The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-06-26
Deliyery in the + ulpit.

IN his "Notcs and Comments In the
Religious Herald Of June 18th, Rev. j. 1.
Hiden. -. D., makes the following oD-
servations on the theme or "DelNery
At "A meeting Of the alumni OF the
University Of Virginia. John y. Broadus
once expressed his concern at the idcI
that no provision was made at the chl-
vorsitv for instruction In the art or puphc
speaking. Rhetoric. as taught in IN"
University. means nothing but written
rhetoric. or the art Of composition. Ut
Broadus thought there ought 10 De q
profossorship Of oratOry, and that SUI
dents should be taught the arts or CON
siructing and delivering a speech Az
all events. they could be Taught how not
10 speak. and this would be a great point
gained. Professor BrOadus was an au'
thority and an expert in this department
as he taught "Homiletics' for some thirty
or more years i'm the Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary. There are some
strong grounds for his views. when We
remember that many Of the ablest men
turned out by the University viii entor
upon vocatiOns in which speaking VIII
be almost indispensable 70 any great
success. the matter becomes important
and practical.
The University Of Virginia. however.
is not peculiar in this matter. Where
I'm this country is there a college or 4
school OF any grade that gives any
serious attention 10 teaching oratory?
Some schools exercise their pupils IN
something that is called defamation.
but Il is questionable whether. upon the
whole. this does more good than harm.
True. the boys may acquire a sort or
confidence in using their voices In the
nresence Of an audience: but the audi
ence is usually small. and the general
conditions are almost as different as
possible from those Of real speaking.
How many boys who lead the class IN
"declamation" ever make their marx as
speakers? 1t really does seem that some
thing might and should be done 10 MI
this gap i'm our college and university
courses. In the actual public speaking or
our dav-even when the speakers are
among the best-the most giaring viola
tions Of the most fundamental principles
and rules Of oratory are often and pain
fully discernible. One Of the most distin-
guishod orators that I know preacher
Of very extraordinary power and elo-
qucnce-will stamp the floor tremendous
lv. and will give himself such blows on
the breast with clenched fist as TO sug-
gest the idea that he is doing his best
TO knock himself down. At least TWO
highly distinguished speakers that have
often heard will lick OUT their tongues
ike serpents. A noted Doctor OF Divinity
Of my acquaintance will snatch up the
Bible from the desk I'm his left hand,
and march across the platform, pounding
the Bible tremendously with his right
hand. other noted preachers will thump
the desk with their fists. and VIII clap
their hands with a noise like the report
Of a pistol. Now. can anything be more
obvious than the rule which prohibits
n speaker from making any gesture that
will interfere with the soun Of his W
voice? And any gesture which makes
a noise is. therefore. ruled out by the
most obvious reasons. The economy of
the hearing powers Of the audience. is
"a matter Of serious moment 10 the speak
or. and when people have their ears as
sailed by several sounds at the same
moment their attention is e~Xtravagantly
wasted. The only sound that a speaker
should make is the sound Of his W
voice. and then the hearing capacity or
his audience will be concentrated upon
what the speaker wants them 10 hear
OF course. 7 am here making points that
are perfectly obvious. and yet | know
few preachers who attend 10 them.