Battles And Victories Of Allen Allensworth, A.M., Ph.D., Lieutenant-Colonel, Retired, U.S. Army [Illustrated Edition] by Alexander Charles;

Author:Alexander, Charles; [Piers]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Golden Springs Publishing
Published: 2014-06-11T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XXI

ALLEN ALLENSWORTH ENTERS LECTURE FIELD—FINE NEWSPAPER COMMENTS ON HIS WORK—HIS LECTURE "THE BATTLE OF LIFE AND HOW TO FIGHT IT."

AFTER Allensworth had settled down to his work in Bowling Green, more was required of him than teaching and preaching. Frequent invitations came for lectures,—lectures for young people, for colleges, for literary societies and for the larger public. He took high rank as an orator. He possessed wit, humor and pathos, and his eloquence was simply irresistible. In his talks to children he used the simplest terms and drew his illustrations from the commonest things about them. He demonstrated the power of simple statement. He did not depend altogether upon his natural gifts as a speaker; he devoted much time to hard study.

Allensworth was the recipient of many complimentary notices in the newspapers and many fine letters from public men concerning his lectures. He wrote, while located at Bowling Green, five lectures which gave him fame. His subjects were: 1. "Masters of the Situation; or, the Five Manly Virtues Exemplified." 2. "Humbugs and How They Live." 3. "The Battle of Life and How to Fight it." 4. "America" (used abroad). 5. "Character and How to Read it." A sample of the numerous press notices given while on a lecture tour through New England under the auspices of the Williams Lecture Bureau, Boston, Mass., follows:

"It was well said of him in fighting his life battle, he has already mastered the situation. He was born an orator, and so well educated that there is nothing provincial in his accent or pronunciation. The attention of the audience was won at once and the interest sustained throughout." Boston Watchman.

"His is no ordinary mind, and besides he possesses the happy faculty of knowing how to express himself in the most pleasant and learned style, his reasoning being logical and winning." Franklin, Ky., Favorite.

"Those who failed to hear Rev. Allen Allensworth, missed a great treat. Mr. Allensworth is a striking example of what culture can do for the Negro. He possesses fine logical powers, a bright and scintillating wit and a fund of pathos, which is all the more effective because sparingly used." Woodford Sun, Versailles, Ky.

One of the newspapers, commenting on his strongest lecture, after he had gone into the army as a chaplain said:

"Those who failed to hear Capt. Allen Allensworth deliver his famous lecture, 'The Five Manly Virtues,' at the Zion Baptist Church last Tuesday evening, missed one of the grandest treats ever offered the public in the shape of a lecture. The five manly virtues are Industry, Fidelity, Gentleness, Fortitude and Prudence. The lecturer spoke of the true principles of these virtues, illustrating the same by comical, but correct comparisons, showing that true manhood is not complete without these virtues; that the present stage of enlightened civilization is entirely due to their presence in our forefathers, and that our future progress depends upon their presence in the individuals of our nation."

Following is one of his most thoughtful lectures:

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