16 Mar Book Review: Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce
Written by Connor Andreatidis
Utterly convinced by the evils of the African Slave Trade and determined to see this ‘great blot on the character of the British nation’ brought to its end, William Wilberforce spent 46 years of his life campaigning for abolition. To be sure, a reading of John Piper’s biography on his life, ‘Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce’, ought to leave any and all utterly inspired by the achievements of this 18th century politician and abolitionist.
Students of history will be familiar with the name of William Wilberforce as the man who championed the campaign to abolish the African Slave Trade in the British House of Commons. Wilberforce entered Parliament in 1780 as the Member for Yorkshire at the young age of 24. He was at first relatively indifferent to the plight of African slaves. However, Piper notes that in 1787 there had been a clear shift in his policy beliefs. This shift was attributed by Wilberforce to his profound conversion to Evangelical Christianity. As a Christian, Wilberforce believed that England accepted a system of ethics that was societal, instead of being built on God’s objective moral law. At odds to the then common view that Africans were an unequal race, Wilberforce soon became convinced by the Biblical principle that ‘God created mankind in His own image’. Indeed, on October 28, 1787, Wilberforce wrote in his diary: ‘God Almighty has placed before me two great objects, the suppression of the Slave Trade and the reformation of [morals].’
May 12, 1789 marked Wilberforce’s first Parliamentary speech advocating for abolition. In the years following, Wilberforce and his faction of abolitionists (known as ‘the Saints’) repeatedly moved motions for abolition. Though the margins narrowed, they were continually defeated. Finally, in March of 1807, a division was called in the House of Commons. With 283 members in favour and merely 16 against, the cause for abolition was finally successful. Though Wilberforce and the Saints had succeeded in the abolishment of the Slave Trade, it would still take a further 26 years for Britain to see the end of slavery itself. That decisive vote of victory came three days before the passing of Wilberforce on July 26, 1833. Upon Wilberforce’s death, his close friend poetically penned:
[O]n the very night on which we were successfully engaged in the House of Commons, in passing the clause of the Act of Emancipation—one of the most important clauses ever enacted . . . the spirit of our friend left the world. The day which was the termination of his labours was the termination of his life.
Piper causes the reader to ponder the significance of Wilberforce’s action. The cause for abolition was at first unpopular and easily defeated. Moreover, the greatest obstacle faced by Wilberforce were the arguments founded on the economic benefits of slavery which caused even those sympathetic to the misery of slaves to vote against abolition. However, through strong convictions and persistence, Wilberforce and the Saints saw to the Slave Trades end.
As members of the Australian Liberal Party (a party which values freedom and the sanctity of life and the individual), Wilberforce ought to serve as a primary role model. A fan of Wilberforce is LNP Senator for Queensland, Amanda Stoker. In a speech reflecting on his life and achievements, Stoker uses Wilberforce as an encouraging proof that determined individuals can make an extraordinary difference. Moreover, one might be surprised to learn that Wilberforce did not identify as a progressive, but a Conservative. In fact, the progressives of his day were sceptical of Wilberforce due to his Evangelical Christian faith. The moderate Tories too saw many of Wilberforce’s stances as radical and undesirable. In her speech, Stoker emphasises that to separate Wilberforce’s political efforts from his faith would be historical folly. Even Wilberforce once stated that he saw all his work in parliament prior to his conversion as ‘shapeless idleness’, devoid of purpose. Certainly, Wilberforce’s anti-slavery, pro-Christian stances lost him friends, saw him ridiculed in the media and even led to threats on his life. Nonetheless, he looked at society, saw inequities and willingly suffered social and political consequences to shape a better world.
Piper has crafted a brilliant account of Wilberforce’s life. In its pages, Piper captures the spirit and soul of a man who genuinely desired to improve the lives of others and sought rid the world of great evil; even at personal cost. Piper reveals Wilberforce to be a genuine role model and an encouragement to all who seek to stand by their convictions.
No Comments