THE ROAD TO SALVATION (2) BILLY GRAHAM

My earlier piece about 18^th century George Whitefield told of revivals in Britain and British America and marvelled at the number of sermons preached, the distances travelled and the size of his audience. Billy Graham was a master of the communication techniques of our age and presided over 417 crusades in 185 countries and reached an estimated 210 million people. I recall the excitement, even in our decidedly unzealous household, of his visits (the first of several) to London in 1954 and 1955 and to Glasgow in the same year. Billy Graham was a tall, square-jawed American phenomenon and his name was on everyone’s lips, at least for a few weeks. The men felt challenged and the women swooned.

Billy Graham preaches

 

Billy Graham (1918 - 2018) died aged 99 after a spectacular career. His father was a modest dairy farmer in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was brought up and educated. Indeed, he died in his house in Montreat, by Asheville, NC, cherishing his North Carolina roots all his long life.

Young Billy easily fitted in to the rural religious ambiance and in 1934, aged 16, was converted at a revival held by the Southern preacher Mordecai Ham – who was later disparaged as a racist and anti-Semite. He became an apprentice preacher, attending bible institutes, and was ordained into the Southern Baptist Convention in Florida in 1939. He practised his sermonising on the local birds and alligators! An attack of mumps exempted him from military service. Meanwhile his education was completed with a degree in anthropology from Wheaton College, Illinois, in 1943.

Billy moved from church to church and dabbled in popular radio evangelism. He had come to believe that the Bible contained the infallible word of God, and this coloured all his later utterances. He started his revivalist crusades in 1947 and one in Los Angeles in 1949 attracted much publicity and he became a national figure.

His social views were maturing. Early revivals in the South were racially segregated but by 1953 Billy Graham was refusing to speak at segregated gatherings and told his white audiences their former racial pride was mistaken and that all men were equal before God. He started to employ black clergy assistants gradually breaking down racial barriers. He was an influence for good on this issue.

Billy’s crusades really got into their swing in the 1950s. He targeted mainly US cities but also “saved souls” in England, Scotland, Germany, Scandinavia, Australasia and France. Later he concentrated on India, Africa and the Far East – indeed his largest audience was the 1.1m who attended a revival in Seoul, South Korea in 1973

.

Billy Graham crusade NYC 1957

The revivals were carefully staged. Typically, a sports arena with a high capacity would be hired. A choir of up to 5,000 voices would be recruited, creating a melodious atmosphere. Billy would deliver his vigorous Christian address begging those seeking redemption to “come forward” and declare their commitment. Those who came forwarded were interviewed by Billy’s staff and counselled, given some improving literature and a promise of follow-up. In Moscow, one-third of the audience “came forward” – mass emotion / hysteria? More songs and music would close proceedings. The revivals were ecumenical in spirit – no attempt was made to recruit “inquirers” to the Baptists, but they were directed to their local denomination. The wonders of acoustic science were employed to make sure everyone heard the message and local TV and radio stations were likely to cover the occasion “live”, greatly increasing the audience.

Billy Graham crusade in Los Angeles

Billy Graham kept this up for more than 40 years. He operated through a Billy Graham Evangelist Organisation with reams of propaganda, magazines and pictures streaming out to his public. Recordings of his sermons are still distributed. His public reputation increased and he hobnobbed with Presidents. Harry Truman met, but did not like Billy but Ike enjoyed Billy’s regular visits. The Catholic Kennedys kept aloof but Billy’s closest friend in the White House was Lyndon Johnson. LBJ’s rural Texas background was not unlike Billy’s and as LBJ wrestled with the problems of civil rights and Vietnam, Billy would kneel alongside him at his bedside and pray. Similarly, Richard Nixon appreciated the support of Billy in his difficulties (Billy did admonish Nixon for his bad language in the Watergate tapes) but they were reconciled. Later Presidents all honoured and respected Billy who became a kind of American Protestant Pope.

