Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-15
Coughs Dread Of an Audience,

III LIS new leCture, "PlatiOrm Experiences, y
Jonn b. Cough says: 81 never knew q time
wien did not dread an audience. OFTEN that
fear has amounted to positive suffering, and
seldom am called on to face an audience when
] would rather by far run the other way and
as grow Older, this suffering is increasing. A
very large assembly depresseS me at first sight
have often begged the chairman to make an
address to give me time to recover. There are
mans remarks, should commence my speech
1ater1ngly and with tears In my suffering
trembling d ,ag SEXES upon every nerve; my throat
hoarSe or husky, until the first few minutes
have passed. At one time the painful sen Satlon
may be much stronger than at another, but the
occasions are very rare when am In any good
degree unembaTraSSed, and never am at perfect
ease 10 sight OF an audience. There are some
persons who consider this affectation. Ihave
been told that 1t was impossible that any man
who had faced over 5000 audiences should be
nervous or apprehensiVe or troubled at the
sight OF tie people. From the first speech
ever mace, when nay heart beat IKE trip-ham-
mef, and after uttering the half dozen senten-
ccS l sat down shaking in every limb, 10 the
last, / have more or less suffered from this I'M
accountable dread at every public address.
think In my whole experience l have never
volunteered speech and never asked for an
Invitation 10 address an audience After the
list IeiY2Qsness has passed, 1 have but little
sensation; except the desire to make nay audi.
elce feel as feel, see as see, and to gain do
ninion for the time being over their wills and
affections Ii l succeed in this, or think that
have their sympathy, and especially should be
responsive. the fear Is all gone; then comes
Consciousness OF power that exhilarates, eX-
cites and produces STRANGE sensation OF de-
light.
announced to speak before an audience of more
than 6, 100 people The fright seized me so VI
olently that was obliged to Deg OH for few
minutes until could go into the vesJry and
calm myself spoke In the old fremont Tenn
pie s22 times, and many time 1 have walked
up and down the street outside with my wife,
saying that felt as If l could not possibly
When, placed In circumstances new and
strange, have been asked suddenly to perform
some public service through a nervous tlmld-
the request. During my recent visit In London,
frequently heard DR.. Joseph Parker. On one
occasion, at the close OF one OF his powerful
interest, was startled to hear him say:
II see my friend John B. Cough in the audi
ence. VIII ne please come into the pulpit while
they are singing the anthem, and conclude d.
vine service with prayer?"
turned to my wife and said:
Mary, what shall s do? dcant go up there
she said very quietly, '.You had better go
into the pulpit and explain to Dr.. Parker.'
SO, with head bent, I passed down the aisle,
cFept up the stairs and entered the desk. where
Dr.. Parker sat waiting for me. His pulpit, a
very beautiful one. presented to him by the cor
porat1On OF London, Is large and rather high.
AS half stopped could hardly be seen bS the
COpS1eSdtItu.
There is a small platform on which the doctor
stands
said, 81 cannot pray here
"Oh, yes, you can"
but here, after that sermon, cannot lead the
devotion and worship Of this people. Indeed
indeed l cannot. Please excuse me-"
He very kindly excused me, and asked me to
give out hymn. i told him would try to do
that. He told me to give out the 9th hymn,
and only read the first verse. ] had just COM
menced when he babe me stand on the plat
form, as not much more tnan nv head could be
seen by the audience below. That added to my
embarrassment
1 stood on the platform and said In very
husky voice, 1.-THE 18th hymn"
He corrected me: ''The eth hymn"
More and more nervous, l said: 1.-THE 9th
hymn," and blundered through the four lines
but how, know not
NOW This was real suffering and I SUPPOSE
IL, ougne 70 nave oeen In the spirit of prayer for
n Dc aIe .oH 70 continue instant IN prayer"
but 10 NE III mas ever been task and cross to
Lead the devotions OF others; for 1 consider it
the most solemn exercise In which a man can
engage. 1 cannot help it and cannot over
come 1t.
When Rev. Mr. Flnney was In Abar5een
Scotland, 1 heard from him a wonderfnI sar
mon. The next morning he, with his wife
called on us at the hotel -i0'
In the course OF our conversation said. nNr
Finney, fear am In the seventh chaptsr of
Romans"
.'What?"
81 fear I am In he seventh chapter of Ro-
He instantly said. LET US kneel down.
When we were on our knees he said: ..Pray. ,,
i told him could not
"Pray." he repeated.
81 cannot"
PRAY" again he babe me.
81 cannot pray, and will not"
| Then he said, 30 Lord, have mercy on this
.wiry,. little unbeliever," and offered prayer