Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-01-21
GEORGE WHITEFIELD.

His father, who was firsta wine-merchant
and afterwards an inn-keeper, died when
this This youngesD son was only two
wears old; in consequence of which, his
earliest education devolved entirely upon
his mother. His wonderful powers OF
oratory began to display themselves at
very early age; though his thoughts
seem never to have been directed to-
wards the ministry till he was about sew
enteen. He had also, while he was
quite young, been the subject OF some re-
ligious impressions; but his prevailing
inclinations were decidedly opposed to
religion, and be was at one time in great
danger Of being ruined through the infiu-
ence of evil companions.
Having enjoyed, for several years. the
benefit of a public school in bis native
town. in which he became a proficient es-
pecially in the Latin classics, be was sent,
at the age of eighteen, to the University
of Oxford. The state of religion, not
only in the University, but in the coun-
try at large, was now exceedingly low
insomuch that even a belief in Christian
ity was very commonly regarded as evil
dence of an unphilosophical, ifnot an i'm
beetle, mind. The SECT of Mcthodists,
however, had just arisen at Oxford, with
the two Wesleys at its head, and White
field, at the expense Of no small degree
odium from his fellow students, mingled
freely with this new sect, and was recog
nized as one of them; but he gradually
became mere rigid in bis austerities thai
any with whom he associated, and he ev
en- imagined that it was his duty TO shu
himself up in his study till he had so ia
perfected the work of self mortifcatio
that he could rise above the influence {
all unhallowed motives. To such en- ez
IRENE did he carry his abstemious habi
that he became sickly and emaciated, AN
was apparently drawing rapidly near
the grave; but by medical aid his healt
was soon restored, and with a sound'
state of mind, an a more consistent al
rational course Of conduct. From tn
period, his grand aim seems to be to
good to his fellow creatures.
In January, 1889, he went to Oxfor
and received Priests Orders from his e
er faithful friend, Bishop Benson; an
Immediately after, returned to LOndc
with a view to make collections in t
different churches in behalf of his c
phan House. But by this time the pl
iudice against him had become so stror
on the ground Of his alleged fanatical
Irregularities, that the ministers Of the
Enlistment, with very few exceptio
refused him their countenance. He W
shortly after to Bristol where he 1
with scarcely better reception; but
had here the most wonderful success
preaching in the open air to the collie
His congregation continued to incre
till it was supposed to amount to nes
twenty thousand. "The first disco7
Of their being affected" he says, "wa
see the white cutters made by their te
which plentifully fell down their b
cheeks, as they came out of their
pits. Hundreds and hundreds Of f
were soon brought under deep con
TT ton, which, as the event proved, hap
ended in a sound and thorough con
SION" After having made a short
rtality in Wales, and some parts of England
,zle to returned to London about the begin
others of May; and, by request of the ST
learn clergymen, attempted to preach at Is
gn on ton Church; but, in the midst Of the
ial ap- vice, the Church-warden came an,
rmaco- manded his license, or otherwise for
at Be his preaching in the pulpit. The c.
yanism quence was that he left the church
ppress- his congregation, and preached il
'ultiva- church-yard. From this time his pr
nd 1t to ing was generally in the open air
Profess on the succeeding Sabbath he ven
'ed this into Moorfelds, a very public pla
London, where, though he had been
ed that it would be at the peril Of b
Jail in that he should 90, he preached to a
but by mense multitude without any seriou
10 write lestation. Here, and at some othe
ch has ees in the neighborhood, he contin
genera preach daily, orseveral months, his
lligbten mon auditories, at moderate con
y. ton, consisting of more than t
thousand, while, at the same time,
constantly receiving liberal collectic
his Orphan House.
wHITEFIELD's PREACHING.
He was about the middle heigh
haps little inclined to corpulency,t
SIR not otherwise than well-proportion,