Worn out by his labours, Billy finally retired in 2005. Beset by hydrocephalus, making balance, vision and hearing difficult, his public appearances were rare. He died in 2018 and his coffin was presented to the mourning people in the Capitol building in Washington, a rare honour.

We will not see his likes again. The decline of religion and of Christian enthusiasm is very evident. TV audiences are fragmented and the days have passed for coverage of sermons even by a charismatic orator. Billy championed civil rights in the name of brotherly love and in doing so did much to civilize America – he fought a good fight.

SMD

30.07.2019

Text copyright ©Sidney Donald 2019

BORIS IS BACK!

On 3 September 1939 an excited signal was sent to the British Fleet by the Admiralty – “Winston is Back!” expressing its delight that a vigorous leader had returned to office. On 23 July 2019 a majority of our great country was animated by the news that dismal Theresa May was gone and that at last a buccaneer, a Brexiteer and a believer in the strength of our nation was at its helm. Glory, glory, hallelujah, Boris is Back!

Boris triumphs

 24 July was even better. The government was radically reconstructed. The dismal Jimmies were axed wholesale, the doubters discarded, the incompetents weeded out and a bright group of determined politicians now hold the great seals of office. Sajid Javid, Dominic Raab, Priti Patel and Michael Gove are a great improvement on David Lidington, Jeremy Hunt, Philip Hammond, David Gauke and all the others consigned to outer darkness. Did we dream that Lidington (who?) was actually deputy prime minister? Did we really endure a gloomily defeatist Chancellor like Hammond for 3 long years? Did Theresa May, with as much charisma as a cold rice pudding, really kiss hands and dare to represent our dynamic nation in the highest councils of the world? Whatever, that nightmare is over and a new chapter begins.

Compared to May’s glacial gang, Boris is a warm summer’s day. We have hope, we have vision and we have optimism. Boris is on the front foot and we can expect a cascade of government spending promises and subsidies in preparation for a no-deal Brexit and for the general election he will surely call before too long. I foresee a re-run of Lloyd George’s “Coupon Election” of 1919 when explicitly pro-government candidates received written endorsement and the gloomsters and fence-sitters received no recognition. Lloyd George won by a landslide, just as Boris will.

Certainly, the Parliamentary arithmetic looks very unfavourable at present. Maybe 30 Tories are disaffected and threaten to bring Boris down. But if the alternative is a Corbyn ministry of deep red hue, minds can easily change. A handful of Labour MPs may back a no-deal Brexit and LibDems are notoriously fickle. Scotland is probably solidly anti-Boris but all politicians like to be on the winning side and I doubt if a Dominic Grieve, an Ursula von der Leyen or a Diane Abbott set many voters’ hearts a-pounding!

Europe, with self-harming intransigence, is unwilling to have a dialogue with Boris’ government on any change to May’s useless Withdrawal Agreement. The Irish love their backstop – but will they sacrifice their economy for it? A no-deal Brexit will divert all our efforts to trade deals with the USA and the Commonwealth, which will do damage to the EU in the longer term. Personally, I would welcome such a change in focus.

Between now and Halloween, we will see highly exciting times – expect the unexpected, steel ourselves for alarms and excursions, for good and for bad news. Boris will do everything to raise our morale and our national determination.

Be of good cheer -we shall prevail!

SMD

28.07.19

Text Copyright © Sidney Donald 2019

THE ROAD TO SALVATION (1) GEORGE WHITEFIELD

It is characteristic of Mankind that he is always in search of a path to reconcile himself to the woes and hardships of existence and to find a way to live in harmony with his fellow humans. Some have followed the ancient teachers, like Socrates, Pythagoras or Epictetus, others are adherents of Islam, Buddhism or the Hindu cosmology, while the West fell under the sway of the sophisticated doctrines of Christianity for almost 2000 years. The 19^th century saw the growing influence of the Marxist ideology, balefully climaxing in the 20^th, while our own time has produced a number of eminent prophets with enthusiastic followings. My first piece on this subject will concentrate on the highly successful Christian evangelist George Whitefield.

