The Divine Dramatist: George Whitefield and the Rise of Modern Evangelicalism

by Harry S. Stout, Nathan O. Hatch (Forward)

Commonly acknowledged as Anglo-America's most popular eighteenth-century preacher, George Whitefield commanded mass audiences across two continents through his personal charisma. Harry Stout draws on a number of sources, including the newspapers of Whitefield's day, to outline his subject's spectacular career as a public figure. Although Whitefield here emerges as very much a modern figure, given to shameless self-promotion and extravagant theatricality, Stout also shows that he was from first to last a Calvinist, earnest in his support of orthodox theological tenets and sincere in his concern for the spiritual welfare of the thousands to whom he preached.

Genres: Biography, History, Religion, American History, Nonfiction, Church History, Christian

325 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 1991

About the author

Harry Stout is Jonathan Edwards Professor of American Religious History, having been Professor here since 1986. He taught previously at the University of Connecticut. He has received numerous grants and fellowships, including Mellon, NEH, and Guggenheim fellowships. He is General Editor of The Works of Jonathan Edwards and General Editor of the Religion in America series at Oxford University Press. He also serves as editor to Cobblestone Magazine, Studies in Puritan American Spirituality, and American National Biography.

In addition to numerous articles, he has authored or co-authored the following books: The New England Soul: Preaching and Religious Culture in Colonial New England (Pulitizer Prize finalist); An Enemy Among Them; The Divine Dramatist: George Whitefield and the Rise of Modern Evangelicalism (Pulitzer Prize nominee); A New England Congregation: First Church, New Haven, 1638-1988; and Upon the Altar of the Nation: A Moral History of the American Civil War (2006) . Books he has edited or co-edited are: Jonathan Edwards and the American Experience; Jonathan Edwards; Dictionary of Christianity in America; and Benjamin Franklin, Jonathan Edwards, and the American Experience.

Professor Stout also was the Rogers Distinguished Fellow at the Huntington Library, 2011-2012.

Reviews

[J. Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Right wing revisionist historians and Fundamentalists may have faith-based issues with this study, but it is historically solid and bravely fills in an important gap in the history of worship in colonial America. Whitefield was no "forgotten founder" since he regained his connection to the established church and was firecely loyal to King George. While he certainly fought the established church in his early days, and democratized Calvinist services by moving his preaching outdoors, he was not a political revolutionary. Sure, Ben Franklin admired his engaging rhetorical skills, but Franklin was no convert. The hype over Whitefield's ability to be heard by 20-30,000 viewers outdoors is just that -- hype, and he even recanted those boasts. In one scary typo the author places Portsmouth, NH (my home town) in Massachusetts. Ouch. George Whitefield is clearly a fascinating and important character, but we learn much more about him and much more about America when he is studied as a quirky and unique man rather than as a pseudo- Saint or visionary political hero. Whitefield was on a mission to convert souls to his exclusive religious beliefs via an emotional born again process, but as Stout makes clear, he was also a highly effective performer and fundraiser, not unlike so many familiar televangelists of our era. Whitefield, unlike Swaggert and Baker and so many others, was sincere. He was free of sexual scandal and did not profit personally from an enormous influx of cash donations. His goal was to be Christ-like in a way that so many Christians are not, including many who now hope to profit or manipulate the past in his name.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Note: I've included an update at the end of this review)

Is it possible to have a Spoiler Alert for a historical book? (I explain later on). Harry Stout offers a very intimate look at the life of George Whitefield, and he does so in a way that draws the reader into world of the 1700s. Stout details the social and political environment surrounding Whitefield's life and work with such ease that it's easy for the reader to take the underlying research for granted, not realizing that an extraordinary amount of work was necessary to flesh out the narrative. Stout not only situates Whitefield in his times, but he also gets the reader to understand the larger religious and political ramifications of Whitefield's work. It allows the reader to appreciate Whitefield's life more fully because the writing opens a window to Whitefield's motives and course of action in relation to the then current events. The only time I felt a little uncomfortable with the writing style was the depiction of Whitefield's character in his younger years (particularly in the opening chapters) [I've updated my thoughts on this comment - see below:]. While Stout supported his thesis describing Whitefield's strong ambitions and narcissistic motives in his ministry (particularly his early years), Whitefield's actions seem to suggest a greater complexity of motives (such as Whitefield's rigorous fidelity to his charity projects -- even in his early ministry -- by giving virtually all of his donations to the projects without ever taking advantage of the opportunity to siphon off money for himself). Stout does, however, allow for this greater complexity toward the end of the book (there, that's why I have a spoiler alert on this review), and perhaps this was Stout's attempt to illustrate a development in Whitefield's character from a young, brash minister into an older, wiser preacher. But Whitefield's actions suggested other possible motives that might have been explored more fully. Even so, I really enjoyed the book. It was very well-written and inspiring. If only more historians could write like this!

