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Mastery of Speech: How to Speak
on Public Occasions
How to Speak in a Religious Meeting
KEY
WORDS: IN SPEAKING IN A RELIGIOUS MEETING 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 :
1.
Do not speak at great length.
It is not fair for you to occupy an undue share of
time.
As the meeting 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 anything 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.
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