My name is ________________ and in this discussion presentation, I will be
evaluating the article entitled Pedlar in Divinity written by Frank Lambert. This
article is written on the role that Rev. George Whitfield played in the 1st Great
Awakening from 1737 to 1745.
George Whitfield was an Anglican minister who played an important role
throughout the First Great Awakening in Colonial America, in particular in the
Southern colonies. Though an Anglican, Whitefield preached to diverse
congregations. who identified as being part of various other denominations such as
Presbyterians and Baptists. In fact, at times, these, more or less, minority
denominations were more welcoming to Whitfield and his theology of religious rebirth than his counterparts in the Anglican Church.
In his article, Pedlar in Divinity, Frank Lambert argues that Whitfield was a
product of his time, being able to build his influence through commercialized
methodologies. While Lambert notes that historiography in the past has viewed
Whitfield’s communication skills as being primary to his role in the 1st Great
Awakening, he argues that other scholars have eschewed thorough analysis of the
role commercialization played in Whitefield’s ministry. With that said, Lambert
makes note that analysis of Whitefield’s use of commerce was done to motivate the
spread of the Gospel rather than to promote his own personal gain.
One such example of an older piece of historiography that pointed to the important
oral communication skills, and the important personality traits of Whitfield, is
entitled ‘George Whitefield, Dissenter Priest of the Great Awakening’ written by
William Kenny. In this article, Kenny states, - quote – “The success of Whitefield's
campaign in the colonies has been ex- plained as the consequence of his youth-he
was twenty-four when he first came to America-and the eloquent theatrical skills
that he molded into a new and electrifying sermon style.” Unquote - Lambert does
not disagree with this analysis but adds further context to the biography of
Whitefield. Lambert argues that like Whitfield’s use of Oral communication,
commerce allowed Whitfield to send out written materials and advertisements for
revival. Furthermore, it is in this vein of the spirit of commerce that Lambert
explains how revivalism became so multi-denominational and diverse. In Alan
Taylor’s monograph entitled American Colonies: The Settling of North America,
Taylor makes note that, Whitefields ministry in the colonies had even started due to
commerce. Originally, Taylor notes, Whitfield had been ministering in England and
Wales when his ministry made its way into newspapers in London that were read in
the colonies. Taylor writes, -quote- “News of his immense crowds in London
assured.. of an eager audience in the colonies… The more they read, the more
colonists longed to hear Whitefield preach.” – unquote-.
As such, Taylor’s monograph from 2001 shows how, alongside the work of
Lambert, historiography surrounding Whitfield has grown to be more complex, and
has taken into account multiple factors in the spread of the ministry of Whitfield.