MP Thomas SDB
Bosco B.Ed College Dimapur
This is the title of a book describing the life of William Wilberforce, Member of the British parliament from 1778 to 1825. He achieved two seemingly impossible things: Abolition of slave trade; Bringing a new moral tone to British leadership. Wilberforce proved that one man can change his times, but he cannot do it alone.
1. Background of his Struggle: Slave Trade & Moral Deterioration
At that time, Britain was the world’s leading slave-trading nation. British ships sailed from their ports to the West African coast and gathered their cargo. Often they did it by direct capture or purchase from Arab traders or barter with local chiefs who would easily sell the entire population of one of their own or of a neighbor’s village. They were herded into crowded barracks called barraccons, awaiting the arrival of the slave ships. They were branded with their new owner’s mark, while the old and the infirm were killed as useless. The inhuman treatment they received there and on their journey in equally packed ship holds and eventually sold in markets just like horses is a story that revolts the sensibilities of modern man. This horrendous trade was what Wilberforce was struggling to ban.
A second major problem then was the lamentable moral condition of society. British society at that time was Christian all but in name. The aristocracy, which included the ruling class, apart from supporting the slave trade, had no care for the increasing poverty and misery of the majority of their own countrymen as a consequence of the industrial revolution. The coarseness and profligacy of the social life of the governing classes and their heartlessness was appalling. One observer states that corruption and drunkenness as well as illicit liaisons were endemic and “the rich lived in a state of selfish pagan hedonism.” Neither bishops nor clergy were of any help.
2. Early Life & Entry into Parliament
Born on 24th August 1759 at Hull, the fourth port of Britain, Wilberforce was frail and with poor eyesight but vigorous in mind and endowed with a voice of unusual range and beauty. His father Robert belonged to one of the well-to-do mercantile families. When nine years old, his father died, and he was sent to live with his childless uncle and aunt. There he was influenced by the friends of John Wesley, whose preaching and life influenced him very much. Fearing that he was turning Methodist, his mother, who loved the social life of London, came and took him back home and tried to distract him from his stricter and more religious life. Soon enough, he began to love this freer life. College at Cambridge, with its carefree life, also helped in this. William decided to make politics his career; just like William Pitt, with whom he came into contact while sitting in the gallery of the House of Commons, listening to the debates night after night. Eventually, Pitt stood for election for Cambridge, and William for Hull and won at the cost of 800 pounds, beating a much older and experienced man.
But he realized that to make an impact, he had to win his way into the close-knit web of London society where he knew not a single person of importance. But being young and rich and a charming Member of Parliament, doors opened to him readily enough. His sweet voice and his ability for mimicry added to his charm. Though fond of parties and fun, he was dubbed by an observer as “moral and entertaining.”
3. His Conversion
Having to make a long journey to Europe to take his mother and sister to Nice for health reasons, he was looking for a companion. And that was Isaac Milner, a clergyman, tutor at Cambridge, and a very knowledgeable and pleasant companion. That journey seems to have changed his life decisively. While discussing religion with him, Wilberforce’s intellectual assent to Christianity developed into a deep inner conviction. Then the feeling began to dawn on him that he was not a Christian ‘in the true sense of the word,’ and he began rising early and spending the first hours of the day in meditation. He began to reorder his life, wanting to be “fully at God’s command.” His meeting with John Newton, a converted slave trader and a clergyman, strengthened his resolve, and he began a more truly Christian life. His doubts about continuing his public life were solved by the advice of Newton, who told him: “The Lord has raised you up for the good of his Church and for the good of the nation.” This gave him that “mature balance between the private and the public, between private holiness and care for the world, which is fundamental to Christianity, but yet is so often missed even by the most sincere.”
4. His Changed Life-style
He resigned from fashionable clubs, gave up gambling, dancing, and going to the theater as these had become frivolous in the prevailing ambience of corruption and worldliness. He began serious reading and the work of self-improvement. Reflecting on what the Lord is calling him to do, he felt it important first to strive to bring a new moral tone to the leadership of Britain. In the meantime, Charles Middleton, a committed Christian and opposed to the slave trade, asked him for help to raise the matter in parliament. Though he felt unequal to the task, he realized he could not possibly decline. Eventually, these two issues became the focus of his attention as the mission of his life.
5. Battle for Abolition of Slave Trade
The battle for abolition of slave trade began in 1787, and it took 20 years of toil, and in the process, he was to become “one of the most hated men in England—and one of the most beloved.” As a consequence of this struggle, a strain of altruism was introduced into the British political tradition.
