The Great Awakening P14

Last week I began talking about Rev. Davies who was an influential Presbyterian pastor in Virginia, a lawyer, a noted educator, known both in America and Europe, and whose sermons were published on both continents.

The influence of Davies on America was far reaching. Consider, for example, his influence on Patrick Henry.

When Patrick was a young boy, his mother joined the church Davies pastored. She always took Patrick to church with her, and each Sunday as they rode home in their buggy, Mrs. Henry and Patrick would review the sermon. Hearing the great Davies preach week after week greatly influenced the development of Henry’s oratorical skills. 

Henry went on to become not only one of the best-known figures of the American War for Independence but certainly one of its greatest orators, being known as “The Voice of the Revolution” and the “Orator of Liberty.” And it was a minister of the Gospel who helped him become perhaps the most effective public speaker among the Founding Fathers.

While Henry openly acknowledged that Davies was “the greatest orator he ever heard,” Thomas Jefferson similarly called Henry “the greatest orator that ever lived.” Henry clearly had learned from the best.

Content sourced from The American Story, The Beginnings by Dave Barton & Tim Barton