Imatges de pàgina
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bitual and perfectly easy; and his mind being left at full liberty to follow the sentiment, he will prove, by his manner of delivering it, that he himself feels it at his heart.

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10 The author would further remark, that he is acting upon the very same plan that is not unfrequently adopted by many among his elder, brethren. Do they not occasionally consider themselves called upon to give a word of advice to their juniors, as to the best mode of delivering certain parts of the Service? Such hints are of often highly useful;-but when the novice first attempts to reduce the advice to, practice, his mind must at the moment, and probably for some moments before, be thinking of the rule, and losing sight of devotion. Practice however will soon correct all this. In the present work, a similar plan of suggesting advice to juniors is ventured upon, differing chiefly in this particular, that the directions are more numerous; and, by being committed to the press, may have a chance of more extended utility.

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Having offered these considerations in order to obviate some of the objections which may naturally arise, it may be useful, before entering upon an explanation of the system adopted

in the present work, to enumerate some common defects in reading, against which the stadent must carefully guard. yllodw ai eroterodt qideroW vildu I

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I. The most usual defect in the reading of young Clergymen, is excessive rapidity Tand itsbnatural aconsequence, indistinctness.orītojs a mistake to suppose that the smooth but quick delivery, which is very audible and very agreeable in as room, can with propriety.be adopted in reading the Service in a church swhich is of considerable dimensions, and frequently very badly constructed 5 for public speaking Louder tones are in such places absolutely necessary; to maintain which,a more frequent respiration is required and to Trender the words intelligible at a distance, a slower enunciation must be adopted. Indeed, universal experience teaches, that it is not those whose voices are loudest that are best -understood by distant hearers, but those whose flutterance is deliberate, distinct, and equable *. sitlemi si to, et teer die botieroos Mr. Jones, in his Life of Bishop Horne, speaking of the preaching of Bishop Hinchcliffe, says, It was remark-able, and, to those who did not know the cause, mysterious, that there was not a corner of the church in which he could - not be heard distinctly." The reason, as Mr. The reason, as Mr. Jones supPoses, was, that the Bishop made it an invariable rule, yungichtige squeam if New ti gonideils do justice to every consonant, knowing that the vowels will be sure to speak for themselves."

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Besides, it must be remembered, that a rapid delivery is incompatible with solemnity, and therefore is wholly unsuited to the character of Public Worship.

lo quibson oft ci tosleb boar por 94T I basThe recollection of these facts may be useful to those who undertake the duties of reading Jand preaching several times in one day. To be enabled to preach with energy, they sometimes feel obliged to reserves their strength whilst in the Desk; and, in consequence, are -apt to fall into a dull, feeble, and sometimes a hurried and careless manner of reading; thereeby exciting a notion in the minds of the conSgregation, (who are, in general, very little Daware of the exhaustion which is produced by Sa long continuance of loud reading,) that their Minister is indifferent to the importance of the Service, and insensible to its excellence; or that he is impatient to ascend the Pulpit, that He may have a better opportunity for the exercises of his talentsib As the hearers are well acquainted with most parts of the Ritual, the Reader certainly need not use so much exertion of voice as is required of him when he becomes the Preacher; but still, in all parts of the Service, the delivery must always be properly deliberate and solemn: and if it be but distinct, it will in most churches be sufficiently

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audible. But for a hurried, slovenly manner, there can be no excuse.or e mut sapos motto Jed both conta outuner za ohin nomm09 In endeavouring to avoid the defect of ra pidity, the student must not think with some that he has attained his object, merely by introducing very long pauses at the end of every sentence. He must be reminded, that each sentence requires pauses of different lengths in various parts of it, besides the principal one at the conclusion; and that the length of those pauses must be proportioned to the gene ral rate of utterance.

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II. Another common defect in young Readers, (perhaps in many Readers and Preachers to at every period of life), is the dropping of the voice so much at the end of every sentences as to become inaudible to those of the congrera woma m to scasúpuzz on af ‚95mat This defect among preachers sometimes arises from a very obvious cause. Whilst they are pronouncing the con.990st cluding words of a sentence, they are looking down to their manuscript, to see what is the beginning of the next sent tence. From this change in the position of the head and neck, the voice receives a different direction, and is likewise considerably suppressed. This habit may be corrected by making it a rule to continue looking at those who are addressed, till each sentence is concluded. The pauses between the sentences may perhaps in consequence, be somewhat lengthened; but this will frequently be an advantage. Las

gation who are a little removed. This defect often arises from a misinterpretation of the common rule in reading, which directs, that at the end of most sentences the voice should be lowered. Lowered it may be as to its place on the musical scale in relation to the note with which the sentence began; but not always! lowered in point of loudness and force. The last swords of a sentence are frequently the most important of all; and, instead of being uttered in an under tone and feeble manner, require the utmost distinctness and energy. Observe the mode of managing the voice which nature dictates in private or public discussions. The loudest and firmest tones will often be heard in pronouncing the concluding words. The defect in question frequently arises likewise from neglecting to introduce sufficient pauses between the parts of a sentence, in consequence of an erroneous notion that one inspiration must suffice for one sentence. Such Readers draw in a full breath, commence in a loud, vigorous tone, run on at a rapid rate, attending very little to punctua tion, however correct, and cutterly regardless of introducing additional pauses, which may add clearness and strength to the meaning;" thus they proceed, with tones becoming weaker and weaker, till the breath is exhausted, and

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