In arranging indoor meetings, it is essential, in order that our work
may be fruitful, to get out other than what is known as "the same old
crowd." There are a few people of both parties in every community who
are always interested in politics, and who attend nearly all party
meetings. On such, ammunition is largely wasted. A speaker should never
be satisfied to address a small crowd, the majority of whom are already
in accord with his principles. His object should be to bring in new
men, to get in fresh blood. The motto of each of us should be, "I came
not to bring the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
To secure the attendance of the non-political class, it is, therefore,
expedient, in addition to the regular speeches, to provide some form
of entertainment, such as vocal and instrumental music, a dramatic
rendition, or a children's performance.
When an audience is assembled particularly to enjoy the entertainment
and incidentally from curiosity to see and hear the strange speaker,
it is well for the speech to be built from materials furnished by
the local performers. If children have participated, there is no
happier way to begin than by telling how enjoyable were their songs
and recitations, how thrilling the thoughts born of their happy faces
and hearts throbbing with youthful hopes. The speaker might tell
how, looking into their bright eyes, his thoughts turned toward the
future, where he saw the obstacles against which these children will
have to contend, the difficulties they will meet in getting started
in life, the unfair advantages over them possessed by the children of
special privilege. By taking the children who participate as a text and
riveting the attention of the audience upon them instead of considering
the rights of men in general, he can gain at once, not only the
attention, but the sympathy and the very hearts of those who listen.
If the entertainment is a musical one, the speaker might begin by
describing the state of mind produced by the sweet harmonies just
listened to. By recalling the difference between the discord produced
by ten men tuning their musical instruments and the harmony resulting
when they play the same instruments together, he has an illustration
applicable in several ways: suggesting the harmony and orderliness
of the state that we are fighting for, the economy of concert in our
political methods, and numerous other points, which, if given in a
conversational way, will arrest the attention of even the women and the
children. Let him then proceed with simple axiomatic truths that can be
grasped by every hearer, abundantly illustrated, and the crowd will be
induced to attend future meetings.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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