The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-08-09
PREACHED TN THE OPEN AIR
SECRETARY FENNO GETS POINTS
FROM STREET TENDERS.

1t is no easy thing for the preacher
in hot weather to make his congrega-
tion last as long as his sermon,an the
outdoor sermonizer has a far harder
task for his congregation is always
on it's feet free and ready to leave the
moment the services become the least
bit irksome to them.
AS result the outdoor preacher has
to make a careful study of mankind
and and know how to talk to interest
them If he wants to have any hearers
at all.
Mr.. Fenno, the up-to-date secretary
Of the Railroad Y. M. c, A., realized
this fact, and so when called upon to
address the open air meeting on the
steps of Center church yesterday after
noon at o'clock he prepared himself,
for to him the new experience of ad-
dressing an out-of-door audience by
going to the street vendors and learn
ing wisdom from watching their way
of attracting and holding people while
they talk to them. Mr.. Fenno evident
ly got the right cue from the street
vendors for he succeeded well in hold
ing his congregation while he preached
to them yesterday.
1t was rather curious to watch the
congregation who attended the services
in front of the old Center church.
Seats and standing room are necessa-
rily free at these outdoor meetings, and
the congregation is Of a most transitory
nature.
A few of the holder worshippers took
seats on the steps of the church, but by
far the greater part of the congregation
formed itself in a standing semicircle
at good distance for executing re-
treat when the occasion required.
This was the condition of affairs
when it became Mr.. Fenno's duty to
preach at the close of the song and
praise service.
Mr.. Fenno first made a strategic
move to get the standing semi-circle of
his hearers to move up within closer
range of his voice.
With the greatest responsiveness or
tone and manner he requested the peo-
pie to move up closer while they sung
verse of an old hymn, assuring them
that they could leave any time they got
tired.
The verse was sung and few moved
and second verse was sung with not
enough recruits to the front ranks to
pay good dividend on the persuasive
ness.
Mr.. Fenno was not discouraged, how
ever and commenced his sermon. Be-
fore he had proceeded far he had his
congregation of 400 or 500 about him,
and had proved the value of the scien-
tific education he had acquired from
the profession of outdoor speaking.
Mr. Fenno spoke from the Scriptural
text Behold I stand at the door and
knock; If any man hear my voice and
open the door, will come unto him and
will sup with him and he with me-"
Adopting an unconventional manner,
Mr. Fenno proceeded to talk to his
congregation somewhat as follows,
while the congregation on it's part
dropped his diffident attitude and be-
came deeply interested.
when Mr.. Mcintosh asked me to
speak at this meeting I told him I had
never addressed an outdoor meeting
and advised him to get some one else.
However, he insisted that / should
speak, so began observing how the
ice men, street vendors and milk men
attained their success. heafd one
Italian, who was selling ice, crying out
fine fresh ice for sale. l found from
my study that the necessary things for
an outdoor speaker were to have peo-
pie to talk to and have something to
talk to them about
.Now, + don't want to disturb YOU
people who are talking. Go right on
+; saving what vol, have to saw onIv don't
talk 40 loud hut give me chance to
ta1k foo IN case tbare NAV he Some
n are who ray,oaro n haor wbo+ T hove
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Ing ee7e po"eA ~ 'i-o
Benoid l STAND at the door ana