Update: After reading Stout's book, I read George Whitefield's journals. And after reading Whitefield's thoughts, it change some of my opinions about him, and about Stout's research. Whitefield's journals are clearly written with an audience in mind, and though he makes a strong effort to demonstrate how a man of God should live and interact with others, it was also clear to me that he was wrestling with his own demons. While he was certainly a complex individual, it seemed clear to me that some of his pious actions were performed with a full awareness of how his audience would perceive him and judge him. He was constantly measuring himself against the Wesleys and other itinerants. He was clearly focused on the numbers of people who turned out to see his sermons, and how his sermons affected them. When in contact with other preachers, he admitted feeling a touch of jealousy if other preachers were potentially more successful at drawing a large crowd and/or affecting them more deeply than he could. He was aware of it, and he talked about it (though briefly and without going into much detail), and it was clear that he was very conscious of his reputation and his standing. He loved attention. He thrived on it. Donating every penny he received from his sermons to the orphanage in Georgia was another feather in his cap -- evidence, to him and to others, of his righteousness.

All in all, I have mixed feelings about Whitefield. He was obviously very devoted to his work (to the point of obsessiveness), but his motives and writings suggest his devotion was motivated by more than altruistic intentions. In fact, I'm left wondering if he wasn't driven by other motives than simply his desires for God. In the end, I was left with the strong impression that his tireless journeys and obsessive preoccupation with his work, writings, travels, debates, etc., all appeared calculated to help him avoid confronting deeper demons in his own soul.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's true that this book has a notorious reputation for being unduly unfair to Whitefield. That might be true, but regardless if it is or not, this was a really wonderful biography. Where Stout's biography has weaknesses (e.g. speculation about the thought life of the subject), it's strengths lie in placing Whitefield in a distinctly 18th century Anglo-American context. Understanding the social conditions of both the UK and the new world is crucial to understanding the success of Whitefield. Stout does this excellently.

Docked a star for certain "overreach" and unfairness to Whitefield via speculation about thought life. That being said, this was a really great book.

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite good.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: A biography of George Whitefield focusing on the drama of his preaching and his impact on American religious life.

The Library of Religious Biography is a series of scholarly but accessible biographies published by Wm. B. Eerdmans since 1991. This volume was one of the first of the series and helped set the standard for combining careful scholarship and readable prose that has marked this series. Harry S. Stout is an American religious historian at Yale Divinity School.

George Whitefield was born in Gloucester, England to parents who were innkeepers. His youth reflected a conflict between love of the theatre and a call to preach. For a long time, it looked like theatre would win, but in the end ministry did. A central theme of the biography was that the dramatist was always present in his preaching. In fact, this was so much so that Whitefield struggled to separate his private self from the public persona.

Whitefield, while ordained within the Anglican Church, was not cut out for parish ministry. Stout traces the development of his itinerant ministry, and the distinctive aspect of open air preaching, when pulpits were closed to him. While modeling his work on Howell Harris, a Welsh preacher, the combination of his preaching gifts and skills at self-promotion enabled him to exercise a far more extensive ministry on both sides of the Atlantic.

His skill at promotion was another distinctive. He leveraged clerical refusals to let him preach to draw larger crowds. In America, he partnered with a young printer, Ben Franklin to promote his revivals through both newspapers and printed sermons. This led to a lifelong friendship between these two men, very unalike. However, each commanded the deep respect and affection of the other.

He came to America, sent to establish a mission in Georgia. This led to an orphanage and school that became a lifelong cause for which he raised money. On most of his speaking engagements, offerings were designated for the orphanage and he raised huge sums. He was a model of integrity, living modestly and conveying the funds for their intended purpose.

Stout also notes Whitefield’s profound Calvinism. Although at points he associated with lowercase methodism, he disagreed with and eventually distanced himself from John Wesley. They only reconciled toward the end of his life.

Finally. Stout traces how Whitefield’s itinerant preaching gave rise to evangelicalism, from his preaching of the new birth, to open air work, to the means of promotion. Sadly, he destroyed his own health in the process and died while itinerating.

Stout thus portrays both Whitefield’s life and larger significance, particularly for American religious history. This is an important book for American evangelicals, for better or worse, to understand their roots.

