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your lungs more air and speak fewer words. When you are speaking,
you need to give time to taking full, deep inspirations. Bring the
muscles of the abdomen into action. Stand straight, breathe deep, and
speak your words with as much force as you please.
I was taught this lesson when my throat and lungs were so much
affected that I could not breathe without suffering. No human friend
gave me any hint of what to do in order to improve, but the great
Medical Missionary, whom I love and obey, told me what to do. The
directions given me, I give you. The importance of voice culture was
impressed upon me, and ever since I have tried to impress this upon
others. Let our ministers speak slowly, taking in full inspirations of
air, and there will be a melody in their voices that is now heard in the
voices of but few, because it is hard to change wrong habits for right
ones.
God would have His workers treat their vocal organs with special
care, as a precious gift from Him. These organs are not to be abused by
overtaxation. Let great care be shown in their use. Then the discourses
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given will be more impressive, and those who speak will be enabled
to do more work for the Master. There are men who have gone down
to the grave because they did not take pains to be in harmony with
nature’s laws in their use of the vocal organs.
The Lord would have His messengers guard sacredly their health
and strength. They are not to sacrifice their God-given organs by
misusing them. One organ is not to be overstrained, made to bear a
burden of abuse that will bring disease and cut short the usefulness of
the workers.
The Lord would have you improve in speech by placing the burden
where it belongs, upon the muscles of the chest and abdomen. The
throat is only the channel for the words. Speak slowly and breathe
deeply. This will enable you to throw out your words with distinctness
and volume, while the throat and lungs, instead of being injured, will
be strengthened to resist consumptive tendencies.
It is your privilege to take lessons in voice culture, if possible.
Voice culture is a study that should find a place in every institution
for the education of the youth. Especially is this study essential for
those who are preparing themselves to labor as teachers or ministers.
In every study the importance of speaking slowly and distinctly, and
of placing the burden upon the muscles of the abdomen, should be