The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-03-31
Mistakes by Young Preachers

Sometimes young preachers, and older
preachers also, in seeking power as
speakers, lose it. We call attention TO
three common mistakes:
l. O1HoeceS8o1.y Louclaoe8S. Mere loud
ness adds no power to the thoughts or
the words uttered, and is in itself disa-
greeable to the nearer. 1t is not neces-
s:ary, even in the largest room. All that
is needed to be heard is clear, distinct
articulation Let the voice be natural.
more than that is offensive. Wendell
Phillips never speaks loudly, and is
always heard. Have something to saw
and speak it plainly and distinctly. Let
the power of the voice be seen as the sub
Ject takes possession of the speaker and
gives an unconscious fulness Of tone.
which is as distinct as possible from mere
loudness. Let the voice be the natural
expression of the souls emotion. and then
Its high tones will have power. Mere
Loneliness sounds heartless, as though the
thoughts came from the throat. "Noise"
is not the secret Of eloquence.
IL. Another mistake in the same direc-
ton is IN too much of an effort to be
earnest. Young preachers may Justly
dislike to be tame or dull, and hence thew
try to be earnest, and become excited in
manner. Such earnestness may hold the
attention for while, but can have little
influence over the mind or heart Self
possession and calmness strike deeper.
The preacher should not manifest more
earnestness than he feels: whatever IS
more than that decreases and not in
creases his power. Let the earnestness
be not of the hands, or feet, or the voice.
but an overflow of the soul, and the
speaker become stirred, not in irvine to
stir others, but as his subject stirs him.
and he moves others. 1t is an earnest
ness of thought and heart, and not clat-
ter of machinery.
AS a great thought and great love
fills the preachers soul, they will roll
out with unaffected power upon others.
When men see that the preacher
feels more than be expresses, then his
calmest words will move them. Never
appear to mean more than you do: never
try to be more earnest than YOU are.
DO not repress emotion; let it come with
all its fire when the soul feels it, but do
not try to make it, for the effort is an
injury, both to him who tries it, and to
those who hear.
Ill Too much Conscious rhetoric.
Anything in the composition of SER
mon which seems like having been con
structed in the study as a piece of art.
and brought into the pulpit to be shown.
fails in power. The preachers rhetoric
cannot be too fine; but, like his earnest
ness, it should be an outgrowth of his
culture, and not seem to be made for the
occasion One preachers rhetoric ap-
pears to say, '" See how finely have put
this together Anothers thrills us by
is naturalness, while fixing attention on
the things said. The former may please
high school girls and young students but
the latter alone stirs men souls When
a sermon does not rise above a mere com
position, it is not preaching; when SER
mon is written with reference to it's rhet-
ORC it may instruct, but will not move
but when the rhetoric is the flash of cul-
ture and deep emotion then it will be
the more brilliant, and strike with light
ming power among the hearts Of men.
Let the young preacher, in his voice.
manner and rhetoric, avoid all afecta-
ton, and with the broadcast culture and
the deepest love, have his speech the ut
terance of his latest convictions. What
ever is more or less than this is sounding
brass. Truth convinces men, but honesty
moves them Golden Rule.