Faith Story - George Whitefield

Recently I was reading from a book, "Great Iron Wheel Examined" by William Brownlow, editor of Brownlow's Whig, published in 1856. In his book he gives some history that might be of interest to those related to the great state of Georgia.

"The settlement of a colony between the rivers Savannah and Alatamaha, was meditated in England in 1732, for the accommodation of poor people of Great Britain and Ireland, and for the further security of Carolina. Humane and wealthy men suggested a plan of transporting a number of poor families to this part of America, free of expense. For this purpose they applied to the king, George II, and obtained from him letters patent, bearing date June 9th, 1732, for legally carrying into execution their project. They called the new province 'Georgia', in honor of the king...A corporation of 21 persons was constituted by the name of 'The Trustees for establishing the Colony of Georgia.' In November, 1732, 116 settlers embarked for the place that became known as Georgia, conveyed thither free of expense, and furnished with every thing requisite for building, and cultivating the soil. James Oglethorpe, one of the Trustees, and an active promoter of the enterprise, embarked as the head of these settlers, and they arrive at Charlestown...early the next year. It was the sixth of February, 1736, that a young man, named John Wesley, an minister of the Church of England, later known as the founder of Methodism, set foot in Georgia to begin his ministry as a pastor to the new settlers." He served in Georgia for nearly two years before returning to England.

One of the most influential preachers to spread the Christian faith in Georgia was George Whitefield, also known as George Whitfield, (December 16, 1714 - September 30, 1770), a Church of England itinerant minister, who helped spread the Great Awakening... He was a very influential figure in the establishment of Methodism. He was famous for his preaching in America which was a significant part of an 18th century movement of Christian revivals, sometimes called "The Great Awakening."

As a student Whitefield was a part of the 'Holy Club' at Oxford University with the Wesley brothers, John and Charles. He had earlier become the leader of the Holy Club at Oxford when the Wesley brothers graduated. He was the best known and the most written about Methodist when he adopted the practice of Hywel Harris of preaching in the open-air at Hanham's Mount, near Kingswood. In 1738, before going to America, where he became parish priest of Savannah, Georgia, he introduced John Wesley to preaching in the open-air. After a short stay as a pastor in Georgia he resumed his open-air evangelistic activities in both England and America.

When Whitefield was only 25, he led the way for the care of children with the establishment of an orphanage in the newly-founded colony of Georgia. Whitefield called the orphanage Bethesda, which means "House of Mercy", for he hoped many acts of mercy would take place there. Many students of history name the leaders of Methodism, especially George Whitefield, as a significant influence on the compassion of the contemporary Georgia residents for extraordinary care for children.