no, I U I A RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF THE SERMONS OF DAVID ELTON TRUEBLOOD Frank H. Cooley A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate School of Bowling Green State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY March 1973 Approved by Doctoral Committee / Advisor Graduate School Representative SAcfo> 545355 ''Yto .Ibi ABSTRACT David. Elton Trueblood is professor at large at Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana. As founder and president of Yokefellows Inter­ national, he is an internationally known writer and speaker. The methodology employed included the traditional canons of rhetoric, a biographical sketch, his theories on preaching, and his mode of speech preparation. The study was based upon interviews with Dr. Trueblood and his associates, his personal file (1920-1972), publications, and correspondence. The inquiry revealed Trueblood as a Quaker, Yokefellow, theologian, philosopher, and a preacher. He reflected his precepts and ethical profile by preaching with a genuine concern for others. His mode of speaking is extemporaneous. Trueblood's arrangement indicated thorough preparation. There was no definite pattern exhibited toward the parts of a speech, but his sermons characterized his awareness of the value of audience contact. He provided variety in an orderly manner. The inventive characteristics of Trueblood indicated he relied heavily upon source credibility, but he used logic, and to a lesser extent, emotional proof. His sermons promoted the ecumenical move­ ment of the Christian faith. Figuratively language was utilized to enhance the audience's understanding. Narrations, descriptions, definitions, comparisons, and contrasts were Trueblood's primary tools through which he presented vivid images of his thoughts and ideas. His authoritative yet pleasing, dignified, and sincere image indicated his interest in others. The naturalness of his delivery, and his excellent memory, aided him in performing As a good man speaking well. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Raymond Yeager, Ph.D., faculty advisor, provided notable professional service of immeasurable value to the ultimate conclusion of this investigation. John T. Rickey, Ph.D. and Raymond K. Tucker, Ph.D., both colleagues of Dr. Yeager’s in the Bowling Green State University Speech Department, and Stuart R. Givens, Ph.D., of the Department of History advised, cooperated, and gave freely of their time to this investigator. David Elton Trueblood, Ph.D., made his personal files (1920- 1972) available and graciously gave much firsthand information to aid this investigator. My dear wife, Jeanetta D. Cooley, supported and encouraged this writer to help make this dissertation a reality. Hopefully, someday symbols will be available which will ex­ press, adequately, -¿his investigator’s gratitude to all who contributed. Frank H. Cooley 11 TABLE.OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..................... i INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 1 Statement of the problem ..................................................... 1 Similar investigations .......................................................... 2 Justification of the investigation ........ 3 Methodology . ....................................................................... 4 Source of materials .................................... ...... 12 THE QUAKER THEOLOGIAN........................................................................13 TRUEBLOOD'S RHETORICAL BIOGRAPHY ............................................. 40 Status................................................................. 40 Preparation for speaking.......................................................... 43 D. Elton Trueblood*s education............................................. 45 Speech activities...................... 47 Preparation of addresses...........................................................53 ARRANGEMENT . -............................................ '............................ 6l The Yoke of Christ...................................................................... 62 The Salt of the Earth................................................................64 The Gates of Hell........................................................................66 The Keys of the Kingdom........................................................... 68 Ill Conversion within the Church ... ............................... 69 Called to be Saints '.............................................................. 71 The Courage to Care.............................................................. 72 The Violence of the Kingdom.............................................74 The Transcendence of Prudence ........................................ 76 The Necessity of Witness ..... ............................... 77 The Problem of the Crowd.................................................... 79 The Bnerging Order........................................................................Si The Discipline of the Discipleship.................................... 83 The Abolition of the Laity............................... .... 85 The Ministry of Daily Work...................................................... 87 A Faith for Scientists .......................................................... 89 The Power of Small Fellowships............................................. 91 The Home as a Foretaste of the Kingdom............................93 Who is God?.....................................................................................96 Who is Jesus Christ?................................................ 98 What is Life Everlasting?....................................................100 D. ELTON TRUEBLOOD *S INVENTION....................................................103 Ethical proof............................................................. 105 Summary...................................................................................116 IV Emotional proof................................................ 117 Summary...................................................................................127 Logical proof.......................................................................... 128 Summary...................................................................................137 D. ELTON TRUEBLOOD’S STYLE . ............................................138 Correctness...................................................................................139 Clearness.......................................................................................143 Appropriateness ....................................................................... 158 Eribellishment.............................................................................. 164 Definitions..........................................................................165 Metaphor.............................................................................. 167 Metonymy.............................................................................. 167 Synechdoches....................................... 168 Hyperbole.............................................................................. 169 Anaphora.............................................................................. 169 Antithesis..........................................................................170 Enatiosis . ......................................................... 171 Erotesis ..... ..................................................... 171 Simile...................................................................................172 Summary...................................................................................173 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS.................................................-... 179 BIBLIOGRAPHY 186 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Rhetoric is inextricably intertwined with our democratic way of life and flourishes wherever governments are democratic. Historians further record that whenever a democracy declines the Christian influence aids in keeping rhetoric alive.Thus, rhetoricians must be interested in the role speech communication plays in behalf of democracy. In view of the evidence which indicates an extant, strong interrelation­ ship and interdependence pertinent to democracy and Christianity, we cannot as rhetors, ignore such a significant issue. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM The purpose of this investigation is a rhetorical analysis of David Elton Trueblood’s twenty-one extant sermons delivered between 1920 and 1972. These are slightly edited sermons which were taken down by a recorder. This inquiry deals with the following: 1. An ethos profile of D. Elton Trueblood. 2. Dr. Trueblood’s preparation for public address. 3. The characteristics of his rhetoric as a preacher. ^Lester Thonssen, et al., Speech Criticism (New York: The Ronald Press Co., 1970), pp. 119-120. 2 . ' SIMILAR INVESTIGATIONS A prototype for rhetorical criticism of any kind of rhetoric, according to the authorities, is nonextant. All critics who are serious devote a genuine effort in the continuous search for improved critical methodology. DeWitte Holland’s rhetorical analysis of the preaching of George W. Truett may have been conducive to the Speech Communication p Association’s sponsorship of two works, both edited by Holland. They are: Preaching in American History which points out the significance of the art, and Sermons in American History contributes sermons for study which recognize forty preachers. Both books treat a 337-year period from 163O to 1967.^ Elbert