The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-02-27
ExtempOraneous Preaching.

This is not intended for the very little
boys, nor the very old ones. 1t is for the
middle-aged boy, who is yet at school, we
will say at the seminary, and intends to
become speaker. We will call him the
young preacher. There seems to be di-
versity of opinion regarding the pros and
cons OF extemporaneous speaking, and as
some assert that your success in talking
without notes rests upon your early train
ing, let me call your attention to the fact
before you have formed any bad habits.
No one doubts that in written address
the train of argument is likely to be more
clear and forcible, and the diction more
elegant and concise, than in an impromptu
speech. In the former you have an OPP
portunity to turn a sentence, add word
to it, or trim it of superfuous words, until
you have made it as expressive as posi-.
BILE. What then does it lack ? Fire, en-
thusiasm. we are told. Now, boys, is
that the fault of your written address
Do you feel what you have written, and
read as you would speak 1t is highly
important that you should be a good
reader put yourself under the training
of fine elocutionist till you can read with
as much power and expression as you
speak. If you have no heart in your sub
ject, don't preach but if you will, BIZ sure
to write your sermons, or your impromptu
arguments will have no force; you will
become embarrassed in the attempt to fill
up the time with "much ado about moth
ing," and try to cover your mistakes with
good deal of noise, which deceives no
one but yourself. But, boys, l would not
have you think you should be entirely
confined to your notes, or even that you
should never preach without notes. There
is sermon which is neither a written
sermon nor an extemporaneous one, for
the latter signifies that the sermon has
not been studied. You can study well
your subject, and prepare yourself care
fully without touching pen to paper, and,
If you have a well-trained mind and
fluent tongue, gain by the magnetism of
eye to eye. The greatest objection to this
style Of preparation lies in the fact that
you do not know, as you would if you had
written your sermon, whether you are
fully prepared or not; and you make
blunders without being aware of them
you are obscure, and you resort to repeti-
ton to fill up the time or to recall a lost
train of thought. And the habit grows
upon you to offer your audience a crude
address, because it takes SO much time
and labor to fully prepare. You will often
be placed where you will feel compelled to
speak upon subject as soon as it is pre-
sented to you. Your previous careful
study will help you here. 1t is easier to
give from full storehouse than an empty
one. And one more word, boys. Do not
destroy your seminary compositions. After
preparing one or two new sermons every
week for while, the mind will react from
the unusual strain, and thoughts will
seem scarce. You may be glad to take
an idea from your early efforts, which
were so full of life and hope and eager
longing to be- at work. The dress to
clothe your thoughts will be compare
lively easy to create. But, boys, do not
try to dress up nothing and offer husks to
your hungry fock.-Christian at Work.