Discussing with his friends, he realized that straight away trying for emancipation of slaves would be foolhardy as there would be strong and militant opposition from the many who profited enormously from this trade. So they decided first to aim at stopping the new supply of slaves; then ensure better treatment of the present slaves and finally go for total abolition. But even the first step was vehemently opposed. When the motion was proposed and his turn came, he spoke for three hours and a half, and in the words of one of the observers, his speech was “not excelled by anything to be met with in Demosthenes.” Yet, later when the motion came up again for debate, though he spoke for four hours, the motion was defeated. But when the proposal was watered down to “gradual abolition” of the slave trade, in spite of winning by a huge majority, he was disappointed even as congratulations poured in. Soon after the debate, his life was threatened twice, such was the hardcore opposition from people who feared for their economic loss. He faced several defeats in the coming years. But in the end, after 20 years in 1805, victory was achieved. When the news reached Bombay, one of the British leaders said, “we are apt perpetually to express our wonder that so much exertion should be necessary to suppress flagrant injustice.” He went on to add, “The more just reflection will be that a short period of the short life of one man is, when well and wisely directed, sufficient to remedy the miseries of millions for ages.”
6. His Struggle for Reform of Morals & Manners of Society
Wilberforce was not going to rest on his laurels. He set to work on his second great object: “the reformation of the manners—or morals—of England.” This, he realized, would be much more difficult than abolishing slave trade, as he would have to face the cultured aristocracy’s fierce opposition. The bishops were political, not religious, and most of the clergy did not live in their parishes. However, the preaching of John Wesley and his seven hundred preachers began to have an effect. His strategy was first: to restore respect for law, second, make goodness fashionable among the ruling class. He decided to get the help of the king, George III, as there was a custom at the coronation of a new king to issue a ‘Proclamation for Encouragement of Piety and Virtue and for the Prevention of Vice, Profaneness and Immorality.’ This was already done earlier at his accession in 1760. Such Proclamations were merely formal statements and were promptly ignored. But he decided to ask the king to reissue the Proclamation, which the king did and added some paragraphs to the usual format indicating that he wanted this reformation to start among those close to him and the government.
7. Proclamation Society
Wilberforce followed this up by setting up a ‘Proclamation Society’ to ensure that the Proclamation might become a force rather than a farce. He succeeded in getting into this society many noblemen and influential politicians even though many themselves were not paragons of virtue. But the backbone of the group was the dedicated friends and supporters of Wilberforce. Many were also convinced because they were appalled by the seriousness of the crime rate and the consequent rise in the number of hangings! Often the change came about through servants and governesses who took the new spirit to the younger generation. Another method he employed was the publication of tracts, books, and periodicals with attractive characters portraying ideas in a humorous and delightful way. Many were not great literature, but they had an enormous influence.
The steps he and his friends had initiated actually took time to work through the national life. But already in Wilberforce’s lifetime, a fresh breeze was blowing away a deal of dirt and heartlessness from countless corners of national life. Few would deny that he had in fact set in motion ‘the reformation of the manners.’ The author of ‘Origins of Modern English Society,’ Professor Perkins, states that “between 1780 and 1850 the English ceased to be one of the most aggressive, brutal, rowdy, outspoken, riotous, cruel, and bloodthirsty nations in the world.”
8. Opposition to Wilberforce
Like all reformers who challenge the existing order, Wilberforce came in for attack and abuse, slander and calumny. Even the King, who initially was with him, turned against him, declaring him to be a hypocrite! The attacks and abuse came in and out of parliament. But he never reacted violently though he was master of sarcasm and his facility with words and turn of phrases could shame his enemy forever, if he wanted! What helped him to be serene was commitment and the discipline of his life. He sought to discipline tongue, tastes, and thoughts equally. He knew the value of the first hours of the day. Before the mind is heated and weary of the turmoil of the day, “you have a season of unusual importance for communing with God and with yourself.” He recommended such times of reflection to many. He said: “I have always found that I have the most time for business, and it is best done, when I have most properly observed my private devotions.” He believed in a Providence which intervened in both personal and national affairs. Reliance, through good and ill, on a wise God lay at the root of Wilberforce’s serenity. He did all that he could and then left the result in God’s hands.
