The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-12-16
Speaking Power.

to precise and logical modes of thought,
he may have literary and scientific quail
ications which fit him to occupy impor-
tant positions, but he is not likely to be
half as useful as preacher, all other
things being equal, as one who can de-
liver his thoughts with ease and effect,
though such an one may be neither
classical scholar nor a theologian, nor
philosopher.
Many good, gospel, well-constructed
sermon has been rendered useless by the
way in which it has been delivered and
many an Indifferent sermon has been pro-
ductive of great good from having been
delivered well. Humanity speaking,
Whitefeld, and Summerfeld, and John
Angel James, owed much of their sue
cess to their delivery, and the same is
true of our eminent preachers now.
The Jesuit preachers take great pains
to acquire good and effective delivery.
However high their attainments, when it
is decided that they shall devote them
selves to the pulpit, they are obliged to
begin their elecutionary course by read,
ing book of monosyllabic words, and to
pronounce each word distinctly; neither
are they allowed to proceed until they
can pronounce each word well; and thus
they go on from step to step, until like
Lacordaire or Felix they can crowd the
Cathedral of Notre Dame two hours be-
fore they preach, and can keep vast
and breathless congregation hanging on
their lips for another two hours.
If the students in our Seminaries could
undergo similar training, they would go
forth to their work as better readers, and
more effective preachers, and conse-
quently be better fitted for the great
work to which they have devoted their
lives.
Bishop McIlvaine, who is an excellent
example of that which he advocates, gives
the following advice to those who wish
to become good pulpit orators without
notes: my first counsel is, that you
boldly face the obstacles, and begin er
a6rupto. The longer you put it off the
greater the difficulty" After illustra-
ting this recommendation atsome length,
the Bishop says:
"My second practical hint is: Never
make the attempt, without being sure of
your matter. Every one who can talk
extempore can learn to speak extempore,
always provided they haze something to
sag. In all of your experiments, there
fore, secure, by generalization, good
amount of material digested, and arrang-
ed for instant use. This will be your
greatest protection against loss of self
possession. My third advice is, Use no
notes. If you have scheme or skeleton
let it be traced on your brain. The hab-
it once acquired will be invaluable.
But this counsel, however important.
1 fear few of you will be disposed to fol-
low. Let me then reinforce it by the au-
thority of master in this department,
the late DR.. J. w. Alexander. IF long
experiment, says he, 'innumerable blum
ders, and unfeigned regret, can qualify
any one to give counsel on this head, l
am the man, for all my life | have felt
the struggle between high ideal and
most faulty practice. But my advice is
derived rather from the successes of
others than my own failures; and if you
ask me which is absolutely the best prac-
tice in regard to notes, properly so
called, that is in distinction from COM
plete manuscript, | unhesitatingly say,
USE NONE
A further caution to which | ask your
special attention is-Do not prepare your
a0ords
AS the severity of this precept may
seem to demand support from the author
ity of experience, l am happy to be able
to lay before you in the language of one
who has been styled the most perfect
pulpit orator of the modern Church, at
least, has known. Choose copious sub
lect,' said Symmetrical, and be not anx.
ious to say all that might be said Aim
at giving a strong outline; the filling up
will bc.more easily attained. Prepare a
skeleton of your leading ideas This
you may have before you. Digest we'll
the subject, but be careful not to choose
yom WORDS previous to your delivery.
Follow out the idea with such language
as may offer at the moment Don't be
discouraged if you fall down hundred
times; for, though you fall, you shall
rise again, and cheer yourself with the
prophets challenge, who hath despised
the day of small things?' Abundance of
matter, says Cicero, begets abundance
of words, only let the man who is to
speak be literally trained by education,
let him have natural advantages-be ex-
ercised in innumerable discussions
be familiar with the best mcdes-and
you need not fear his ability to arrange