Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-11-05
The Art of Public Speaking.

Whitehall EuglShul REVIEW
"You ask me-" said DIR. Parker, "to
define the essentials ui Oratory. That
woulI not BE- easy. In NV opinion, Tor
aIr.acher or speaker 10 produce the
proper effect il is necessary that ms
voice harmonize with the building In
which he is speaking. Acoustic have
generally been subordlnated to aesthetic
Considerations by modern architects.
For instance, before came to London
| had magnificent gothic church IN
Manchester, and DIR. Norman Macleod
came there TO preach for me. Before ne
went into the pulpit warned him to
Ley;n softly and in a conversational
tone. SO as to feel the acoustic quality
oithe building. But, he rejoined, II
speak so. | shall never be heard IN this
vast church. III you neglect my al
vice | replied, YOU won't. That Is GER
tain Well, he began as | hal instruct
ed him, the result being that he was
heard perfectly
"You are opposed to gothic buildings,
then, for church purposes -,
"For preaching, YES. i admire Mr.
Newman Halls group OF buildings at
lambeth immensely. They are an ar
chit,ctnrsl ornament Ia the south side
nj London. But, when ] preached
There on the occasion Of the opening. /
MAS hoard but impert,ctly. whereas IN
the CIty Temple 1 need never exert my
lungs. II | speak in a whisper l am
heard in every corner oil that large oui'u-
ing" o,
.Perhs2s that is because You preach
and 10 not read? -,
"I'ndoubtedly the prime essential oil
all oratory, whether OF the pu pr or the
n'attorm, is that it should BE- spnnta-
Moons and not mere p.electiGa. am
an convinced OF the necessity oil tins
n,ipcipl. thst although before | enter
The pilpit work IN my subject LABOR.
;onsly. never allow myself To think oil
,hs pr,cise language IN which my
tnoushts will be clothed. | trust en-
tire,, 10 the irspir ton OF the moment
and I but rarely i'm! Myself at a i'ss Tor
a wotd.
ers o; the church?
"On the contrary, | maintain that no
/ preachers OF any communion have ever
eonaled or exosl.ed those OF the 'hurch
of England. The charact 'riStic OF the
chnrrh preaching is its deep devotion. a
ouslitv ! esteem lar more highly than
any other in a preacher"
*Biskop Wiloeriorce, ! suppose, one
might quote as perfect exemPla oil
Anglican oraiory?'
"He was indeed grand-an orator
x,,hou. a rival, heard him years ago
an a platform at Manchester. He was
nreceded by Mr.. Cressweil. very
learned Oxford divine, so | am told; but
| the meeting would Tot listen TO him,
and he Was eoughed and scraped into
silence. When however, Bishop Will
beriorca rose. the effect was magical
"And Mr.. Gladstone
ale is a charming speaker. lie flows
like a smooth current, and carries one
easily with him. value Mr.. Gladstone
"a the first O; living orators.
"Superior to Mr.. Bright:'
at is perhaps unfair to contrast the
sparkling stream with the deep. full
river. Nv admiration ior John Bright
knows no bounds.
"You have had Dean Stanley at the
City Temple: was he acceptable to your
people" ,
ale WAS assurcdly most acceptable to
me. He speaks in rather a low-pitched
tone, and occasionally hesitates for .
word, but what he has to say is well
worth listening to, and ! have been
more than once astonished at the adrolt
way in which he has extricated himself