Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-02-08
Rev. Joseph CoOk.

WHO He Is AND WHAT He HAS DONE.
Within the past year or two. Mr.. Cook
has made so wide Il reputation as lec-
turer that many Of our readers will prob
ably be glad TO learn something OF his
earlier career Joseph Cook was born
in 1888, at Ticonderoga, New York,
where his father was, and Is farmer
with considerable reputation for mental
aitainments and fertility ofspeech. His
early years were passed partly at home
and partly at 4 school in Canada. where,
among other things he acquired know
ledge of The French language. At the
age of seventeen he entered Phillips
Academy at Andover, Mass, While at
Andover he began with great enthusiasm
the study Of the physical sciences, partic-
nlarly physiology, and revealed many of
those qualities both AS thinker and orator
which have recently challenged such at
tention In 1858 he went to Yale Col
lege, and speedily gained a leading posi-
ti0n as scholar; but after remaining
there two wears and half, attracted by
the literary atmosphere of Cambridge, he
went to Harvard University. of which in
stitution he is a graduate.
After graduating at Harvard, Mr.. Cook
gave tour years 10 the study OF theology
at Andover, and when his course was
completed, oiiiciated as preacher at
LINN. Abingdon, and various other places,
attracting attention by his vehement rhet
ortic, but achieving no marked success.
A.ter a year OF this miscellaneous preach
ing, he crossed the ocean and spent some
Years in travel in Italy and Greece, ami
in study in Germany, where he enjoyed
the best advantages the world has to
off-r in the way OF teaching, and where
lie devoted special attention TO biology,
physiology. and metaphysics. Returning
to Boston in 1873, he at once began. in
an informal way, his lectures on the rela-
tions between science and religion then
gave courses before churches and col
leges, as he happened to be invited then
began, in 1875, 10 lead the noon prayer
meetings in the Meionaon, where his re-
marks attracted both attention and audi
ences. Out Of this grew the Boston
Monday Lectureship," which is now or
ganized on permanent foundation, and
in connection with which. during the
winter Of 1906, he delivered those lee
lures which have carried his fame over
two continents.
As we have already remarked, Mr..
Cook developed at very early age those
qualities which are now attracting so
much attention. DIR. George NJ. Beard,
a iellow-student and friend of Mr.. Cook,
SAYS: Admirers OF his oratory may be
interested TO know that in his early boy
hood he was accustomed to practice ex-
temporaneous speaking in the open air
in company with friend. Their habit
was to write down 4 number of topics on
slips of paper, put them in hat, draw
one at random, and speak upon it for
specified number of minutes. DR.. Pea
body, OF Cambridge, speaks OF Mr. Cook
as an orator born and not made This
is half true and half untrue he is both
an orator born and an orator made He
has all the physical qualities of the orator.
The impression he instantly gives is that
of size, quantity, massiveness of being
A liie-opponent ol materialism, he is in
his own personality and physique one OF
the most material of men. In his manner
there is at all times, in private as in pub
lie, an impressiveDess and heartiness that
are fully explained by his physiology and
psychology, but TO which lovers of delus-
ions are wont to apply the vague and in
correct term, animal magnetism. His
voice, eyes, countenance, head, hands
and body, generally, are all formed for
the orator; but no man of his age, | am
sure, has studied oratory more thorough
ly or more iudiciously than he"