[Jakki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written and thorough biography on the life of the wildly popular evangelist, George Whitefield. Each chapter contained much information regarding his life and ministry so that a person is sure to get a good overview of the man's character and priorities in life. While on the whole he seemed very much driven by a love of the gospel and people, there are many character traits I simultaneously found frustrating. Most notably was his outspoken support of slavery, but I also found his personality a bit too puritanical and prideful for my taste, not to mention his fervor for Calvinist doctrines, which therefore made it difficult to relate to him in many ways. While I respect much of what he did to forward the cause of Christ in England, Scotland and America, I found him difficult to like. Still, he was greatly admired and celebrated wherever he went, which spoke a great deal to his charisma, passion and theatrical skills and their ability to inspire and move people. Certainly a fascinating character in church history worth studying as he was innovative in laying the foundations for much of how we market religion to this day.

[Gabriel Wallis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't able to finish this book, as it seemed the author of the biography wasn't too keen on giving George Whitefield a proper review. I felt there were too many uncalled for jabs at George Whitefield, which I found distracting. I decided to put the book aside. By my reading, I'm not too sure if the author actually liked Whitefield. I understand it's okay to write a biography on someone you might not like, but give them a proper biography without personal slants given.

[Joel Zartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harry Stout is a good historian and his account of Whitefield is shrewd.

[David Havens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in college and apparently put it on here??? Erm.... Well I remember it being good!

[Glenn Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting bio of a Colonial period preacher who worked hard both in the British Isles and the British Colonies from 1730 to 1770 or so. Whitefield was viewed as a rebel preacher because he preached outside the boundaries first of the Anglican church, then the Methodist church and finally landing with the Presbyterians. He drew crowds in a many thousands, at a time when people would have to travel hours to see him preach.

Whitefield set up an orphanage in Georgia when it was barely a colony. What I did not know was that Georgia outlawed slavery for the first period of its existence. Unfortunately, it became a Royal Charter and slavery became legal. The writer feels that Whitefield is not well known today because of his acceptance of slavery and his purchase of a plantation with 30 slaves that became part of the orphanage. That said, he was loved by the Blacks and vice versa. He went to the elder slaves for physical healing as the English medicine was still based on superstitions and primitive concoctions.

What is interesting about this is the time frame. the Glorious Revolution of the late 1600's was still fresh as was the previous revolution 20 years before that. Whitefield had to tread somewhat lightly as the leading authorities in London felt he might be trying to stir up problems. During he time, Bonnie Prince Charlie did just that with his revolt. Also during this time was the 7 years war between France and England which caused problems with travel. Minor issues which we do not hear about was the constant threat of war with Spain's colonies (Florida frequently attacked Georgia) and England's battles with France in Nova Scotia and elsewhere.

He died in Newbury Port and is buried in Boston. He has a procession of over a mile long.

Interesting bio from an interesting time.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sane, well-researched biography of a good (and controversial) man. Stout does a good job of showing Whitefield's weaknesses without vilification and strengths without descending into hagiography, and he does an exemplary job of situating Whitefield in historical context in order to shed light both on Whitefield and his times. Stout's biggest problem is that he doesn't appear to share Whitefield's faith, or (at least) remains above it as a “professional” historian. The fact that the biography is quite good anyway is a testament to Stout's fairness. If more biographies were written this way, I would read more biographies.

[Merv Budd · Rating 4 out of 5]

George Whitfield was a an American icon. He helped to shape the face of evangelicalism. At a time when religion had grown stale and heady, Whitfield's dramatic preaching style was used to stir the hearts of many. He was a central figure in the great awakening.

While not everything written in this book paints Whitfield in the best light, it does tell an honest story of a person who was greatly used by God.

[Matthew Boehm]

A biography of George Whitefield that emphasizes his childhood love for the theater, tracing out the ways this love influenced his "passionate", embodied preaching style. Whitefield would act out the Biblical characters he covered in his field preaching sermons - even taking on the role of Christ himself when the extemporaneous moment called for it.

[Sam]

I didn't finish it because I switched to an audit on the class, but it seems like Stout takes the metaphor of Whitefield as actor and beats it to death with very little supporting evidence. I just wasn't convinced at all.

[Geoff Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fresh take on Whitefield in his time and place. I've seen some readers react harshly to a few statements that may be a bit too hard on Whitefield. Okay, but the book is too good to be put off by them. It is not nearly as cynical as John Piper would have you believe.

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The other GW, founder of nation spiritually. Really helpful for understanding why Whitefield was so enormously effective, and how some of his methods descended from revival into revivalism.

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this one in college and somehow I’ve missed putting on goodreads. Although I don’t remember many of the details, this was one of the best books I had ever read up that point.