The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-07 00:00:00

TO TITE EDITOR OP THE SUN.

am very glad to see that the press gc-
"lallY is giving its powerful aid in favour of the
art of public reading and ,sper.kiug being inatle a
compulsory study OR the part of all candidates for
ordination.
The Bishop of itoclwster has done that -which
every one must admit is a step in the right direc-
tion. But it is only fair to other zilembets of
the Episcopal bench, to Eay that nearly all have
expressed iu the strongest terms their approval of
the art of public reading and speaking being
studied by all clergymen and candidates for ordina-
tion, and I am happy to say this expression of
opinion is beginning to have due Weight in both

universities.
It is now just twelvc months ago since I ventured
to submit to the Vice Chancellor of Oxft,rd a pro-
position (of course accompanied by Fat' sfa etory tes-
timonials as to competency to undertake the task),
that in the absense of any endowed professorship

of elocution at that university, I might be per-
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proposal meeting with a prompt and courteous ac-
quiescence on the part of thcVice-Chancellor, I com-
menced the work by giving a public lecture to the
members of the University on the Gth of November
last, at the Star Assembly Rooms, " On Elocution
considered in reference to Professional Life."
The experiment met with immediate success,
members of the University, graduates as well as
undergraduates, entered their names as pupils, the
following morning ; and from that time I have de-
voted the first three days in the week during the
Oxford terms to residing there and receiving mem-
bers of the University as pupils in elocution.
A similar work was begun the same day at the
sister University by my valued friend, the Rev.
Alex. J. D. d'Orsey (the English lecturer of Corpus
Christi College, Cambridge) and adverted to by
him in his lecture last February at the Royal Insti-
tution, " On the study of the English Language, as
an essential part of a University course."
The introductory lectures which I gave at Oxford
last Michaelmas Term were published, as you are
aware, early in the present year, and for the
favourable notice they received from yourself and
the press generally I feel my best thanks are most
justly due.

I cannot help saying that I think one great mis-
take has been committed in surrendering the teach-
ing of elocution almost exclusively hitherto to retired
members of the theatrical profession. Hence an
idea has sprung up that a man who has studied
elocution must of necessity be artificial and what
is termed " theatrical" in manner, and clergymen
have consequently foregone many advantages from
the dread lest the charge should be brought against
them—whether unjustly or justly—that in their
reading or preaching they aimed at " stage effect."
I gladly and readily admit the obligations owing
equally by pastors and congregations to more than
one eminent tragedian for instruction given in the
important art of "Reading Aloud," but what I
assert to be matter of regret is, that hitherto
the stage has, with a few rare but striking ex-
ceptions, almost monopolised excellence in elocu-
tion. Surely the Church, whose office it is to deal
with solemn realities and not fictions, ought not
to think beneath its notice the study of an art by
which even fictions are made for the time to seem
almost realities.

I am sure that any man who will give an hour or
two for a couple of months to studying and prac-
tising regularly every day the elements of elocution,
will conquer many apparently serious obstacles to
his efficiency, whether arising from defective articu-
lation, or from what is often thought to be, but is
not so in reality, a naturally weak voice. Let him
only do this, and he will find his reward in reading
and preaching with perfect ease and comfort to
himself, while at the same time he will appear to
his congregation to be alike in voice and manner,
earnest, simple, manly, and natural.