young – W at 21, Pitt PM by 24, Lord Nelson (Battle of Trafalgar captain at 20. Spurgeon a pastor at 17, 19 in this church.
You young people – are you mature, able to take responsibility young? Or like so many these days playing around until 30?
He soon learned the skills of an MP – very effective in debates, moving speeches.
He maintained his independence. He was never given a role in the government. He spoke on issues that concerned him.
Socially, he loved to be in company with others, joking, boisterous conversations and even singing (he had a lovely singing voice). Emotional, laughter–loving, also a great speaker.

CONVERSION
When 25 W decided to take a holiday tour into France with family and with an older friend Isaac Milner a Cambridge academic. An extraordinary man - a brilliant, scientific career.
On their journey by carriage, they passed the time by reading The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul by Philip Doddridge.
Wonderful book, used to be available in the bookshop.
W had begun to appreciate the need of a personal faith in Christ. His soul in turmoil.
At first, intellectually convinced, but later  a true change of heart.

In their next journey together, they read the Greek NT.
W sought spiritual counsel from John Newton – famous hymn writer and minister.
Newton had been a hard living slave trader in earlier life – his own description: ‘the old African blasphemer’.  He led W to, or maybe back to a living faith in Christ.
His true conversion started to make a big difference.
He withdrew from the social clubs, frequented by the fashionable and wealthy.
He began to make friends with true believers. He sold his Wimbledon house, as it caused unnecessary expense. Started giving his money away to good causes. Started to question his role in political life.

He was very close friend of Wm Pitt, youngest PM ever. Like brothers.
But after long discussions they had to agree to differ on spiritual things. Pitt never gave much time for reflection on religious matters.
Still huge respect for W. Totally relied on W’s help and support on many issues.
In May 1787 Pitt suggested to W that he introduce a bill in Parliament to abolish the slave trade.

THE SCALE OF THE TASK
Slave trade seen as vital to the British Empire. Britain the world’s leading slave-trading nation.
Abolition threatened the trade of hundreds of ships, thousands of sailors, hundreds of millions of pounds every year.
Slaves from Africa –> West Indies, produce –> Britain, manufactured goods ->Africa
At first W optimistic but …John Wesley, the day before he died, warned him “unless God has raised you up, I cannot see how you can go through with your glorious enterprise in opposing that appalling villainy, which is the scandal of religion, of England and of human nature. Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. But if God be for you who can be against you?”

The fight was costly and long. W the most vilified man in England. W attacked physically several times. Many denied there were any problems with slavery.
Some navy admirals claimed slaves were so happy when shipped away from Africa. Most people feared change.
The horrors of the French Revolution in 1789 worried everyone with fear of radicalism.
Some of England’s greatest heroes opposed him eg Admiral Lord Nelson.
Opposed by the planters, merchants, ship owners, the royal family, the powerful ports of Bristol and Liverpool.

HIS CAMPAIGN
At first he aimed at international convention. If other nations just took over from Britain, nothing achieved.
Preparation for this campaign beginning exhausted him. Ill. Doctors said he’s be dead soon. But he recovered. Special parliamentary inquiry reported – very hostile to the slave trade.
He introduced a debate in Parliament and, though unwell, spoke for 3.5 hours, supported by the Prime Minister and other leading men.
Read: P83 (Pollock essay) his speech conclusion. But Parliament was not convinced.
Facing all the opposition, all his parliamentary skill, his patience, his sense of humour, his faith and prayer.
War with France in 1793 diverted many from this great issue. Friends told him to cool off too. But he replied that this is not a political matter, “a man of God is not at liberty to stop pushing”

Wm Pitt died 1806 aged 47 after 19 years as PM.
New PM Lord Grenville introduced a new bill and on 23 February 1807, after 20 years of campaigning by W, the bill was passed!
Samuel Romilly speech compared Napoleon and W going to bed at night. Napoleon in pomp and power, yet sleep tormented by all the blood he had spilt. W returning home to his family and lying down in happiness knowing he “had preserved so many millions of his fellow creatures.”

Before Romilly could finish, all the MPs rose as one and cheered W.
W was sat, head bowed, tears streaming down his face. Bill carried by 283 votes to 16.

The British slave trade was ended. Well, the British were no longer to trade in slaves. But the slaves were not free yet. Emancipation was the next target.

THE REFORMATION OF MANNERS (BEHAVIOUR)
After the vote was won W joked with his friend: “Well Henry what shall we abolish next?”
His friend said the National Lottery. It was abolished 9 years later. (Reintroduced in 1994 and still going today). While the campaign for emancipation was far from won, W had another great objective alongside it: the campaign to make Britain a more moral nation with Christian standards.
This was in addition to his interest in 69 different societies aiming to improve social conditions, abolish evil practices in the nation.
He was a supporter of those opposed to cruelty to animals. He defended the institution of marriage. He defended the Lord’s Day.
He understood that the basis of a fair, tolerant, moral country is not laws but the spiritual and moral state of the people of the country.

