By Khen Lim
Image source: wrecked.org
Rarely has it been in
history that so much is owed to so few but on July 26, 1833 when the news was
out that the British Parliament had outlawed slavery, it wasn’t just William
Wilberforce but the entire “Clapham Sect” of men and women who actually rallied
around him to become the reckoning force in not only abolishing slavery but
also fought against other vices.
Wilberforce who, inspired
by Isaac Milner, a tutor of Queen’s College, came to Christ and answered God’s
calling to take up the slavery issue as a Member of Parliament. The Clapham
Sect was instrumental but they were also a wealthy lot. Yet they used their
wealth to advance the fight for God, educating the masses, supporting Bible
societies, hosting private charities, protecting the chimney sweeps, creating
Sunday Schools and orphanages and dozens of others.
Image source: kirkcameron.com
In his conversion to
Christ, Wilberforce had struggled to find reason to stay in government and
after confiding in William Witt (who went on to become the PM), he spoke to the
rector John Newton (best remembered as author of ‘Amazing Grace’) who asked him
to remain and be a living national conscience to the nation in the fight to end
slavery.
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