One of the founders of the sect of the Methodists, born at Gloucester, where his mother kept the Bell inn, 1714. From the Crypt school of his native town, he entered as servitor at Pembroke College, Oxford, and was ordained at the proper age by Benson, bishop of Gloucester. Enthusiasm and the love of singularity now influenced his conduct, and in his eagerness to obtain popularity, he preached not only in prisons, but in the open fields, and by a strong persuasive eloquence, multitudes regarded him as a man of superior sanctity. In 1738, he went to America, to increase the number of his converts; but, after laboring for some time as the friend and the associate of the Wesleys, he at last was engaged with them in a serious dispute, which produced a separation. While he zealously asserted the doctrine of [pg 394] absolute election and final perseverance, agreeably to the notions of Calvin, his opponents regarded his opinion as unsupported by Scripture, and therefore inadmissible; and in consequence of this arose the two sects of the Calvinistic and the Arminian Methodists. Secure in the good opinion of a great number of adherents, and in the patronage of Lady Huntingdon, to whom he was chaplain, he continued his labors, and built two Tabernacles in the city and in Tottenham Court Road for the commodious reception of his followers. He died at Newburyport, Massachusetts, while on a visit to his churches in America, and had the satisfaction to know that his adherents were numerous on both continents.

At Newburyport, the Hon. William Bartlett has erected an elegant marble monument, on which is the following inscription:—

During Mr. Whitefield's visit to Philadelphia, he preached often in the evening from the gallery of the court-house in [pg 395] Market Street. So loud was his voice at that time, that it was distinctly heard on the Jersey shore, and so distinct was his speech, that every word he said was understood at Market Street wharf, a distance of upwards of four hundred feet from the court-house. All the intermediate space was crowded with his hearers. Mr. Whitefield was truly remarkable for his uncommon eloquence and fervent zeal. His eloquence was indeed very great, and of the truest kind. He was utterly devoid of all affectation; the importance of his subject, and the regard due to his hearers, engrossed all his concern. Every accent of his voice spoke to the ear, every feature of his face, every motion of his hands, and every gesture, spoke to the eye; so that the most dissipated and thoughtless found their attention arrested, and the dullest and most ignorant could not but understand. He appeared to be devoid of the spirit of sectarianism; his only object seemed to be to “preach Christ and him crucified.”

The following anecdote respecting his manner of preaching will serve to illustrate this part of his character. One day, while preaching from the balcony of the court-house, in Philadelphia, he cried out, “Father Abraham, who have you got in heaven; any Episcopalians?” “No!” “Any Presbyterians?” “No!” “Any Baptists?” “No!” “Have you any Methodists there?” “No!” “Have you any Independents or Seceders?” “No! No!” “Why, who have you, then?” “We don't know those names here; all that are here are Christians—believers in Christ—men who have overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of his testimony!” “O, is this the case? then God help me—God help us all—to forget party names, and to become Christians in deed and in truth.”