The Rising of the Sun

In 1807 there was a surge in political support for the abolition of the British slave trade. The danger posed by the violent chaos of the French Revolution was in the past. Although the martial powers of Napoleon Bonaparte still afflicted the European continent, the threat that England would be invaded had quite literally sunk thanks to Lord Nelson’s heroism at Trafalgar. Popular support in favor of abolition had all the while continued to grow. Now even the House of Lords had voted overwhelmingly in favor of abolition. So at last the bill arrived before the House of Commons, its final hurdle before becoming the law of the British Empire.

Nearly everyone could now see that the bill would prevail. Wilberforce was astonished that abolition was even supported by several of the West Indian plantation owners! He rejoiced at how “God can turn the hearts of men.” When debate opened, one member of the House after another rose to speak in favor of abolition. Everyone wanted to be a part of this historic moment. The climax came when Sir Samuel Romilly delivered an oration which deserves to be long remembered. Romilly brilliantly contrasted the self-absorbed vanity and ambition of Napoleon Bonaparte, which had resulted in so much destruction and death across Europe, with the humility and benevolence of William Wilberforce.

Romilly portrayed Napoleon as one who was “surrounded…with all the pomp and power…[sitting] upon his throne [having] reached the summit of human ambition.” Yet his conscience would be “tortured…by the recollection of the blood he has spilled and the oppressions he has committed.” On the other hand, Romilly described Wilberforce as “his honorable friend,” who “after the vote of this night shall have confirmed the object of his humane and unceasing labors,” would be able to reflect “on the innumerable voices that will be raised in every quarter of the world to bless him,” knowing full well that he had “preserved so many millions of his fellow creatures.”

At this sublime moment, William Wilberforce was overcome by his emotions. A deep reservoir of passion had driven him forward for more than two decades. Now at last the dam had burst. Tears streamed down his face. Casting aside all rules of decorum, the House of Commons leapt to its feet and showered Wilberforce with deafening applause and thunderous cheers. When the final vote was taken, the abolition of the British slave trade would be approved by a margin of 283-16.

February 23, 1807 ought to be recognized as a turning point in the history of the world. It was the moment when the world began to turn away from the pernicious evil of human enslavement. And it came about because of the tireless efforts of evangelical Christians who toiled so that God’s kingdom might come on earth as in heaven. To paraphrase Irish historian William Lecky, the crusade of England against slavery may be regarded as one of the few perfectly virtuous moments in the history of nations.

Of course, there was much more to be done. Although the slave trade had been abolished, the law had to be enforced. The British slave traders were men of no guiding principles other than their own enrichment. They would apply all their ingenuity in order to evade the British navy. Additionally, this great victory applied only to Great Britain. Other European powers – most notably France, Spain, and Portugal – still perpetuated the ghastly commerce. Wilberforce and his allies would not relent until the entire European slave trade was completely extinguished. Ironically, in a bizarre twist of circumstances, it would be Napoleon himself who would declare an end to the French slave trade in 1815, just before his final defeat at Waterloo.

William Wilberforce is rightfully known as the man who more than any other is responsible for the abolition of the British slave trade. However, his contributions extend far, far beyond that marvelous achievement. Wilberforce exerted tremendous influence on the subcontinent of India, one of the crown jewels of the British colonial empire. Parliament had granted the British East India Company exclusive authority over Indian commerce. The company raked in profits on behalf of its officers and shareholders. The East India Company eagerly exploited Indian labor and resources. Many representatives of the company kept dozens of Indian girls as “mistresses” – effectively child sex slaves. Such behavior disgusted Wilberforce. He loudly proclaimed that British abuses in India were “next to the slave trade, the foulest blot on the moral character of our country.”

Wilberforce was also deeply troubled by many aspects of Indian culture. The practice of female infanticide was widespread. Also common was suttee, a quasi-religious tradition whereby Indian widows were burned alive on their husband’s funeral pyre. The appalling rite of suttee each year claimed the lives of many thousands of Indian women. Since Indian wives were usually much younger than their husbands, their deaths often left their young children as orphans. Moreover, the Hindu caste system was a pervasive source of injustice whereby members of the lower castes were regarded as unworthy of care or concern.

Wilberforce proposed that Great Britain legalize missionary activity in India. He knew that Christianity would sharply confront the twin evils of Indian culture and British misconduct. British law had heretofore forbidden Christian missionaries from entering India. Parliamentary representatives of the East India Company disingenuously argued that the British ought not to allow any missionary activity on the grounds that it would not show proper respect for Indian culture and religion. Of course, this was a smokescreen intended to conceal their true sentiments. In reality, the company reflexively opposed anything which might upset their business interests or personal satisfactions.

Thus, Wilberforce and his merry band of evangelical supporters set their sights on reversing the prohibition of Christian missionary activity in India. Like the debate over the slave trade, this was truly a clash of worldviews. On one side was the fundamentally pagan belief that people have no intrinsic value. The strong and the clever are destined to seize power while the poor and weak are fit only for subjugation. Against this stood the Christian worldview, whereby each and every human being is a creature made in the image of God and therefore of inestimable worth. On June 22, 1813, the issue came before the House of Commons. Wilberforce again spoke brilliantly, and the House voted strongly in favor of allowing Christian missionaries into India. Soon these missionaries would be preaching the gospel, starting schools and founding hospitals.

Finally, we must remember that although the slave trade had been prohibited in 1807, the institution of slavery itself persisted throughout the British Empire. Roughly 500,000 Africans remained captive on the vast sugar plantations in the West Indies alone. The ultimate goal for the abolitionist movement was always the full emancipation of each and every human person.

For all that he had accomplished, Wilberforce could not lead this final battle. He had struggled all his life with prolonged bouts of illness. As his age advanced, his health would further deteriorate. Wilberforce graciously recognized his advancing infirmities and realized that leadership of the abolition movement must pass from his hands. With Wilberforce’s full blessing, Thomas Buxton, a young evangelical Christian MP, was chosen to carry the torch of freedom. Wilberforce retired from politics in 1825.

Even in retirement, William Wilberforce continued to support the cause of full emancipation in every way he could. Although his compelling voice would no longer ring out in Parliament, he remained an inspiration and encouragement to all those who had rallied to the banner of freedom. With the passing of time, it became clear that emancipation was on the cusp of victory. Also clear was that Wilberforce was near his journey’s end. But before that end came, Wilberforce would be blessed by one final magnificent gift. On July 26, 1833, he received word that Parliament had abolished slavery throughout the British Empire. Just three days later, William Wilberforce breathed his last and was ushered into the presence of the God he had loved and served. His body would be buried with full honors at Westminster Abbey, among the other great figures of the British nation.

The complete emancipation of slaves throughout the British Empire took effect on July 31, 1834. On that day, roughly 800,000 captives became free men and women. Eminent British Historian G.M. Trevelyan memorably described this momentous occasion: “On the last night of slavery, the negroes in our West Indian Islands went up on the hill tops to watch the sun rise, bringing them freedom as its first rays struck the water.” Another historian, Reginald Coupland proclaimed, “it was one of the greatest events in the history of the world.”

Coupland would also render judgment upon all that had transpired during the lifetime of William Wilberforce: “what Wilberforce and his friends achieved was nothing less, indeed, than a moral revolution.” We in the modern Western world too often forget that the Christian worldview allows our society to flourish. History offers us a stern reminder that we must never take for granted that measure of freedom and dignity which we enjoy today. The world was not always this way. The darkness of the past did not yield without a mighty struggle. It took a indefatigable band of obedient Christians spurred onward by a vision of God’s glorious future. May it be so in our generation as well.