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A Rhetorical Study of the Lectures and Sermons of Russell H. Conwell. Mary Louise Gehring Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

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A Rhetorical Study of the Lectures and Sermons of Russell H. Conwell. Mary Louise Gehring Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1953 A Rhetorical Study of the Lectures and Sermons of Russell H. Conwell. Mary Louise Gehring Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Part of the Speech and Rhetorical Studies Commons Recommended Citation Gehring, Mary Louise, "A Rhetorical Study of the Lectures and Sermons of Russell H. Conwell." (1953). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 8065. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/8065 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A RHETORICAL STUDX OF THE LECTURES AND SERMONS OF RUSSELL H. CONWELL A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of Speech by Mary Louise Gehrlng B. A #, Baylor University, 1943 M» A., Louisiana State University, 1949 August, 1952 UMI Number: DP69443 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI Dissertation Publishing UMI DP69443 Published by ProQuest LLC (2015). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProQuesta s ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 MANUSCRIPT THESES Unpublished theses submitted for the masters and doctor*s degrees and deposited in the Louisiana State University Library are available for inspection* Use of any thesis is limited by the rights of the author. Bibliographical references may be noted, but passages may not be copied unless the author has given permission. Credit must be given in subsequent written or published work. A library which borrows this thesis for use by its clientele is expected to make sure that the borrower is aware of the above restrictions. LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY -f ^ V ACOOWLKHMENT The author expresses her appreciation to fir* falde H* Braden, Department of Speech, Louisiana State University, for his encouragement and guidance in the conception and execution of this dissertation# She wishes to thank fir# C* M. Wise for his valuable assist* CL<i^ ance In the final stages of the preparation of the study# She is Indebted to Dr. Giles W, dray, Dr* Harriet Idol and 13T* C. L. Shaver, of the Department of Speech, and to IV. Edwin 1. Davis and IV# W*. Harry Williams, of the Department of History, for their suggestions* The author also thanks Hiss Jane Tuttle, granddaughter of Bussell H* Gonwell, and Hiss Edith Cheney, Curator, Conweliana Collection,, Sullivan Memorial Library, Temple University, for their assistance in procuring materials. 3 5 6 2 4 0 2 7 1 7 / 7 , L i i i °\ ^ ^ e * ^ TABLE OF CONTESTS CHAPTER PAGE INTRODUCTION................... ............ 1 I FACTORS OF TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE AFFECTING CORNELL AS A SPEAKER.......................... 23 Speech Trainings Biographical Factors; Speaking Career? Philosophy of Speech? Theory? General Study Habits and Delivery? Summary* II BASIC PREMISES.................... 95 ■V Motives and Purposes; Basic Tenets; Summary* III LECTURES....................................... 183 Lecture Themes; Leoture Forms; Kinds of Supporting Material; Style; Summary* IV SERMONS............ 161 Sermon Themes; Sermon Forms; Kinds of Supporting Material; Style; Summary. V EVALUATION..................................... 226 N A Comparison of the Lectures and the Sermons; Achievements; Conwell, the Speaker: an Appraisal. BIBLIOGRAPHY .................... 249 AUTOBIOGRAPHY............................. 261 iii ILLUS'm'HOHS $ h m Ffcotogropk of Oufellno for Quo of Convell’a Sermona . 02 iv a b s t r a c t For more than fifty years, Russell H. Conwell was a prominent American speaker, especially on the lecture platform and in the pulpit« The purpose of this disserta­ tion is to make a rhetorical study of his lectures and sermons during those years# The procedure has been (1) to investigate the factors of training and experience affecting Conwell as a speaker, including such aspects as his early environment and education, his adult career, his philosophy of speech, and his techniques of preparation and delivery! (2) to discover the basic premises of his thinking, and his motives and purposes in speaking! (3) to analyze rhetorical­ ly various phases of his lectures and sermons, such as the themes upon which he spoke, the forms of the speeches, the kinds of supporting material, and his style; and (4) on the basis of these considerations, to evaluate Conwell*a place in American oratory# The major sources of material are (1) his lectures and sermons, published or in manuscript; (2) his other writings; (3) biographies, magazine articles, pamphlets, letters, and other material pertaining to his life and career; and (4) general historical works treating the age in which he lived# From childhood Conwell seems to have been interested In speakers and in making speeches# The ability v to talk effectively was an asset to him as a soldier, a reporter, a lawyer, a preacher, a lecturer, and an adueator* To him, oratory was "the science of effective speech, n and the groat orator was the one who served humanity* Ho drow material for his speeches from direct personal experience, observation, inquiries, reading and listening* His well-"developed memory was a valuable tool for study* During his professional oareer, Conwell apparently never wrote out a speech of any kind* Many topioal outlines \ for his sermons and several for his lectures are extant} however, there is some question whether he used these notes during the aetual oourse of a talk* Almost every report of Conwellfs lectures mentions his humor, which seems to have been presented largely through his techniques of mimicry and pantomime* He unquestionably had an expressive voice and a responsive body* To Hussell Conwell, public speaking was both an obligation and a pleasure* He was motivated by the feeling that in his lectures and sermons he must contribute some "gospel truth" toward the l,ever-persistent 'call of Cod**" He wanted to benefit the community In which he spoke, and he devoted the proceeds from his lectures to educate needy college students* Underlying what he said were his basic premises that the individual could determine his own vl tiny, that America was the land of opportunity, that education was the remedy for all social and economic Ills, that biography was the heat text, and that happiness was the aim of life* His religious faith was simple and largely fundamental, although he was among those who accepted aoleatifie discoveries as no threat to the Bible* The Hew Ingland environment of his early years was instrumental in shaping his views* Considered as a unit, Conwellfs lectures and sermons have stimulation as their general purpose. Both discuss ways of achieving success and happiness and emphasise service to humanity* The sermons also stress manfs relation- ship to Cod* The lectures and the sermons are similar In form* His most typical sermon type consisted of text with illustrations, while the lecture generally consisted of a title story or a statement of purpose plus examples* The distributive method of ordering points was characteristic of almost all his speaking* His favorite kind of supporting material was the Illustration* Gonwell's strength lay in ethical and pathetic, rather than logical proof* In general, his style was clear, vivid and Impressive. The lectures contain more direct address and humor than the sermons, while the latter employ heightened emotional language* Conwell1s material achievements, the honors he won, and the reports of his contemporaries Indicate that he vil V&I * successful speaker in his own generation. However, he la noteworthy among American orators not for the ideas he expressed nor for the technical excellence of his speeches, hut for his ability to communicate with his audleaoe effectively and for his position as a spokesman for his generation, A rhetorical study of his lectures and sermons adds to the sum total of information on American public address* vill t m m m m h SBff — m XWT&OLOCTIQH Russell H* Conwell enjoyed a long and flourish­ ing career as an orator on the American scene, Ho mads his first rsoorded public speeches In Lincoln's day and was still addressing the American people after Coolldge had been elected to the Presidency* He lived through the Civil War, reconstruction, the Industrialisation of the United States, the era of muckrakera and progressives, the Spanleh-American Her and World War X* He was making speeches to thousands before de Forest was born but for some of his last lectures and sermons used de Forest's brain-child, radio* He was soldier, newspaperman, lawyer, preacher, educator, and lecturer* He filled many lyoeum and Chautauqua engagements, lecturing an average of
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