Pressures of modern life and above all life in politics may be greater now. But he himself survived fifty years of exceptionally busy public life, in spite of his ill health, impaired eyesight, and the steel brace he secretly wore to support his tiny frame. It was clear that he had found the secret which has escaped equally busy leaders.
9. His Support Group
Another reason for his persistence and success in his campaigns was that he never worked alone. He was sustained by a group of friends who gathered around him. This included William Pitt, who became Prime Minister. It began as an informal group of friends drawn together by shared views and a common aim. In the course of their campaigns, they formed a sort of community whose members often stayed together in a house he owned in Clapham, where they could discuss and plan together. It became known as the Clapham Community. They went so far as accepting corrections and correcting each other, helping each other to do politics as true Christians. They refused to pay bribes for votes and agreed before voting to look to the facts and not to the wishes of the minister. Their principle in parliament before voting was: “Is it morally right?” Further, Wilberforce had resolved ‘never to use his friends’ votes to bribe or coerce the government.’
10. His Efforts at Helping Individuals to Grow
He was not one who was interested only in causes and campaigns. He also wanted to help people to grow as humans and as believers. One of his concerns at the beginning of his committed Christian life was whether to preserve his gaiety and cheerfulness or not, fearing that these would dilute serious commitment. His problem was solved by another of his advisers, who said: “You are serving God by making yourself agreeable to worldly but well-disposed people who would never be attracted by grave and severe divines!” In fact, many were surprised that the company of a man of his principles was so eagerly sought after. According to perceptive observers, his secret lay in his being so crystal clear and unself-conscious about his principles. “Being free from worry about himself, he was free to think of others.” He had the ability to oppose even his friends on principle and yet keep their friendship.
11. Politics: an honourable profession for honest men!
When Wilberforce began his campaign, there were just three in parliament who were identified as practicing Christians. After fifty years, the number increased to a hundred! Their presence did much to transform parliament from a group mainly concerned with the interests of its members to an assembly responsible for the public good. The public, which had earlier held politicians in contempt, now expected them to higher standards, and eventually, politics began to be seen as an “honorable profession for honest men.”
12. Marriage & Family
Being preoccupied with his campaigns, marriage and family life took a backseat in his scheme of things. It was only at the age of 38 that he got married to Barbara Spooner. His marriage and family life itself became an example for many, showing how marriage and politics can go well. His age and ill-health induced him to resign his membership of Parliament in 1825.
13. A Life Totally at the Service of God & Man
He was offered and refused a peerage, which he felt was too much. He believed that getting younger members into the House of Commons would be much better. At the end, he was able to write to one of his friends: “I rejoice to think that I am not wanted.” He died in 1833. His biographer concludes thus: Wilberforce lived that higher statesmanship which consists in serving not his own interest but his God’s.
14. A Similar Modern Politician: Jimmy Carter
On 29th December 2025, there came the news of the death of Jimmy Carter, President of the United States of America from 1977-82. He took charge when the country was in a mess with the lingering scars of the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal, the Arab Oil embargo, etc. His two immediate predecessors were Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon, and it was known that Johnson had lied about Vietnam and Nixon had lied about ‘Pretty much everything.’ Carter, a Sunday school teacher, arrived on the scene and promised that “he would never knowingly lie to the American people.” It is widely acknowledged that he kept his promise. He too could be termed a ‘God’s politician’ of the modern era. His conversion began earlier when he was with a colleague doing Gospel work. Enquiring about the secret of this colleague’s extraordinary success, he was told: “The secret is to have two loves: one for God and the other for whoever happens to be standing in front of you at any given time.” Carter sought to live and govern according to that principle!
15. Our State and Our Challenge
Does our country lack such politicians who can be termed ‘God’s Politicians’? Certainly not. What about our state? It cannot be doubted that we too have, and have had, such leaders. Let us look at the past, which is easier to judge more fairly. It would be helpful if the elders among us could bring before our minds figures of the past who strove to be such. This could be an encouragement for the present leaders as well as those in our society who are making valiant efforts to promote such leaders. Here, there comes to mind the Clean Election Campaign, which if restarted, could unite so many other like-minded individuals and groups. The letters to the editor and articles in newspapers by concerned individuals, appeals by pastors and others before every election, point to the earnest desire of so many to see a different kind of politics. We cannot hope for changes overnight. Wilberforce and companions took twenty years or more. Is it too much to expect a similar transformation in due time in our Christian state? It is easy to complain about corruption and bad governance, but do we actively support honest leaders? Each of us must ask: what role do I play in shaping the leadership of my society?
