George Whitefield Tercentenary Essays

Description

This special issue of The Journal of Religious History, Literature and Culture comprises some of the papers delivered at the ‘George Whitefield after Three Hundred Years’ International Conference held in June 2014 at Pembroke College, Oxford, commemorating the tercentenary of George Whitefield’s birth in 1714.

The Revd George Whitefield (1714–70) was a very important early Methodist leader, clergyman and writer, who has not attracted as much scholarly attention as John and Charles Wesley. This interdisciplinary volume contains articles on ‘George Whitefield and the Secession Movement’s Reaction to the Cambuslang Revival’ by Kenneth B. E. Roxburgh; ‘George Whitefield and Anti-Methodist Allegations of Popery, c.1738–c.1750’ by Simon Lewis; ‘Latitudinarian responses to Whitefield, c.1740–1790’ by G. M. Ditchfield; ‘Preachers, prints and portraits: Methodists and image in Georgian Britain’ by Peter S. Forsaith, with eight attractive images; ‘George Whitefield’s Journals: A Publishing Phenomenon’ by Digby James; and ‘George Whitefield’s Reception in Twentieth-Century German-Speaking Theology’ by Maximilian J. Hölzl.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Religion
• History

Informations

• Publié par: University of Wales Press
• Date de parution: 20 octobre 2015
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781783168347
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 20 Mo

