Amazing Grace

On an evening in March, 1796, a popular new opera premiered in London. Several members of the British Parliament were strategically given free tickets to attend, resulting in their absence from a crucial vote to abolish British participation in slave trade. The bill was defeated 74-70, with the swing votes swaying to the tunes of an Italian musical comedy. William Wilberforce, who had already dedicated nine years of his Parliamentary career trying to end the repulsive commerce, was discouraged and devastated to the point of physical illness, and he was just about at the point of giving up. It is here that the movie Amazing Grace begins, recounting his compelling story, creatively mixing backstory with history.

The story is centered on Wilberforce, but the peripheral tale of how and why the song, Amazing Grace, was penned by John Newton, plays out as accompaniment. Newton, once regrettably himself the captain of a slave ship, was one of the driving influences in Wilberforce's life, and it was he who passionately charged Wilberforce to not give up. He told Wilberforce that, just as Esther and Daniel had been strategically placed in positions of influence, so was he. So, Wilberforce rallied, and was champion of the cause for another 11 years until he saw the measure passed in Parliament in 1807, the year that John Newton died.

Bruce and I went to see the movie this week. It was a poignant story, with a powerful message. One person, strategically placed by God, and motivated by an overwhelming sense of purpose and destiny, can change the world. This may sound trite, as an overworked theme, but the story is true, and creatively portrayed as quality cinema. So many great lines I wish that I could have written down... I understand many of them were direct quotes from Wilberforce & William Pitt.

The bill which the British Parliament passed in 1807 outlawed British participation in international slaving, and impacted the rest of the world. The United States passed similar legislation that same year, led in part by John Jay, a good friend of William Wilberforce.

Every song has its story. Every generation has its hero.