The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-02-13
Barnesville District Conference,
Bridgeport, Ohio.

Sixth session opened ct 81 o'clock, A.
", Presiding Elder Burt In the chair.
Opening service by Mr.. Vail.
On motion Rev. Wright was added 10
the Committee on Church Eextension.
The committee on examination Of can
didates for recommendation 70 the GEN.
eral Conference reported iavorabIy on the
case OF Eugene Edmonds, and on motion
he was recommended,
Criticisms on the essay read BY Mr.,
Lauck, on Wednesday afternoon, on the
subject Of revivals, were made BY Messrs,
Franklin, Vail, Smith, Rodgers, Price.
Burt Howell, Freshwater and Hudson.
TO which the author, Mr.. Lauck, replied,
The Committee on Church Extension
offered their report, which was accepted,
An essay entitled, "Wherein are our
Sunday Schools advancing" was read BY
ID. d. Pershing, on which criticlsns
were made by Messrs. LSuck, Vail, Price,
Rodgers, Pierce and Wright
Elder Burt read an essay on SACRED
Music" which was criticised by Messrs.
Hudson, Rodgers, Price, Franklin, Fresh.
water, Vail, Pierce, LAuck and Hamilton,
to which Elder Burt replied.
BY special request Elder Burt sang the
hymn entitled 1.-THE Lord our God is
clothed with light" Alter which the
Conference adjourned, W. F. Smith pro-
nouncing the benedctioA.
The afternoon session was opened with
prayer by D. A. Pierce, after which the
Committee on Sunday Schools offered
their report which, on motion, was adopt.
cd.
II having been announced on yesterday
that Prof. Kidd, OF the Wheeling Female
Seminary, would deliver lecture on
Pulpit EloCuuon," very large audience
were assembled, to whom the Professor
was introduced by Elder Burt. The ad.
dress Of Prof Kidd was very entertaining
and was highly enjoyed by the audience.
He said, much Of the public discourse OF
men must stand or iall by It's manner OF
delivery. So much depends upon delivery
that the grandest thoughts often lose their
effect and are entirely unsppreciated on
account Of faulty delivery, and there Is
often moro power in how thing Is said
than there is in the matter OF what Is
said. Tho Professor claimed that by far
the greater portion Of the power attribut.
ed to such men as Henry Ward Beecher,
spurgeon and Wendell Phillips was in
their delivery.
When yoLread the writings OF these
men there seems to be nothing In them
80 much beyond the scope of other schol.
ars, but when you hear those men within
pulpi6 or on the public stage you find
that the wonderful charm Is IN their de.
livery. To have a good delivery 1t was
necessary TO have a good voice Who
ever heard Of great revivalist who
had a twangy nasal voice. 1t might
be said that good voice was not an &C.
quirement, but natural gift, He would
say that any man of good health and
sound lungs could have q good voice by
cultIvating it. ? a :
The Professor gave many happy and
telling Illustrations OF the powerful in
tiuence Of what he defined as mannerism,
BY giving short speeches in as many dit
lerent styles of oratory.
His advice TO young speakers was that
above all things they should avoid the
temptation 10 copy, or more properly,
10 affect the style Of any noted speaker.
A man should be natural; should be him.
self as much in addressing an au.
dience as II addressing single
individual. Again, there should be
an unmistakable directness, such as
would leadIevery man in the audience al.
most to think the speakers remarks were
intended for himself. He called attention
to the great importance Of preparation
and study, so that speaker may be fully
master Of the subject whereof he speaks.
Ranting in public speaker might gener.
ally be attributed to an absolute lack of
anything to say, and was simply an at.
tempt TO conceal the want OF ideas in la
bored gesture and noisy defamation. He
also advised that public speakers should
never be overcome by an overwesning
bashfulness that would prevent them de.
manding proper ventilation Of the room,
and secure healthtul atmosphere when
1t is at all possible TO have 1t. He exem-
pl6ed by practical illustrations the de-
elded advantages arising from a well mod.
ulated tone Of voice in relieving the
speaker from the WEAKNESS that Is the in
sporadic adjunct OF monotonous delivery.
On the whole the Conference, we think,
was well rewarded for the hour devoted
TO the Professors remarks. He certainly
gave at least to the younger members
OF the Conference some valuable hints
that will serve them well in moulding
their style Of address.
A vote Of thanks was unanimously ten.
dered the Professor.
On motion ]. j. Wilson and ]. o.
Wright were excused from reading their
essays. DR., LYDIA was requested 10 ad.
dress the children's meeting In the even.
Ing, but declined on the score Of other
duties.
After singing and the benedlction the
Conference adjourned.
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