New-York tribune., 1875-11-27
PREA CHERS AND ACT0PS
Opportunities OF THE PULPIT.

Armitagc ON Preachers and Actors, but his letter
have read with great interest DR.. Armitses letter
devoted mainly 10 showing the advantages which the
actor has the preacher for producing effect ON
hs audience. They In brief first, that the actor
labors entertain and not TO couyince second that he
speaks other compositions, and is at liberty TO
choose the in the whole range Of dramatic hiera-
ture third that his profession permits and requires MN
study attitudes expression. accents, intonatons ana
everything which can add force the rendering fourth
that the play is in the form OF dialogue IN which the
leading actor rarely speaks than ten minutes at
time and in addition, has the ala of costumes and
scenery to give effect his words He claims that there
is so little in between preaching and acting that
comparisons unjust and that they are better eapa-
BILE OF being contrasted than compared"
While it is that the preacher aims pri-
marily TO convince, he should not neglect 20
entertain also, aid 10 his nTgu-
ment Because 40 many preachers do not or cannot
Is precisely the why they fail to draw ful audi
cnees Right wrong viii not 90 10 church regu-
arly merely to hear powerful arguments 70 prove that
they are sinners taste for entertainment and
nent Is part Of Strength adapted TO the
object is essential element In everything We use
whether II be a house. church. article Of furniture,
sermon, machine, or horse but Vho does not ptIle
each of these all the II with the necessary strength
we get something ornamental grace preacher who
despises the races of oratoIy thinks that incidents
or striking illustration word pictures or apt quota
tions graceful gesticulatOn, expressive mOduon
OF the voice hiehen the effect Of passage which VIII
Justify it, keeping with his sacred purpose need
never expect much in winning men to
lead better lives He must entertain somewhat be-
fore he can be permitted to convince. Neither sinners
nor saints care for steady diet OF fscts arguments
which are set of by something approIimatins To
-hetOrical q ace briancy. en7ened by the glow OF
an Imagination which and then soar into the
realms OF fancy. II is precisely because 80 many preach
ers rise above the dead level OF the most
the pulpit eil-
cent In hundreds perhaps Thousands OF Instances too
that delivery is than commonpace- IS revolving
to good taste Does anybody claim that the glory of
God promoted in preaching by the unnatural mono
tone ito say nothing OF singsong characteristic OF 50
many preachers OF few preachers can be enter
tanning OF eloqueLt merely viii. Nor Is the fault
necessarily in their schools or teachers Nature mas SIN
ply denied tho the powers they need But for bal nab
its Of elocution, slOyeny delivery careless enuneiaon
monotone sIng-song. &C. &C.. much cannot be said
These are faults which industry and perseverance vii
correct and OF duty in view Of their sacred call
inc should impel them to the effort.
The second advantage cited by Dr. Armitage in that
the actor speaks other mems compositions an advan-
ta-c with an important qualification. II simply makes
him all the subject Of criticism. We know IN ad
vance what going say, for may know II verbatim
# we choosc and Of have interest in thatt
all oenters In the question OF how he will say H. Not
with the Clergyman. In both his words and his manner
we have an interest and sometimes where great power
is shown Is question which Is most worthy to admire
the matter or the rnanne7 Sometimes almost forget
speakers faults Of delivery in admiration for his
thoughts or in another instance matter which would
appear commonplace enough in type is set of by de-
livery which almost makes the words. words 0t hre
And this is not the of long study Of attitudes and
p0sures and ntonatons but the natural expression o
a great soul striving to win not fame for
its own sake-but souls TO Christ. II impromptu
in every respect much the graDder the power shown
The actors genius after all is small by the SIDE OF me
really great preacher The Inter produces effects that
NAV live through eternity the actors effect Is tran
sen that OF rainbow. II enierans for the H0men
dream know that his uttcI1nces are entirely Tor
effect. that the sentiments and rhetoric belong 70
and not throw into his rendering the counter
felt OF passion he does not feel-of manner put on
merely 10 pease-hc II failure, complete ana total
He has but one resource; the preacher has two
Those eergymen who are ridiculed preaching the
gospel Of gush" sensatonaliss," &C. are generally
those whose interest in er work relates 10 the praise
they get or serviley try 20 initiate some greater
mans oratory whose genius they cannot comprehend
They are without either the natural artificial qualif-
cations for the kind Of OratOry they aim illustrate
They lack re high art" and don't know IT, The great
actor l. be whose good that IL is well nigh fault
less the poor actor and the "gushng" preacher do
their york 50 shabbly that al through all
the tricks preacher may "glsh" od libit,tm, pro-
yded il il natural sincere and graceful expression Of
his feelings or provided also he do 1t well that
In az. used Is dI5coyoraDe-thOugh the latter IL
wellnigh impossible. Even II he countcrfeiis wei in
the pulpit the daily nsncerity OF his life reveals his
character and ruins his influence. think that the
OF cburchgocrs would be exceedingly Taifed II clergy
men generally would put study the delivery OF
t ,ruons a. the result would nodoubt be the omission
OF many now Objectionable features One Of the greatest
needs Tor enhancing pulpit power II simplicity III dehV-
ery High art simply the perfect copying Of nature
and 1t certainly is that large proportion ot the
clergy have very little Of nature IN delivery. They
neither read naturally speak naturaliythough IN
speakng extempOranc0usly they much nearer the
mark than any kind % reading. They seem TO forget
that the art mystery OF good reading consists SIM Is
and oniv in giving the language the expression
tones. and Infections tHat they use IN conversation
varied only 10y much additional vocal power as niy n
necessary make themselves heard easily ~ chnrrh
instead Of dIn ningIOom. Passages expressive Of deep
feeling emphasis require niue more all lor teit uqe
rendition than what nature gives 20 any IMAM thoroughly
in earnest in his subject. Dr. Armitaee says the
Inf does not tlis definition answer al
niraly for the preacher in delivering written sermon
His work il 10 interpret himself Much deep siuaY u
mot necessary 90 know what the author maeut-I Dee
cannot make easily he had better quf preaching
Il not much OF tAnheras DI. AImiige iniliaies may
he the ease sOetnncs-lis chances fOr failure VIII De
greatly improved: still. with natural aud clear delivery
nis common places may make far deeper impression
man some greater thinker. sttcd dIawls and udlstiuCt
enuncation. Good reading il among the very rares Of
scholarly psEBCnis aud tnH explains ihe strong
ur,iudice so long felt-and still felt ia many l0clrs-
AGAINST written dIscOurses although those who object -
may rot always be able TO state Iny wherein lhe
weakness lics.
Bnt after all that may be sad against the pulpis want
OF artistic power candOr comrels the verdict that IL s
superior 10 the stage whole The really great actors
Of the age are hardly numerous than the Fingers
on ones hand. and even most Of them have faults when
ali the parapheInna OF the stage cannot hide. The best
pot ufreauel ly overdO their work. for who real Lfo
ever saw such az tuds and contOrtOns aud astonishing
defamation in the midst OF raging passions ~ are se
forth ON the "luinlc stage y
DR. Aruaitacs is probably not far wrong Ia Ifs int'ma
ton that were greatest OF living actors put into the
pulpit and subjected all the preachers work and cti
csms would make about the same Job OF IT, that