Gradus

The Art of Speaking

The art of speaking is an accomplishment every Brother should aim to acquire. While some natural aptitude must be pre-supposed in those who practice the art, success can only be achieved by cultivation. Everyone cannot aspire to be a great orator; for that, there is the need of a spark of inspiration or genius that is given only to a few; but with study and practice nearly everyone should become an acceptable, and even a powerful speaker.

Most important is it that the speaker should have clearly outlined in his mind what he is going to say. Clear thinking is above all things essential to clear speaking. Ideas cannot be clearly conveyed to those listening unless the speaker has them ordered and prepared in his mind. Having achieved this he must next strive for clear expression.

By reading he can get command of the value of essential wording. By writing notes, etc., he can learn to present his thoughts in logical sequence or order, and by reading aloud and rehearsals, he can get a clearness of speech, coupled with deliberation of manner and self possession or confidence.

All these things can be achieved by patient study and intelligent application. Outstanding quality in speaking comes more easily to the really earnest man than is often realised; the sincerity of the conviction that compels utterance inspires him. Sincerity is welcome everywhere.

Earnestness is infectious, and the speaker, who at the beginning of his speech convinces his audience that he is himself in earnest has gone a long way towards gaining their sympathy and his objective. The arts which he can acquire by study and practice will do as much as is humanly possible of the rest.

The mysterious power which great orators undoubtedly exercise over their hearers and which so many people endeavour to explain by such phrases as nerve force, personal magnetism, and the like, is little more than the natural result of mere earnestness and a mastery of the subject in hand.

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