This is the title of a book describing the life of William
Wilberforce, Member of the British parliament from 1778 to 1825. He achieved
two seemingly impossible things: 1) Abolition of slave trade. 2)Bringing a new moral tone to British
leadership. Wilberforce proved that one man can change his times, but he cannot
do it alone.
1.Background of his Struggle: Slave Trade and Moral
Deterioration
At that time, Britain was the world’s leading slave-trading
nation. British ships sailed from their ports to the West African coast and
gathered their cargo. Often they did it by direct capture or purchase from Arab
traders or barter with local chiefs who would easily sell the entire population
of one of their own or of a neighbour’s village. They were herded into crowded
barracks called barraccons, awaiting the arrival of the slave ships. They were
branded with their new owner’s mark, while the old and the infirm were killed
as useless. The inhuman treatment they received there and on their journey in
equally packed ship holds and eventually sold in markets just like horses is a
story that revolts the sensibilities of modern man. This horrendous trade was
what Wilberforce was struggling to ban.
A second major problem then was the lamentable moral
condition of society. British society at that time was Christian, all but in
name. The aristocracy, which included the ruling class, apart from supporting
the slave trade, had no care for the increasing poverty and misery of the
majority of their own countrymen as a consequence of the industrial revolution.
The coarseness and profligacy of the social life of the governing classes and
their heartlessness was appalling. One observer states that corruption and
drunkenness as well as illicit liaisons was endemic and “the rich lived in a
stateof selfish pagan hedonism.”
Neither bishops nor clergy were of any help.
2.Early Life and Entry into Parliament
Born on 24th August 1759 at Hull, the fourth port of
Britain, Wilberforce was, frail and with poor eyesight but vigorous in mind and
endowed with a voice of unusual range and beauty. His father Robert belonged to
one of the well-to-do mercantile families. When nine years old, his father died
and he was sent to live with his childless uncle and aunt. There he was
influenced by the friends of John Wesley, whose preaching and life influenced
him very much. Fearing that he was turning Methodist, his mother, who loved the
social life of London, came and took him back home and tried to distract him
from his stricter and more religious life. Soon enough, he began to love this
freer life. College at Cambridge, with its carefree life also helped in this.
William decided to make politics his career, just like William Pitt with whom
he came into contact while sitting in the gallery of the House of Commons,
listening to the debates night after night.Eventually, Pitt stood for election for Cambridge and William for Hull
and won at the cost of 800 pounds, beating a much older and experienced man.
But he realised that to make an impact he had to win his way
in to the close–knit web of London society where he knew not a single person of
importance. But being young and rich and a charming Member of Parliament, doors
opened to him readily enough. His sweet voice and his ability for mimicry added
to his charm. Though fond of parties and fun, he was dubbed by an observer as
“moral and entertaining”.
3.His Conversion
Having to make a long journey to Europe to take his mother
and sister to Nice for health reasons, he was looking for a companion. And that
was Isaac Milner, a clergyman, tutor at Cambridge and a very knowledgeable and
pleasant campanion. That journey seems to have changed his life decisively.
While discussing religion with him, Wilberforce’s intellectual assent to
Christianity developed into deep inner conviction. Then the feeling began to
dawn on him that he was not a Christian ‘in the true sense of the word’ and he
began rising early and spending the first hours of the day in meditation. He
began to reorder his life, wanting to be “fully at God’s command”. His meeting
with John Newton, a converted slave trader and a clergyman, strengthened his
resolve and he began a more truly Christian life. His doubts about continuing
his public life was solved by the advice of Newton, who told him: “The Lord has
raised you up for the good of his Church and for the good of the nation.” This
gave him that “mature balance between the private and the public, between
private holiness and care for the world, which is fundamental to Christianity,
but yet is so often missed even by the most sincere”.
4. His Changed Life-style
He resigned from fashionable clubs, gave up gambling,
dancing and going to the theatre as these had become frivolous in the
prevailing ambience of corruption and worldliness. He began serious reading and
the work of self-improvement. Reflecting on what the Lord is calling him to do,
he felt it important first to strive to bring a new moral tone to the
leadership of Britain. In the meantime, Charles Middleton, a committed
Christian and opposed to the slave trade, asked him for help to raise the
matter in parliament. Though he felt unequal to the task, he realised he could
not possibly decline. Eventually, these two issues became the focus of his
attention as the mission of his life.
5. Battle for Abolition of Slave Trade
The battle for abolition of slave trade began in 1787 and it
took 20 years of toil and in the process he was to become “one of the most
hated men in England – and one of the most beloved.” As a consequence of this
struggle a strain of altruism was introduced d into British political
tradition.
