LESSON 143

How to Speak in a Religious Meeting

KEY WORDS: IN SPEAKING IN A RELIGIOUS MEET

ING SPEAK REVERENTLY, BRIEFLY, AND TO A SINGLE POINT.

You are at a meeting of a religious nature when it devolves upon you to speak.

There are a few general suggestions that will be of help to you.

In the first place, notice the following negative suggestions:

It is not fair for
As the meeting

1. Do not speak at great length. you to occupy an undue share of time. is necessarily short you should make your remarks very brief.

2. Do not speak too personally. A public meeting is almost never the place for intimate revelations. Maintain a certain degree of reserve.

3. Do not present any controversial topic. A meeting of religious nature is not the place for controversy.

4. Do not speak in bitterness or in contempt of any thing or anybody. A meeting of religious nature is the

place for good will.

5. Do not speak egotistically or boastfully. A religious meeting is the place for humility.

On the other hand, you should observe the following rules:

1. Speak briefly.

2. Speak quietly and reverently.

3. Maintain a certain reserve.

4. Speak so that all will agree with you.

5. Speak kindly of everything.

6. Speak with humility.

7. Present one leading thought, and only one. Form this thought in accordance with the spirit of the meeting. If any general thought has been given for discussion be sure that your topic comes under the leading topic. If you try to present more than one leading thought you will not be able to present it clearly in the short time at your disposal. You can present one thought clearly and emphatically.

8. Give one or two examples to prove your main assertion. Make these examples as specific as possible. Give names, places, and dates, or any other specific and exact references.

9. Conclude by repeating your main assertion in some

emphatic form.

By doing this you show that your talk has had one object, and that you wish all thought centered on your theme.

PROBLEM.

Think out the words of a talk to be given in any religious meeting in which you may be entitled to speak.

LESSON 144

How to Make a Nomination Address

KEY WORDS: IN MAKING A NOMINATION ADDRESS DEFINE THE NEEDS OF THE OFFICE FIRST, AND THEN PROVE THAT YOUR CANDIDATE FULFILS

THOSE NEEDS.

At a meeting of your organization you wish to nominate for office a man whom you consider in every way fitted for the position.

You know that if you can make a good nomination address you will bring success to your candidate.

How will you speak in order to be successful?

There are three psychological steps to follow.

Make your speech according to those three steps, in the order indicated below, and you will certainly make a good impression.

1. Define the type of man needed for the office.

"The office of Treasurer of our organization needs a man of business ability, a man accustomed to handling large sums of money, a man familiar with banking, with accounting, and with all the details of large business." (Add further points until you have shown the full needs of the office.)

2. Without naming your candidate, show that you know

a man whose characteristics are those called for by the office.

"There is a man among us who, for years, has handled, not thousands, but hundreds of thousands of dollars; he is an experienced banker, so respected that he was made an officer of the Bankers' Association of this State; he is the author of a well known text book on the care of fraternal funds." (Add further details until you have shown the unusual qualifications of your candidate.)

3. At the close of your address, name, for the first time, the candidate you have in mind.

"Gentlemen: the man who has all these remarkable qualifications, qualifications that more than fill the requirements of the office, is here with us. We are fortunate in having such a man as a fellow member. I nominate for the office of Treasurer, Mr. Frank B. Labdell, one of the charter members of this body."

By speaking in this deductive way you fix attention upon the office rather than the man. You remove personal antagonism, and place all emphasis upon qualifications.

Prove your points thoroughly and you are likely to make your candidate successful.

PROBLEM.

Think of a man who would make a successful President of your organization. Think out the words of a nomination address in his favor.