George Whitefield

George Whitefield (or often spelled as it is pronounced “Whitfield”) was born in Gloucester in 1714 and died in Newburyport, Mass, in British America in 1770. He was the son of an innkeeper of uncertain financial stability, was schooled in Gloucester, where he showed acting talent, and went up to Pembroke College, Oxford in 1732 as a student “servitor”, studying, but also acting as a servant to richer undergraduates. Pembroke had briefly enjoyed the presence of the matchless Samuel Johnson in 1728. At Oxford Whitefield became friends with John and Charles Wesley and joined the Holy Club, a society devoted to the pious life, and when the Wesleys departed to a ministry in Savannah, Georgia, Whitefield succeeded John as leader of the Club. On graduation Whitefield decided to become an itinerant preacher and made his first of 7 visits to the American colonies in 1738. He briefly succeeded John Wesley as priest in Savannah and became convinced that his life-work should be raising the funds for an orphanage in nearby Bethesda. The orphanage was built and is the oldest extant charity in America.

Returning to England to raise money, he gave his first outdoor address to a large crowd of miners at Kingswood, by Bristol. He also had founded 2 churches in London but he gave these and the church at Kingswood to John Wesley to organize and develop in his “Methodist” fashion. Over the next years Whitefield travelled extensively in Britain and British America. Whitefield was of short build but he had a loudly resonant voice which could be heard at a great distance. Moreover, he was decidedly cross-eyed (thought by some to be a sign of divine favour!) and made a striking figure. He later befriended worldly Benjamin Franklin and Franklin calculated that Whitefield could be well heard by an assembly of 30,000 people in the open air.

His religious oratory had a strong emotional and theatrical impact: to borrow the phrases of H L Mencken on Woodrow Wilson, “He knew how to make them glow, and weep. He wasted no time on the heads of his (listeners), but aimed directly at their ears, diaphragms and hearts.” The eminent American theologian and writer, Jonathan Edwards, came to a Whitefield revival and wept along with the rest of the assembly and Whitefield himself. These displays of emotion were not considered dignified by the 18^th century Anglican church and Wesley himself had his reservations.

Whitefield preaching 1757

        

The early 1740s were a time of turmoil within the Protestant churches. In America it is known as The First Great Awakening and Whitefield and Edwards were leading lights. In Britain Wesley tried to keep his Methodists within the discipline of the Church of England but his insistence on ordination without the involvement of a bishop eventually led to a breach. Scotland, always a theological tinder-box, saw an extraordinary revivalist campaign centred on The Preaching Braes of Cambuslang and climaxed with energetic George Whitefield addressing 30,000 souls in 1742. Charismatic Wesley was building up an English Methodist sect which was challenging Anglicanism and its hold on all classes.

There were areas of theological controversy. Whitefield was a Calvinist and accepted predestination. Wesley was Arminian believing in free will and that men could be saved by God’s grace. The gulf is quite substantial but Whitefield and Wesley agreed to differ and became close colleagues in later years. It is their collective persistence that impresses and their defiance of many clerical enemies.

It is said that Whitefield gave 18,000 sermons to some 10 million people in Britain and British America, making him the very first transatlantic celebrity and one of the most well-known characters in the 18^th century. The Methodists remain the largest Protestant denomination in America and though they are in decline in Britain, they left a powerful legacy of piety, temperance and community-consciousness throughout the world.