Discussing with his
friends, he realised that straight away trying for emancipation of slaves would
be foolhardy as there would be strong and militant opposition from the many who
profited enormously from this trade. So they decided first to aim at stopping
the new supply of slaves; then ensure better treatment of the present slaves
and finally go for total abolition. But even the first step was vehemently
opposed. When the motion was proposed and his turn came, he spoke for three
hours and a half and in the words of one of the observers his speech was “not
excelled by anything to be met with in Demostheners.” Yet, later when the
motion came up again for debate, though he spoke for four hours, the motion was
defeated. But when the proposal was watered down to “gradual abolition” of the
slave trade, in spite of winning by a huge majority, he was disappointed even
as congratulations poured in. Soon after the debate, his life was threatened
twice, such was the hardcore opposition from people who feared for their
economic loss. He faced several defeats in the coming years. But in the end
after 20 years in 1805 victory was achieved. When the news reached Bombay, one
of the British leaders said “we are apt perpetually to express our wonder that
so much exertion should be necessary to suppress flagrant injustice.” He went
on to add: “The more just reflection will be that a short period of the short life
of one man is, when well and wisely directed, sufficient to remedy the miseries
of millions for ages.”
6. His Struggle for
Reform of Morals and Manners of Society
Wilberforce was not going to rest on his laurels. He set to
work on his second great object: “the reformation of the manners- or morals -
of England”. This, he realised would be much more difficult than abolishing
slave trade, as he would have to face the cultured aristocracy’s fierce
opposition. The bishops were political, not religious and most of the clergy
did not live in their parishes. However, the preaching of John Wesley and his
seven hundred preachers began to have an effect. His strategy was first: to
restore respect for law; second make goodness fashionable among the ruling
class. He decided to get the help of the king, George III, as there was a
custom at the coronation of a new king to issue a ‘Proclamation for
Encouragement of Piety and Virtue and for the Prevention of Vice, Profaneness
and Immorality’. This was already done earlier at his accession in 1760. Such
Proclamations were merely formal statements and were promptly ignored. But he
decided to ask the king to reissue the Proclamation which the king did and
added some paragraphs to the usual format indicating that he wanted thisreformation to start among those close to him
and the government.
7. Proclamation Society
Wilberforce followed this up by setting up a ‘Proclamation
Society’ to ensure that the Proclamation might become a force rather than a
farce. He succeeded in getting into this society many noblemen and influential
politicians even though many themselves were not paragons of virtue. But the
backbone of the group was the dedicated friends and supporters of Wilberforce.
Many were also convinced because they were appalled by the seriousness of the
crime rate and the consequent rise in the number of hangings! Often the change
came about through servants and governesses who took the new spirit to the
younger generation. Another method he employed was publication of tracts, and
books and periodicals with attractive characters portraying ideas in a humorous
and delightful way. Many were not great literature but they had an enormous
influence.
The steps he and his friends had initiated actually took
time to work through the national life. But already in Wilberforce’s lifetime,
a fresh breeze was blowing away a deal of dirt and heartlessness from countless
corners of national life. Few would deny that he had in fact set in motion ‘the
reformation of the manners’. The author of ‘Origins of Modern English Society’
Professor Perkins sates that “between 1780 and 1850 the English ceased to be
one of themost aggressive, brutal,
rowdy, outspoken, riotous, cruel and bloodthirsty nations in the world”.
8. Opposition to Wilberforce
Like all reformers who challenge the existing order,
Wilberforce came in for attack and abuse, slander and calumny. Even the King
who initially was with him, turned against him, declaring him to be a
hypocrite! The attacks and abuse came in and out of parliament. But he never
reacted violently though he was master of sarcasm and his facility with words
and turn of phrases could shame his enemy forever, if he wanted! What helped
him to be serene was commitment and the discipline of his life. He sought to discipline
tongue, tastes and thoughts equally. He knew the value of the first hours of
the day. Before the mind is heated and weary of the turmoil of the day “you
have a season of unusual importance for communing with God and with yourself.”
He recommended such times of reflection to many. He said: “I have always found
that I have the most time for business, and it is best done, when I have most
properly observed my private devotions.” He believed in a Providence which
intervened in both personal and national affairs. Reliance, through good and
ill, on a wise God lay at the root of Wilberforce’s serenity. He did all that
he could and then left the result in God’s hands.
Pressures of modern life and above all life in politics may
be greater now. But he himself survived fifty years of exceptionally busy
public life, in spite of his ill health, impaired eye sight and the steel brace
he secretly wore to support his tiny frame. It was clear that he had found the
secret which has escaped equally busy leaders.
