166
Mind, Character, and Personality Volume 2
Speak With Melody and One Sentence at a Time—In my
younger days I used to talk too loud. The Lord has shown me that I
could not make the proper impression upon the people by getting the
voice to an unnatural pitch. Then Christ was presented before me, and
His manner of talking; and there was a sweet melody in His voice. His
voice, in a slow, calm manner, reached those who listened; His words
penetrated their hearts, and they were able to catch on to what He said
before the next sentence was spoken. Some seem to think they must
race right straight along or else they will lose the inspiration and the
people will lose the inspiration. If that is inspiration, let them lose it,
and the sooner the better.—MS 19b, 1890. (
Evangelism, 670
.)
Powers of Speech Under Control of Reason—Your influence is
to be far-reaching, and your powers of speech should be under the
control of reason. When you strain the organs of speech, the modula-
tions of the voice are lost. The tendency to rapid speaking should be
decidedly overcome. God claims of the human instrumentality all the
service that man can give. All the talents entrusted to the human agent
are to be cherished and appreciated and used as a precious endowment
of heaven. The laborers in the harvest field are God’s appointed agents,
channels through which He can communicate light from heaven.—SpT
Series A, No. 7, p 10, Jan 6, 1897. (
Evangelism, 668
.)
Science of Reading of Highest Value—The science of reading
correctly and with the proper emphasis is of highest value. No matter
how much knowledge you may have acquired in other lines, if you
have neglected to cultivate your voice and manner of speech so that you
can speak and read distinctly and intelligently, all your learning will be
[582]
of but little profit; for without voice culture you cannot communicate
readily and clearly that which you have learned.—MS 131, 1902.
(
Evangelism, 666
.)
Things Real and Imaginary—On a certain occasion, when Bet-
terton, a celebrated actor, was dining with Dr. Sheldon, [then] arch-
bishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop said to him, “Pray, Mr. Betterton,
tell me why it is that you actors affect your audiences so powerfully
by speaking of things imaginary.”
“My lord,” replied Betterton, “with due submission to Your Grace,
permit me to say that the reason is plain: it all lies in the power of
enthusiasm. We on the stage speak of things imaginary as if they
were real; and you in the pulpit speak of things real as if they were