The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-11-06
tn" Art Of Public Speaking.

"Iou ask me,n said DR.. Parker, 't,
define the essentials Of oratory. Tha
would not be easy. In my opinion
for preacher or spaker TO produce tn,
proper effect it is necessary that hi
voice harmonize with the building il
which he is speaking. Acoustic.
have generally been subordinatrd tC
aesthetic considerations by m, .dcrn ar
chitects. For instance, befole cam,
to London | had Il magnificent Gothic
church in Manchester, and DR.. Nor
man Macleod came there to preach fol
me. Before he went into the pulpit
warned him to begin in u conversa,
tional tone, so MS to feel the acoustic
quality of the building. But he re-
joined, if | speak 50 shall never be
heard in this vast church, IF you
neglect my advice | replied, 'you
won't that's certain Well, he bcga!
rs ! had instructed him, the result be.
Ing that he was heard perfectly"
" You are opposed to Gothic build,
ings, then, for church purposes ?n
"For preaching, yes. | admire Mr..
Newman Halls group Of buildings at
Lambeth immensely. They are an
architectural ornament to the south
side Of London. But, when | preach
Ell there on the occasion of the open
ing, | was heard but imperfcctly
whereas in the City Temple / need
never exert my lungs. If speak in Il
whisper am heard in every corner of
that large building"
" Perhaps that is because you preach
and do not read ?n
" Undoubtedly the prime essential
of all Oratory, whether of the pulpit or
the platform, is that it should be spon-
taneous, and not II mere projection. |
am so convinced of the necessity Of
this principle that although before |
enter the pulpit work up my subject
laboriously, | never allow myself to
think of the precise language in which
my thoughts will be clothed. | trust
entirely to the inspiration Of the mo-
ment, and | but rarely find myself at
Il loss for word"
Then YOU'D not admire the preach
crs Of the Church ~
"On the contrary, | maintain that
no preachers of any communion have
ever equaled or eXcelled those Of the
Church of England. The characteris-
tics of the church preaching is its deep
devotion, Il quality | esteem far more
highly than any other in preacher"
Bishop Wilberforce, | suppose, one
might quote as a perfect eNemplar Of
oratory?"
He was indeed grand-an orator
Il rival. heard him years
lgo on II platform at Manchester. He
was preceded by Il Mr.. Gresswell, II
very learned Oxford Divine, 81 am
old, but the meeting would not listen
% him, and he was coughcd and scrap
ID into silence. When, however,
Bishop WiIbcrforcc arose, the effect
was magical"
"And Mr.. GladstoneM
"IIc is charming speaker. He
lows Ikea smooth current, and car
les one easily with him. I value Mr..
iladStOne as the first of living ora
ors."
"Superior to Mr.. Bright?"
at is perhaps unfair to contrast the
parkling stream with the deep full
liver. My admiration for John Biigh t
Knows no bounds"
Ou have lll'l I'till '7tbllltS ll lIlt
}ity temple: was he acceptable to
our people "'
"He was assuredly most acceptable
o me. He speaks in rather Il low
pitched tone and occasionally hesi- |
atcs for word, but what he has to
ny is well worth listening to, and
ave been more than once astOnished |
It the adroit way in which he cXtri- |
ates himself from rhetorical tangle |
" selecting the very word he re-
uired.o
"One word more, DR.. Parker before
leave. | have been told by speakers
nd preachers that such Interruptions
) coughing, walking about and other
discs are fatal to oratOry. DO you
ntcrtain that opinion ~
81 am not effected by anything Of
he kind. In fact am rather of the
pinion of the california miner. You
now the story?o
"NO,O
"rhcrc was theatrical perform
nee in San Francisco, Il baby in the
aIlery began to scTeech SO loud that
he actors were quite thrown out, and
ne manager, to drown the child's
ries, badc the orchestra strike up Il
,ud tune, whereupon Il miner, Who
ad Just come in, shouted out, "Hcrc,
say, stop them darned tiddles. |
nvn't heard n baby's voice for seven
ears ~