SMD, 

26.07.2019,

Text Copyright © Sidney Donald 2019

STILL LIFE

In 1667 the French classicist André Félibien set out the 4 genres of painting and graded them as follows;

1.       The depiction of human beings (far superior to all the others)

2.       Painting of living animals

3.       Landscape painting

4.       Painting of inanimate objects (what we call Still Life)

The lowly status assigned to Still Life may seem rather unjust and naturally reflects 17^th Century attitudes. It is to a degree paradoxical that now we consider Still Life a vibrant and subtle art form and a test of painterly virtuosity. Still Life subjects were enjoyed by the ancients as the 2^nd century Roman mosaic from the Vatican below demonstrates:

2nd Century AD Roman mosaic

For more than 1,000 years Still Life was then relegated to marginal illustrations of religious manuscripts and devotional art. It did not emerge as a separate art-form in itself until the 16 and 17^th century Golden Age of Netherlandish painting. The Dutch had a talent for accuracy; botanical collecting and tulip rearing were growing rapidly, later the Dutch Reformed Church outlawed religious art, so the stage was set for an explosion of Still Life. The flowers used below, for example, were often replete with symbolism.

Bouquet by Jan Brueghel the Elder (1599)

                                           

A special form of Still Life was the sub-genre Vanitas where the everyday objects were accompanied by a skull, hour-glass or other reminders of the transience of human life – creating a moral tale.

Harmen Steenwijck (1640)

The patronage of ecclesiastic princes and pious fraternities gradually faded and was replaced by educated nobility and even by an emerging middle class. In Spain pantry scenes, including food and serving-maids were popular, so called bodegón, epitomized by Velasquez’ A Woman frying eggs from the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh.

A Woman frying eggs by Diego Velazquez (1618)

The 18th Century saw the Age of Rococo, when secular pleasures were celebrated. The most famous French painter of Still Life at this time was J-B Chardin, whose exquisite small works were much admired. Chardin demonstrated that changes in light, the handling of the paint stroke, choice of objects depicted, their position within the picture and selection of colour were all factors enhancing the impact of these works of art.

Popular with the Rococo audience were pictures depicting the bag of game after a day’s hunt. A favourite of Louis XV was Jean Baptiste Oudry:

Dead Game and Peaches by J_B Oudry (1727)

                                     

By the end of the 18^th century Still Life was in decline – more invidious Academic grading lists were published placing Still Life as the least worthy genre - but many famous artists persisted in this field, Delacroix, Courbet, Goya and the floral master Fantin-Latour fall into this category.

By the end of the 19^th century, partly as a revolt against the Academies but mainly in recognition of the intrinsic merits of the genre, the Impressionists and their heirs created a series of wonderful Still Life images.

Sunflowers, Van Gogh (1888)

Paul Gauguin (1889)

      

Our own times have seen an explosion of interest in the arts; animation and 3-D imaging has thrown  into confusion conventional painting techniques. Spare a generous thought for the struggling amateur Still Life artist – he or she is the successor to a great tradition.

SMD

20.07.19

Text Copyright © Sidney Donald 2019

ROCK REMEMBERED

As I loll around in my delightful Samos hotel, over-eating and drinking, my mind, never other than flippant, flits to the pop and rock music of my misspent youth mainly of 1955 – 1965 vintage – OK, “retro-rock nostalgia” you may sniff. I can happily consign to oblivion all thought of Brexit, the EU, Trump, Iranian clerics and their hideous retinues and instead get my feet tapping with those golden oldies which particularly appealed to me. You will all have quite different favourites!

1.       Singing the Blues by Tommy Steele. (1956)

Although Bill Haley had made some impression, it took home-grown Tommy Steele to make the critical breakthrough and open up the UK rock scene with this cheery number. Suddenly I recall everyone was whistling and singing this song in school corridors (I was 14). Tommy never repeated this smash-hit but he was very popular as a “cockney sparra”, regularly filled the London Palladium and had a long run in the West End hit “Half a Sixpence”, the musical adaptation of “Kipps’ by H G Wells.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDXnBdlKlVw

2.       Can’t Help Falling in Love with You by Elvis Presley (1969)

Elvis dominated the rock scene in the late 1950s, and although this is a much later number, his mastery of the romantic ballad went hand in hand with his more energetic efforts. The deep tones of his unmistakable voice send hearts a-quiver still and many a lovelorn suitor will emulate The King and sing this great song to their suitably grateful beloved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGJnTaP6anOU

