120
The Voice in Speech and Song
minds, and they do not have time to receive the impression that it is
important for them to have; nor is there time for the truth to affect
[186]
them as it otherwise would.—
Testimonies for the Church 2:615, 616
.
Danger of Excitable Speech—When some attempt to speak
calmly, without excitement and excessive gesticulation, they become
embarrassed, and feel a lack of freedom, because they are restraining
themselves from following their old habits. But let all such feelings,
which are mere excitement, go to the four winds. That freedom of feel-
ing that would result in your committing suicide is not sanctified.—
The
Review and Herald, February 5, 1880
.
Passion of Delivery No Evidence of God’s Power—The voice
should be cultivated so as to promote its musical quality, that it may
fall pleasantly upon the ear and impress the heart....
The Lord requires the human agent not to move by impulse in
speaking, but to move calmly, speak slowly, and let the Holy Spirit
give efficiency to the truth. Never think that in working yourselves
up to a passion of delivery, speaking by impulse, and suffering your
feelings to raise your voice to an unnaturally high key, that you are
giving evidence of the great power of God upon you....
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 modulations 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.—
Evangelism, 668
.
[187]
Proper Expression in Oral Reading—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
of but little profit; for without voice culture you cannot communicate
readily and clearly that which you have learned.
To learn to tell convincingly and impressively that which one
knows, is of special value to those who desire to become workers
in the cause of God. The more expression you can put into words
of truth, the more effective these words will be on those who hear.
A proper presentation of the Lord’s truth is worthy of our highest
efforts. Let the students in training for the Master’s service make
determined efforts to learn to speak correctly and forcibly, in order that