The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1920-10-01
GEORGE WHITFIELD,
FREAT EVANGELIST,
$50 YEARS DEAD
Anniversary of Great Evangelist, the
Founder Of Calyanistic MethOdists
Is Celebrated OH Thursday.


New York, Sept. 80. = Today is the
150th anniversary of the death of
death of George Whitfield, the founder
of the Calvanistic Methodists and one
of the most famous evangelists since
the Apostle Paul. aMny churches of
the United States, not only of the
Methodist but of other demnomina-
lions as we'll, have arranged to COM
memorate the anniversary, the most
of them with special sermons to be
preached from their pulpits next Sun
day.
George Whitefeld's name will be
forever associated with the history of
revivalism in England and America.
Although not one of his SERMONS is
readable today. he moved men as prob
ably no other field preacher ever did.
Whiatefield was born in the English
town of Gloucester in 1714, and in his
youth sold drinks across the bar of
his mothers inn. His education was
fragmentary, and he never attained,
like John Wesley, to true scholarship,
and unlike Wesley, he was wholly de-
ficient in organizing talent. At the
age of Is he entered Pembroke Col
leger, Oxford Las servitor where he
remained about six years, attaining
his degree after he had entered the
ministry. AS preacher he soon
awoke the greatest enthusiasm, but at
the same time aroused the hostility of
many clergymen who closed their pull
pits to him and otherwise manifested
their disapproval of his methods. His
sermons weer delivered extemporane-
ously. and to a magnificent voice he
added a charm of extraordinary grace
of manner.
He was but % years old when John
and Charles Wesley, whose acquaint-
ance he had made at Oxford, request
ed that he join them in America.
Whitefield on his arrival in the new
country saw the necessity for material
aid for the colony in Georgia, and de-
termined to get 1t from his admirers
and friends at home. When he re-
turned to England he found that the
fame of his ideas in religious doctrine
had closed the doors of all but four
churches to him in London. He preach
ed regeneration and justification by
faith, with other views that startled
and disconnected the orthodox, but he
had many aristocratic and influential
patrons, and he was ordained a priest
in the Anglican church and received
the living at Savannah, Ga, with a
grant of 500 acres for the orphan
house he wished to build there.
In all, Whitefield paid seven visits
to America. In the intervals between
his American labors he evangelical
Scotland and Wales, and everywhere
his ministry was attended by the same
phenomenal success. A feature of hi:
work was the innovation of open-ail
preaching to audiences often in excess
of 10000, by all of whom his astonish
ingly powerful and musical voice
could be heard. 1t is said that he de
livered not less than $4,000 sermons.
In 1741 he separated from the Yves
leys on doctrinal grounds and followed
the pure Calvanistic line to the end
He began hi slast American tour in
1869 in great feebleness. His last SER
mon was delivered at Newburyport
Mass, September 30, 1910 That very
night he died, choking to death He
lies buried in the Presbyterian church
at Newburyport. between two pastors
of the church, in the vault underneath
the pulpit.
In appearance Whitefield was be-
low medium height, with small, we'll
formed head, with a squin in his eyes
But in both his voice and his manner
he was exceedingly fascinating and
could hold his audiences spellbound
1t is related that during his evangel.
istic tours the Scotland the great audi
ences, after listening to her sermons
would often renal nall night on tn,
hillsides in prayer