3.       Rave On by Buddy Holly (1958)

Texan Buddy Holly and the Crickets entered the rock scene in 1955 and despite his geeky appearance and horn-rims was soon second only to Elvis in popular esteem. His Peggy Sue songs were iconic and he produced hit after hit. His death at 22 in an air crash was a huge shock to all his admirers. Rave On gives a flavour of his unforgettable talent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IUV-QxwlRM

4.       Good Golly, Miss Molly (1958) by Little Richard

Little Richard was rock personified. Endlessly dynamic, dressed garishly and with a voice which hit notes in the stratosphere, he would stand in front of a piano, hit keys with the heel of his boots, scream out the lyrics and grin demonically at his rapt audience. Tutti Frutti, Long Tall Sally and Lucille were part of his standard repertoire along with Good Golly, Miss Molly – all of which, of course, our dear parents hated. Young women threw their underwear to him in yearning tribute. He was a true pioneer and a major influence on a generation of rockers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ6akiGRcL8

5.        Wonderful World by Sam Cooke (1960)

Sam Cooke was a talented singer and song-writer who moved over to rock, and later soul, from gospel singing. His Wonderful World is his most memorable number and his easy delivery style was much admired. His early promise never blossomed as he was shot dead by a lady motel manager in Los Angeles in 1964 after a drunken fracas, a premature finale.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4GLAKEjU4w

6.       The House of the Rising Sun by The Animals (1964)

This rock classic formed part of the British Invasion of the US pop world in the wake of the Beatles. The 5-member Animals hailed from the North East of England and the best-known members were Alan Price and Eric Burdon. The song itself is an adaptation of an old English folk-tune, reset to New Orleans. There were other Animals hits like We gotta get out of this Place and Please don’t let me be Misunderstood but The Rising Sun is a tremendous anthem, if a trifle louche.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sB3Fjw3Uvc

7.       Let It Be by The Beatles (1970)

The Beatles were an irresistible force from 1963 to 1970 and early Beatles tracks much enlivened our undergraduate parties. They produced songs of quality and presented them in original ways. By about 1966 they abandoned deafening live concert performances and worked on studio albums. Their interests wandered off to psychedelia, Indian mysticism and drug culture and lost me. But at their best they were incomparable. Let it Be was their rueful farewell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDYfEBY9NM4

8.       A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum (1967)

This obscure English band produced a debut single which is one of the all-time greats. Its purported debt to Bach, the Baroque and god knows who else, elevates its status to higher levels than perhaps it deserves, but in any event it is highly enjoyable and easily evokes the spirit of the Sixties.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb3iPP-tHdA

9.       Tonight I celebrate my Love for You by Roberta Flack and Peabo Bryson (1983)

This number unaccountably caught my attention in the 1980s when I had long moved away from rock and pop and was much happier with Purcell, Handel and Mozart. I liked the tune and the romance of it all, and recall the late, great Terry Wogan poking gentle fun at Bryson’s mother who had inflicted the name “Peabo” on his innocent son!

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GOLnWz_Osc

1 Lady in Red by Chris de Burgh (1986)

Again a one-off for me, simply a great song which gave me pleasure. Chris de Burgh was an unlikely pop star being the scion of a prosperous Anglo-Irish military family. He still performs and has a wide audience, less in the UK than on far-flung foreign shores.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9Jcs45GhxU

My 10 selections will not please everyone but so be it. I hope there are moments of pleasure for you all as you share my look back to the good old days and their fragrant memories!

SMD

14.07.19

Text Copyright © Sidney Donald 2019

DEMOCRACY IN ACTION

It has not been a great week for Democracy, the system we, at least nominally, profess to practice and admire. All systems have their drawbacks but somehow the negative aspects of government of the people, by the people, for the people have been seen lately in a sharp and unattractive focus.

