The Great Awakening was a religious transformation in the 18th century in colonial America. One of the most prominent figures of the Great Awakening was George Whitefield. Whitefield initiated the Great Awakening, a major religious revival that became American history’s first significant mass movement. When the Great Awakening swept the colonies, many people experienced a spiritual transformation. This spiritual transformation can be observed through the prism of two sources written by Franklin and Heaton from different perspectives. Many believe that Whitefield was a crucial figure in the Great Awakening, and Franklin and Heaton confirm these judgments. Franklin considered how the influence of Whitefield’s sermons affects the people, and Heaton directly told how these sermons influenced her and other ordinary people.
Whitefield’s style of preaching was relatively new to the colonists. That is why his figure is one of the key figures in this period. In typical sermons, preachers droned almost monotonously, reading passages from the Bible and saying prayers. However, George Whitefield let his emotions shine as he spoke, shouting passionately during the sermon. George Whitefield went down in history as an experienced preacher who had, in many ways, the same ideals as Franklin. As Franklin put it, Whitefield’s sermon was based on his belief that before the adoption of the Christian faith, people were “naturally half Beasts and half Devils.”1
In turn, Hannah Heaton experienced a spiritual transformation after hearing Whitefield’s speech and then continued to strengthen her religious beliefs. She speaks of his sermons: “There I heard mr. Tennant and mr. Whitefield preach, which awakened me much.”2
In the first paragraph, Franklin clarifies how impressed he is with Whitefield’s ability to push people toward religion. Despite his penchant for humanism, he welcomes the newfound religious fervor in the people he sees around him, as evidenced by the hymns (psalms) he hears every evening in private homes. Franklin supported this change because he believed religion provided a solid foundation for his championed moral virtues. These words of Franklin are confirmed by Heaton’s experience, where after Whitefield’s speeches, she completely changed her beliefs and life. Since then, she has worked to strengthen her relationship with God and inspire others to improve their spiritual relationships. Franklin generally viewed the Great Awakening and Whitefield’s arrival as positive events because he advocated personal virtue and morality. Followers of the new religious movement also appreciated these traits.
It can also be learned about the Whitefield phenomenon from Franklin’s essay. Whitefield’s power as an orator is evident in Franklin’s response to the collection taken for the orphanage. Although Franklin approved the project, he initially intended to support it financially only if it was located in Philadelphia. However, Whitefield was such an eloquent and powerful speaker that Franklin gradually became convinced to empty “my pocket wholly into the Collector’s Dish, Gold and all”.3 At the time, the power of Whitefield’s proclamation and his ability to get most people to respond was almost unheard of. It is precisely this influence that can be traced in Heaton’s diaries. However, not everyone shared this attitude towards Whitefield. His teachings upset the religious leaders of colonial America. As a result, they “soon refused him their Pulpits, and he was obliged to preach in the Fields”.4
Thus, it is possible to consider the power of Whitefield’s influence, both on the part of Franklin and his general understanding of how the great enlightenment affects the city and from within on the part of the people in the person of Hannah Heaton. It can be noted that their views are similar, but it is worth noting that only some people share this attitude toward Whitefield. His message was a message of personal responsibility and salvation and included the need to respond as an individual, not as part of a large community. By going beyond the established order of the various churches, Whitefield challenged their authority.
References
Rushforth, B., & Mapp, P. W. (2016). Colonial North America and the Atlantic world: a history in documents. Routledge.
Footnotes
- CNA doc. 15.2, 260.
- CNA doc. 15.3, 262.
- CNA doc. 15.2, 260.
- CNA doc. 15.2, 261.