Today, demands for action to deal with social ills are almost entirely demands for more laws rather than the reformation of the people. W understood that a Christian people, or a people accepting Christian standards, will be a moral, law-abiding, peace-loving people.
They will do more good than harm in the world. The next age – Victorian – was one in which Britain showed forth these characteristics and was known worldwide for them.
W and his contemporaries played a great part in creating that Age.

He saw the evils of society then. The leaders of society – the aristocrats and wealthy landowners, who had very great influence on society – were dissolute, behaving immorally, drunken, promiscuous, and very sceptical about religion. The wealth of the nation was built on the slave trade, mass poverty, child labour and political corruption.
The violence of the working classes was met with state violence – so many being hanged for minor crimes.
W saw that if he could influence the upper classes, their improved behaviour would affect all below them. His so-called campaign for the Reformation of Manners ran alongside his campaign against slavery and all his other initiatives, lifelong.
It was fashionable amongst the aristocrats to be loose in morals and very sceptical about religion. He saw a way of influencing them.

He got the King to issue a proclamation on the promotion of good behaviour and the preventing of immorality and evil. He then persuaded many bishops, dukes and other leaders to join a society with the same aims. He did it in such a way that many did not know he was involved.
He gave the trendsetters a strong social conscience and desire to help the poor. The movement caught on.
Although, this movement was not religious, W strongly believed that conversion to Christ was the greatest influence on behaviour and on the future of a country.

He wrote a big book which became a best-seller. The subject was the difference between true faith and its imitations. He upset the unbelieving, radical politicians by saying that social reform must have a spiritual basis. Reformers and educators who reject God will often do more harm than good. We see the truth of that in our day.
Through W several aristocrats were converted to Christ. His life was a constant testimony to his faith.
His character in parliament, in his family and amongst the many people he was constantly meeting, was seen as very consistent and Christ-like.
He had his faults but his character shone through so that even his political enemies had to admire him.

Britain was at that time growing an Empire and was the world’s leading society. Nineteenth-century Britain was known for its emphasis on character, morals and justice. British business was known for its integrity.
W played a large role in the development of such a society which developed after his death. Early exploitation of the Empire gave way to the desire to do good to those who were ruled by Britain.

In homes, the Bible became the most widely read book. Christian attitudes shaped the character of the nation. The conscience of the nation attacked the abuses of the earlier, godless age.

WILBERFORCE THE MAN
Was he man of normal passions? Yes! Around 30 years of age he fell in love with a Miss H.
Soon realised her convictions were different to his so did not propose marriage. He felt he would probably remain single. He saw that as a sacrifice.
However, his resolve to remain single started to weaken until he was around 37 when he began to wish “not to finish my journey alone”.
A friend knew just the woman. One of a number of young ladies of fashion recently become fervent evangelical believers. Barbara Spooner. She wrote him a letter asking advice.
He met her and fell deeply in love at first sight. It was a whirlwind courtship. Many friends counselled him to slow down. They were married in a quiet wedding when he was 38.

At first they were blissfully happy. Later in life, Barbara became quite difficult in some ways. One person viewing W with his wife commented that “you do not know the definition of an angel until you have seen W with his wife”. He maintained his loving, gentle attitude to the end of his life. 
Loved scripture. Memorised the 119th Psalm. Used to recite it crossing Hyde Park.

THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THE SLAVE TRADE
After some years he realised that the slaves in the West Indies were not being set free by their masters as he had hoped. This depressed him. He really understood the enormity of slavery.
In 1827 he said: it was “the habitual immorality and degradation and often grinding suffering of the poor victims of this wicked system” that drove him.
By then he felt too old to pursue the cause as before. He was 68 and in constant bad health. Most of his close friends and original abolitionists had died.
He brought in another MP to lead the campaign while he gave support. 3 months before his death he launched another petition against slavery.
He had hoped not to do any more public work but said “it shall never be said that William Wilberforce is silent while the slaves require his help”.

Bill for the emancipation of the slaves passed House of Commons on 26th July 1833. All the slaves in the British Empire were to be freed in one year’s time.  That’s 800,000 slaves!
W was on his death bed and heard the news of the bill as he lay dying.
The next day he told those close to him that he was in a bad way. They said to him “But you have your feet on the Rock”. His reply, his last recorded words, were “I do not venture to speak so positively; but I hope I have”.
“The day which was the termination of his labours was the termination of his life”. By the end of his life his name was the greatest in the land. A great historian described abolition: “one of the turning events in the history of the world”.
He gave instructions to be buried in a family grave, but all the leading men wanted him buried in Westminster Abbey, as a national hero. The family agreed quickly. His coffin was carried by some of the most eminent men in the country.

WHAT A LIFE!
A politician and yet he did not fit into any category of party or alliances.
He was independent and yet worked with others across the political spectrum.
He never held any government position, yet he influenced more laws than probably any other person.    
He was loved by most but hated by some.
This man was a true Christian!
May we be such believers in whatever place God has given us in this short, uncertain life.
May we have our feet firmly on that Rock, Christ Jesus.