The tumult in Hong Kong is part of a long sad story. Most of the bustling British colony was leased from the Chinese and had to be returned after 100 years. It was handed back in 1997 and became an autonomous part of China, with legal rights and liberties for 50 years unknown on the mainland. The Chinese proposed an extradition arrangement which alarmed HK; after massive, peaceful demonstrations the Chinese-appointed administration there backed down. Fine. Then a hot-headed faction of “democrats”, dissatisfied with the concession, attacked and vandalized the legislative building and violently resisted the riot police. The moral high ground has been handed to the Chinese, who could squash HK in a morning - and would, were it not for HK’s solid overseas financial contacts and investor-friendliness. The “democrats” have over-played their hand foolishly. Let us hope no permanent damage is caused.

Unwise rioting in Hong Kong

                       

The European Union proclaims what a democratic champion it is, not at all the autocratic, secretive and cynical institution painted by her detractors. Well, what are we to make of the process of nominating candidates for the top jobs falling vacant? It is supposed to be a quasi-democratic exercise (known as the Spitzenkandidat system), taking note of the relative party strengths in the European Parliament. In fact Merkel and Macron, abetted by Tusk and Juncker, master-minded a carve-up in a smoke-filled room which would do credit to the machinations of corrupt Tammany Hall bosses in early 20^th century New York. As usual, all earlier EU professions of high principle were abandoned when the going got tough. It was not a pretty sight and was miles away from anything democratic. Expect fireworks from the European Parliament, as some appointments require its approval.

Worse, the actual outcome of their deliberations was a list of nominees constituting the feeblest candidates possible to fill these important posts. Instead of bibulous Jean-Claude Juncker we are to have Ursula von der Leyen (who?) German Defence Minister, who is widely derided in Germany (“the worst of all the cabinet ministers”, thought one colleague). She has made little impact on politics at home and seems determinedly pedestrian, with no qualities matching her substantial duties. She is well turned out and she and her husband belong to the rich, aristocratic minority – and she is a pal of Angela Merkel. What more could you possibly want?

Overpromoted Ursula von der Leyen

                           

To succeed downbeat Donald Tusk as President of the EU Council, it has chosen Charles Michel, bald-headed Francophone prime minister of Belgium, a master no doubt of the irreconcilable coalition, but a colourless unknown outside his country. The other major appointment is notorious Christine Lagarde, current blundering head of the IMF, to succeed wily Mario Draghi as head of European Central Bank. Lagarde is a competition lawyer by trade and was a minister under Sarkozy (later mired in a scandal with entrepreneur Bernard Tapie). She knows nothing about central banking, a distinct art, and her ability to manage eurozone turmoil is widely doubted. Most of the other candidates have been bought off with deputyships, but Italy and the Slavic countries see their influence sharply diminished – a sure recipe for disunity. All in all, an undemocratic stitch-up.

 

Unappetising Charles Michel and Christine Lagarde

Last, but hardly least, we have the Brexit struggle in the UK. Parliament is split down the middle, with many ignoring the 2016 Referendum result, and the Tory government has no majority. The resignation of Theresa May has set off a succession free-for-all which resulted in Boris Johnson, a genuine Brexiteer with fire in his belly, facing an election by Tory Party members for the Leadership against Jeremy Hunt, a one-time Remainer pretending unconvincingly to support Brexit. As the Tory membership is overwhelmingly in the Leaver camp there is little doubt that Boris will emerge as winner.

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt

The challenge comes later, as he tries to negotiate with Brussels for a marginally better exit deal, amending the Irish backstop. These negotiations are likely to fail; Boris will not have a clear democratic mandate to exit from the EU on a no-deal basis. Rather than resort to sneaky manoeuvres like proroguing Parliament to slip a bill through, Boris would be well advised to hold a snap election in October to change the composition of Parliament. He will need an electoral pact with Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party, but pro-Brexit sentiment is probably 70% pro to 30% anti and he should win a landslide and the democratic backing he needs.

The long Brexit agony and the battle against the enemies of democracy will be over, not before time.

SMD

5.07.19

Text Copyright © Sidney Donald 2019