"George Whitefield" Vol. 1 and 2 by Arnold Dallimore. A Short Review.

Dallimore (1911-1998), a Baptist minister, was clearly impressed with Whitefield. And yet, he is willing to address the faults of this phenomenal Church of England cleric. It was easy to read, and helpful in it's historic recountings. But the fact that Dallimore is willing to praise and challenge Whitefield made it even more valuable. 

The biographer chronicles Whitefield's upbringing, with all of its sadness and successes. He walks us through the man's conversion, growth, challenges, and launching into the ministry. He shows us the early days of open-air preaching with it's accomplishments, and attendant aberrations. We follow the great preacher across the Atlantic to the colonies where he established an orphanage in Georgia that became his life-long concern. Also how he wrote strongly against the mistreatment by slaveowners he saw in many places, which made him very unpopular for a season. And the friendship he built with Benjamin Franklin and his family that lasted beyond his death. Volume 1 is exhausting, because Whitefield was going and blowing all his days.

The remainder of the story lies in volume 2. Marriage, child who dies in infancy, miscarriages, death of his wife, relief from burden of debt, and so forth. Also, his further ministry, attempts at reconciliation with the Wesleys, successes in that regard and some failures. After reading the first volume, it was worthwhile finishing out with the second. Dallimore doesn't fawn over Whitefield, sugarcoating his faults and only trumpeting his virtues. The author will to give the man his due in both regards, even pointing out how Whitefield ended up petitioning Georgia to allow slavery and obtaining his own slaves. As the biographer notes, this fault "was grievous and lasted till his death" (521). But he also draws out the deep concern Whitefield had for the orphanage he had built, Bethesda. He further notes the ways the man had a big hand in the founding of the University of Pennsylvania and Dartmouth College. Dallimore did a fine job bringing forth many details of Whitefield's life and ministry. I highly recommend this two volume work.