Extrait

George Whitefield Tercentenary Essays Edited by William Gibson and Thomas W. Smith
GEORGE WHITEFIELD_01.qxp_Layout 1 12/10/2015 13:47 Page 1
George Whitefield
This special issue of The Journal of Religious History, Literature and Culture Tercentenary
comprises some of the papers delivered at the ‘George Whitefield after
Three Hundred Years’ International Conference held in June 2014 at Essays
Pembroke College, Oxford, commemorating the tercentenary of George
Whitefield’s birth in 1714.
The Revd George Whitefield (1714–70) was a very important early
Methodist leader, clergyman and writer, who has not attracted as much
scholarly attention as John and Charles Wesley. This interdisciplinary
volume contains articles on ‘George Whitefield and the Secession
Movement’s Reaction to the Cambuslang Revival’ by Kenneth B. E.
Roxburgh; ‘George Whitefield and Anti-Methodist Allegations of Popery,
c.1738–c.1750’ by Simon Lewis; ‘Latitudinarian Responses to Whitefield,
c.1740–90’ by G. M. Ditchfield; ‘Preachers, Prints and Portraits:
Methodists and Image in Georgian Britain’ by Peter S. Forsaith; ‘George
Whitefield’s Journals: A Publishing Phenomenon’ by Digby James;
and ‘George Whitefield’s Reception in Twentieth-Century German
Theology’ by Maximilian J. Hölzl.
Cover illustration: John Woolaston, The Revd Mr George Whitefield, AB (1742), engraved by
John Faber. With permission, the Oxford Centre for Methodism and Church History,
Oxford Brookes University.
www.uwp.co.uk
GWASGPRIFYSGOLCYMRU
Edited byUNIVERSITY OFWALESPRESS
William Gibson and Thomas W. SmithGeorge Whitefeld
Tercentenary Essays
Special Issue of
Te Journal of Religious History,
Literature and Culture
2015
Edited by
WILLIAM GIBSON
Oxford Brookes University
THOMAS W. SMITH
Trinity College, Dublin
Volume 1 November 2015 Number 2
UNIVERSITY OF WALES PRESSEditorial Advisory Board
David Bebbington, Stirling University
Stewart J. Brown, University of Edinburgh
James J. Caudle, Yale University
Robert G. Ingram, Ohio University
Geraint Jenkins, Aberystwyth University
David Ceri Jones, Aberystwyth University
J. Gwynfor Jones, Cardif University
Frances Knight, University of Nottingham
Kenneth E. Roxburgh, Samford University
Robert Pope, University of Wales: Trinity Saint David
Huw Pryce, Bangor University
Eryn M. White, Aberystwyth University
Rt Revd and Rt Hon. Lord Williams of Oystermouth,
Magdalene College, Cambridge
Jonathan Wooding, University of Sydney
Editorial Contacts
Professor William Gibson [e-mail]
Dr John Morgan-Guy [e-mail]
Dr Tomas W. Smith [e-mail]
In future issues it is anticipated that there will be a full
reviews section. Publishers and book reviewers with enquiries
regarding reviews should contact the journal’s reviews
editor, Dr Nicky Tsougarakis [e-mail].
Cover illustration: ‘Te Revd Mr George Whitefeld, A.B.’, by John Wollaston,
1742, engraved by John Faber; with permission from the Oxford Centre
for Methodism and Church History, Oxford Brookes University. Contents
Illustrations v
Contributorsvii
Editorial1
ARTICLES
George Whitefeld and the Secession Movement’s Reaction
to the Cambuslang Revival
Kenneth B. E. Roxburgh3
A ‘Papal Emissary’? George Whitefeld and Anti-Methodist
Allegations of Popery, c.1738–c.1750
Simon Lewis 16
Latitudinarian Responses to Whitefeld, c.1740–90
G. M. Ditchfeld35
Preachers, Prints and Portraits: Methodists and Image
in Georgian Britain
Peter S. Forsaith 55
George Whitefeld’s Journals: A Publishing Phenomenon
Digby James76
George Whitefeld’s Reception in Twentieth-Century
German Teology
Maximilian J. Hölzl96
Index 107This page intentionally left blank.Illustrat Ions
Cover illustration: ‘Te Revd Mr George Whitefeld, A.B.’, by John
Wollaston, 1742, engraved by John Faber; with permission from the
Oxford Centre for Methodism and Church History, Oxford Brookes
University.
Figure 1: ‘Miss Macaroni and her Gallant at the Print-Shop’, by J.
Smith, 1773, example at the British Museum (Prints & Drawings),
1902,1011.7988AN456954. Image ©Te British Museum and
reproduced by arrangement.
Figure 2: ‘Te Revd Mr Whitefeld Preaching at Leeds, 1749’, artist and
engraver unknown, 1749, reproduced with permission from the Oxford
Centre for Methodism and Church History, Oxford Brookes University.
Figure 3: ‘Superstition, Credulity and Fanaticism’, by William
Hogarth, 1762, example at the British Museum (Prints & Drawings),
1868,0822.1624. Image ©Te British Museum and reproduced by
arrangement.
Figure 4: ‘James Hamilton, John Wesley and Joseph Cole’, etched by John
Kay, 1790, with permission from the author.
Figure 5: ‘George Whitefeld’, by Nathaniel Hone, 1768, engraved by
Carington Bowles, reproduced with permission from the Oxford Centre
for Methodism and Church History, Oxford Brookes University.
Figure 6: ‘Te Revd Mr John Wesley, MA’, by Nathaniel Hone, c.1765,
with permission from the Oxford Centre for Methodism and Church
History, Oxford Brookes University.
Figure 7: ‘Selina, Countess of Huntington’, by John Russell, 1772, later
engraving, reproduced with permission from the Oxford Centre for
Methodism and Church History, Oxford Brookes University.
Figure 8: ‘Te Revd William Romaine, A.M.’, by F. Cotes, 1758, engraved
by R. Houston, reproduced with permission from the Oxford Centre for
Methodism and Church History, Oxford Brookes University. This page intentionally left blank.Contr Ibutors
Kenneth B. E. Roxburgh is S. Louis and Ann W. Armstrong Professor of
Religion and Chair of the Department of Religion at Samford University,
Birmingham, Alabama.
Simon Lewis is a DPhil candidate at University College, Oxford.
G. M. Ditchfeld is Emeritus Professor of History at the University
of Kent.
Peter S. Forsaith is Research Fellow in the Oxford Centre for Methodism
and Church History, Oxford Brookes University.
Digby James is an independent scholar and proprietor of Quinta
Press. His edition of Whitefield’s journals can be obtained from
www.quintapress.com.
Maximilian J. Hölzl is a University of Manchester PhD candidate work -
ing on Nonconformist evangelical anticipations of post-Christendom
mission. This page intentionally left blank.edItor Ial
Te articles in this special issue of the Journal of Religious History,
Literature and Culture comprise a selection of the papers which were
given at the ‘George Whitefeld at 300’ International Conference held in
June 2014 at Pembroke College, Oxford. Te conference commemorated
the tercentenary of George Whitefeld’s birth in 1714. It was
administered and supported fnancially by the Oxford Centre for Methodism
and Church History at Oxford Brookes University with organisational
help from the Manchester Wesley Research Centre and in conjunction
with Aberystwyth University and the Jonathan Edward Center at Yale
University. Te conference attracted a distinguished array of
international scholars and specialists on all aspects of Whitefeld’s life and
work. Te papers published here are representative of the interdiscipli -
nary character of the conference, which brought together historians,
theologians, art historians and literary scholars in reassessing the role
and work of George Whitefeld. Another volume of papers from the
conference will be published by Oxford University Press, edited by David
Ceri Jones and Geordan Hammond.
George Whitefeld has not enjoyed the attention from scholars
that John and Charles Wesley have, in part because he did not leave
an institutional legacy in the form of a strong connexion or church.
Nevertheless, from the 1730s to his death Whitefeld was regarded by
Methodists as one of their principal leaders and was acknowledged as
such by the Wesleys. Similarly, Whitefeld has not attracted the weight
of hagiographical publications that the Wesleys have, and this perhaps
makes modern revision of his role more problematic. Consequently,
scholars ofen turn to the opinions of Whitefeld’s contemporaries, which
perhaps infuence the tenor of historical appreciation of him. Tose who
attended the Oxford conference in 2014 may recall conversations in
which a number of speakers were almost apologetic about their nega -
tive observations on some aspects of Whitefeld’s character and work.
Nevertheless, Whitefeld was, in his day, a phenomenon. Te print
industry on both sides of the Atlantic, but especially in North America, was
given an enormous stimulus from his own and his opponents’
publications. Tere can have been few Britons in Britain and North America William Gibson and Thomas W. Smith
who did not know of Whitefeld, had not seen his image or not heard
or read his sermons. Te papers presented here show the signifcance
of George Whitefeld among his contemporaries, immediate followers
and opponents. Tey show the ways in which his depiction, literally
and fguratively, has infuenced his reputation. Tey also recognise that
Whitefeld has had an infuence beyond Britain and North America
and that his own words have been perhaps the most signifcant source
for scholars.
William Gibson
and Tomas W. Smith
2Geor Ge Wh Itef Ield and the seCess Ion
Move Ment’s r ea Ct Ion
to the Ca Mbuslan G r ev Ival
Kenneth B. E. Roxburgh
One of George Whitefeld’s earliest connections with Scotland came
through the leaders of the Seceding movement. He had been in contact
with the Erskine brothers, Ralph and Ebenezer for over two years prior to
1his arrival in Scotland in 1741. Te correspondence had been instigated
2by Whitefeld, who had heard of the success of the Secession in Scotland
and wrote to Ralph Erskine, detailing events surrounding his own
ministry in England and Wales. By 4 August 1739, Ralph Erskine was satisfed
with the enquiries he had made concerning Whitefeld and wrote in his
diary that he was praying for him and his colleagues, thanking God ‘for
3what he has done to them and by them’. Although Erskine attempted to
infuence Whitefeld to leave t