William Wilberforce Day

There seems to be a festival day for most anything. And since we only have 365 days in which to celebrate, many of these individual days carry within a fierce competition for attention. Here’s a list that contained several options for August 24. I share them in the order they were published at: http://www.holidays-and-observances.com

International Strange Music Day

National Peach Pie Day

National Waffle Day

Pluto Demoted Day

Vesuvius Day

William Wilberforce Day

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So, someone felt that strange music, food, Pluto losing its planet status, and an ancient natural disaster were worth a mention. I have no problem with that. Do your thing, man. However, I was very pleased to see a real person honored and I thought it might be nice to see why Mr. Wilberforce made the list.

Along with adoption, we have been talking quite a lot about slavery in the these daily offerings. The Jewish people of old seemed to spend a fair amount of time in bondage after their national naughtiness reached epic proportions. But I’ve noticed something. There’s within me a certain cringe factor that occurs even as I write the word, slave. It is a word that is most definitely impolitic. In large measure, we have William Wilberforce and his Christian faith to thank for such sensibilities.

I cannot do justice to the entirety of Wilberforce in a brief devotional, so I will highlight just a few points. He became a Christian in his adult life under the influence of the Methodists and the change was profound. His journals give us an intimate look at the personal struggle any serious Christian encounters along the journey. While remaining ever cheerful and affable on the outside, he fought a lifelong, internal, angst-filled war against pride, selfishness and many of the other vices with which we all struggle. Moreover, his evangelical faith was considered backward by the influential circles wherein he labored. As a member of the British Parliament he was surrounded by what he called “cultural Christians”. These were the lads who thought that by simply joining the right church they were secured a seat in heaven. Wilberforce understood that to follow Christ meant a person would be radically changed and in turn become an agent of change.

But he had serious doubts. Social rejection can quench a person’s spirit. One day he sought out the advice of a clergyman who had once sailed the oceans as a slave-trader. As Wilberforce poured out his misgivings regarding his service in Parliament, along with the animosity held against his faith, John Newton, the composer of “Amazing Grace”, urged him to stand fast. After that meeting Wilberforce wrote that he decided to stay in politics:  “…with increased diligence and conscientiousness”.

Wilberforce made his first speech against the slave trade on May 12, 1789. This initiated a protracted series of debates that would last for years and would manifest a great deal of hostility toward Wilberforce. It was just shy of twenty years that the first bit of legislation passed. It was called The Slave Trade Act. It received approval in 1807 and it put a halt to British ships being used to carry on the slave trade business. More was to be done and Wilberforce continued his good fight, but it would take years to realize his dream. The Whig government introduced the Bill for the Abolition of Slavery on July 26, 1833 with a promise of passage. Wilberforce passed away on July 29, 1833 at the age of 73. He was interred at Westminster Abbey on August 3, 1833.

A couple of other things to note regarding Wilberforce. He loved God’s good creation and was one of the founding members of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Moreover, his personal kindness was noted by many as he gave more than his annual income to feed the poor and kept elderly people around his house who were unable to work. He was the real deal.

So, you might wish on August 24 to commemorate peach pie or strange music. I get that. But I choose to honor the memory of a great man – a wonderful Christian – who helped make the world a better place.