9. His Support Group
Another reason for his persistence and success in his
campaigns was that he never worked alone. He was sustained by a group of
friends who gathered around him. This included Willian Pitt who became Prime
Minister. It began as an informal group of friends drawn together by shared
views and a common aim. In the course of their campaigns they formed a sort of
community whose members often stayed together in a house he owned in Clapham
where they could discuss and plan together. It became known as the Clapham
Community. They went so far as accepting corrections and correcting each other,
helping each other to do politics as true Christians. They refused to pay bribe
for votes and agreed before voting to look to the facts and not to the wishes
of the minister. Their principle in parliament before voting was: “Is it
morally right?” Further, Wilberforce had resolved ‘never to use his friends’
votes to bribe or coerce the government’.
10. His Efforts at Helping Individuals to Grow
He was not one who was interested only in causes and
campaigns. He also wanted to help people to grow as humans and as believers.
One of his concerns at the beginning of his committed Christian life was
whether to preserve his gaiety and cheerfulness or not, fearing that these would
dilute serious commitment. His problem was solved by another of his advisers
who said: You are serving God by making yourself agreeable to worldly but
well-disposed people “who would never be attracted by grave and severe
divines!” In fact many were surprised that the company of a man of his
principles was so eagerly sought after. According to perceptive observers his
secret lay in his being so crystal clear and unself-conscious about his
principles. “Being free from worry about himself, he was free to think of
others.” He had the ability to oppose even his friends on principle and yet
keep their friendship.
11. Politics: an honourable profession for honest men!
When Wilberforce began his campaign, there were just three
in parliament who were identified as practicing Christians. After fifty years
the number increased to hundred! Their presence did much to transform
parliament from a group mainly concerned with interests of its members to an
assembly responsible for the public good. The public, which had earlier held
politicians in contempt, now expected them to higher standards and eventually
politics began to be seen as an “honorable profession for honest men”.
12. Marriage & Family
Being preoccupied with his campaigns, marriage and family
life took a backseat in his scheme of things. It was only at the age of 38 that
he got married to Barbara Spooner. His marriage and family life itself became
an example for many showing how marriage and politics can go well. His age and
ill-health induced him to resign his membership of Parliament in 1825.
13. A Life totally at the Service of God & Man
He was offered and refused a peerage which he felt was too
much. He believed that getting younger members into the House of Commons would
be much better. At the end he was able to write to one of his friends: “I
rejoice to think that I am not wanted”. He died in 1833. His biographer
concludes thus: Wilberforce lived that higher statesmanship which consists in
serving not his own interest but his God’s.
14. A similar modern Politician: Jimmy Carter
On 29th Dec. 2024, there came the news of the death of Jimmy
Carter, President of the United States of America from 1977-82. He took charge
when the country was in a mess with the lingering scars of the Vietnam war, the
Watergate scandal, the Arab Oil embargo etc., His two immediate predecessors
were Lyndon. B. Johnson and Richard Nixon, and it was known that Johnson had
lied about Vietnam and Nixon had lied about ‘Pretty much everything’. Carter, a
Sunday school teacher arrived on the scene and promised that “he would never
knowingly lie to the American people”. It is widely acknowledged that he kept
his promise. He too could be termed a ‘God’s politician’ of the modern era. His
conversion began earlier when he was with a colleague doing Gospel work.
Enquiring about the secret of this colleague’s extraordinary success he was
told: “The secret is to have two loves: one for God and the other for whoever
happens to be standing in front of you at any given time”. Carter sought to live
and govern according to that principle!
15. Our State and Our Challenge
Does our country lack such Politicians who can be termed
‘God’s Politicians’? Certainly not. What about our state. It cannot be doubted
that we too have, and have had such leaders. Let us look at the past which is
easier to judge more fairly.It would be
helpful iftheelders among uscouldbringbeforeour minds figuresof the pastwhostrove to be such . This
could be an encouragementfor thepresentleadersas well as thosein oursociety who aremakingvalianteffortsto promotesuch leaders.Here there comes to
mind the Clean Election Campaign which if restarted could unite so many other
like-minded individuals and groups. The letters to the editor and articles in
newspapers by concerned individuals, appeals by pastors and others before every
election, point to the earnest desire of so many to see a differentkind of politics .We cannothope for changesovernight. Wilberforce and companions took
twenty years or more.Is it too much to
expect a similar transformation in due time in our Christian state?It is easy to complain about corruption and
bad governance, but do we actively support honest leaders? Each of us must ask:
what role do I play in shaping the leadership of my society?
