Successful Methods of Public Speaking | Page 3

Now, I ask you (and connecting my
own lot with yours I ask with dread), were Jesus Christ to appear in this temple, in the
midst of this assembly, to judge us, to make the dreadful separation betwixt the goats and
sheep, do you believe that the greatest number of us would be placed at His right hand?
Do you believe that the number would at least be equal? Do you believe there would even
be found ten upright and faithful servants of the Lord, when formerly five cities could not
furnish so many? I ask you. You know not, and I know it not. Thou alone, O my God,

knowest who belong to Thee. But if we know not who belong to Him, at least we know
that sinners do not. Now, who are the just and faithful assembled here at present? Titles
and dignities avail nothing, you are stript of all these in the presence of your Savior. Who
are they? Many sinners who wish not to be converted; many more who wish, but always
put it off; many others who are only converted in appearance, and again fall back to their
former courses. In a word, a great number who flatter themselves they have no occasion
for conversion. This is the party of the reprobate. Ah! my brethren, cut off from this
assembly these four classes of sinners, for they will be cut off at the great day. And now
appear, ye just! Where are ye? O God, where are Thy chosen? And what a portion
remains to Thy share."
Gladstone
Gladstone had by nature a musical and melodious voice, but through practise he
developed an unusual range of compass and variety. He could sink it to a whisper and
still be audible, while in open-air meetings he could easily make himself heard by
thousands.
He was courteous, and even ceremonious, in his every-day meeting with men, so that it
was entirely natural for him to be deferential and ingratiating in his public speaking. He is
an excellent illustration of the value of cultivating in daily conversation and manner the
qualities you desire to have in your public address.
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams read two chapters from the Bible every morning, which accounted in
large measure for his resourceful English style. He was fond of using the pen in daily
composition, and constantly committed to paper the first thoughts which occurred to him
upon any important subject.
Fox
The ambition of Fox was to become a great political orator and debater, in which at last
he succeeded. His mental agility was manifest in his reply to an elector whom he had
canvassed for a vote, and who offered him a halter instead. "Oh thank you," said Fox, "I
would not deprive you of what is evidently a family relic."
His method was to take each argument of an opponent, and dispose of it in regular order.
His passion was for argument, upon great or petty subjects. He availed himself of every
opportunity to speak. "During five whole sessions," he said, "I spoke every night but one;
and I regret that I did not speak on that night, too."
Theodore Parker
Theodore Parker always read his sermons aloud while writing them, in order to test their
"speaking quality." His opinion was that an impressive delivery depended particularly
upon vigorous feeling, energetic thinking, and clearness of statement.

Henry Ward Beecher
Henry Ward Beecher's method was to practise vocal exercises in the open air, exploding
all the vowel sounds in various keys. This practise duly produced a most flexible
instrument, which served him throughout his brilliant career. He said:
"I had from childhood impediments of speech arising from a large palate, so that when a
boy I used to be laughed at for talking as if I had a pudding in my mouth. When I went to
Amherst, I was fortunate in passing into the hands of John Lovell, a teacher of elocution,
and a better teacher for my purpose I can not conceive of. His system consisted in drill, or
the thorough practise of inflections by the voice, of gesture, posture and articulation.
Sometimes I was a whole hour practising my voice on a word--like justice. I would have
to take a posture, frequently at a mark chalked on the floor. Then we would go through
all the gestures, exercising each movement of the arm and throwing open the hand. All
gestures except those of precision go in curves, the arm rising from the side, coming to
the front, turning to the left or right. I was drilled as to how far the arm should come
forward, where it should start from, how far go back, and under what circumstances these
movements should be made. It was drill, drill,