Benjamin Franklin and the power of the Holy Spirit

Primary Analysis

            Benjamin Franklin wrote Upon Hearing George Whitefield Preaching in 1771. This account was written in Franklin’s autobiography testifying to his readers the historical event of witnessing Evangelist George Whitefield preaching to an enormous crowd during the Great Awakening.

            Two significant events that were occurring at the time of this event were the Great Awakening and the rise of power among women near the end of colonial America.  First of all, a great evangelist who took part in this religious phenomena of the Great Awakening was George Whitefield. Whitefield preached powerful words that reached and filled the need and void of many people (Oakes 122). The sermons given in revivals during the time of the Great Awakening brought on religious fervor and unity among the people as Benjamin Franklin said in the following:

The Multitude of all Sects and Denominations that attended his Sermons [i.e. Evangelist George Whitefield] were enormous…It was wonderful to see the Change soon made in the Manners of our Inhabitants; from being thoughtless or indifferent about Religion, it seem’d [seemed] as if all the World were growing Religious, so that one could not walk thro’ [through] the Town in an Evening without Hearing Psalms sung in different Families of every Street (63).

Whitefield’s life and relationship with God was very well known that even soldiers used his clothes as relics for protection five years after his death (Oakes 122).

During this time as well, women were gaining more respect and wielding more power in the home due to the arduous work that they contributed to the home. “Between the American Revolution and the Civil War, so many elements of American society were changing-the growth of population…changes were bound to take place in the situation of women” (Zinn).  It was also out of practicality that frontier women were gaining some degree of equality among men in the world and within the home (Zinn). For example, Martha Moore Ballard, a typical American housewife, “‘baked and brewed, pickled and preserved, spun and sewed, made soap and dipped candles’” (Zinn). It is estimated that as a midwife for twenty-five years, she would have delivered “more than a thousand babies” (Zinn). A woman’s role in the home was also important due to the fact that education transpired within the home itself (Zinn). However, more women were practicing more freedoms outside of the home as well as they began working “at important jobs-publishing newspapers, managing tanneries, keeping taverns, engaging in skilled work. In certain professions, like midwifery, they had a monopoly” (Zinn). All these causes for which women were beginning to step outside their regulated power, obtaining more and not following the normal gender roles of society were the stepping stones to even greater changes in the next century.

The purpose for which this document was written was to relate Franklin’s encounter, reaction and observations of the effect of that the words of Revivalist George Whitefield had on Colonial America. Although it is not documented that Franklin shared a personal encounter with God, he nonetheless, believed greatly in self-improvement. Consequently, he could not understand how such great multitudes would listen avidly to a speaker who would call them, “half Beasts and half Devils” (Voices 63). Therefore, Franklin also marveled and felt excitement while observing the influence Whitefield had over his audience and how they were stirred to positive changes (including himself). Benjamin also wrote about his petty disagreement with Whitefield about his plan to raise money to build orphanages in Georgia instead of bringing the orphans to the New England colonies. Because Whitefield would not heed to Franklin’s advice on this matter, he retracted his thought of contributing financially to this cause. Benjamin Franklin comically confesses at the end of this excerpt that upon hearing Whitefield’s words at the ending of his sermon, he begins to soften and become ashamed; during which he gradually resulted in emptying his pockets of money for Whitefield’s charity. This reading ties in nicely with Oakes because at the beginning of chapter five, it begins directly with an American Portrait of George Whitefield: Evangelist for a Consumer Society. This directly addresses to a similar occasion of which Franklin would have observed in his own experience.

Many historical scholars believe and state that this excerpt from Franklin’s autobiography suggests the persuasive powers of George Whitefield are related to his great oratory skills, therefore, the consequent reason for which Franklin admired Whitefield. However, just how many of these historical scholars who believe, state and teach this idea—including Franklin himself, have actually had such a similar personal encounter with God like Whitefield, his listeners and other people who have thus experienced what Franklin wrote about? Whitefield’s words were spoken with great power and held the ability to persuade the hearts of the people, even the unwilling ones such as Franklin. The reason behind this is because as Whitefield said, “I endeavored to do all to the glory of God,” (Oakes 121) which he attempted to complete to the best of his human ability. As a result, God’s glory was upon Whitefield as well. The word’s he spoke were reinforced by the power of the Holy Spirit. In view of that, many who understand the spiritual side of what occurred in this event will not be as puzzled as Franklin towards the reaction of Whitefield’s listeners.

            This reading was interesting because of Franklin´s foolish behavior in the beginning and how one see´s the change in him towards the events he is witnessing and experiencing. He seems almost childlike as he watches in awe as the multitude accepts Whitefield’s use of name calling. I was disappointed in him when he became petty over a disagreement with Whitefield. However, at the end of this reading I laughed as he felt himself under the influence of the Holy Spirit, which he felt himself powerlessly persuaded to give in. This same feeling continues to occur even today. Like Franklin, I’ve found myself under this same persuasive power as well and I see God’s use of humor as he uses his Holy Spirit to compel me to act or refrain from certain things. When it clicks in my mind of what is going on, I can only shake my head smilingly and say, “Ok God, you win.”