Preparation for Extempore Speech: On all ordinary occasions a good speech must result from a previous ingathering of materials—the formation of a mental treasury in connection with a special subject. The speaker works for days or weeks in collecting from all sources and arranging in the happiest manner that which his hearers are to receive in an hour with no other labor than that of listening. The great advantage of writing is supposed to lie in this preparation. Today an orator may write everything he knows about a subject; tomorrow, by means of reading, conversation, or further thought, he may have more ideas to record; and he may thus continue to widen and record his knowledge, until his time, or the subject itself, is exhausted. Then he may revise, select what is most appropriate, refine and polish his language, and finally come before an audience confident that he holds in his hand the very best that he can give them. (Extempore Speech, Pittenger, pp. 27-8.)
Footnotes
[1]. Note to Teacher.—It would be well for the sake of giving variety to our exercises, as also for the excellence of the exercise itself, to make no assignments of the sub-divisions of the subject of these special lessons to individual members, but let it be a subject for general consideration by all the quorum during the week preceding its treatment in the class; and then call upon the members to speak to the subject without previous warning or notification. In a word, let it be an exercise in extemporaneous speaking. (See suggestions in the Introduction.)
LESSON V.
SCRIPTURE READING EXERCISE.
BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. (Continued.)
| ANALYSIS. | REFERENCES. |
| I. The Epistles of Paul,--General
Grouping.[1]
1. Doctrinal, Addressed to Churches. 2. Pastoral, Addressed to Individuals. 3. Special, Addressed to Philemon. | Notes 1 and 2. All Bible Dictionaries and Helps before quoted Art. "Pauline" Epistles Coneybeare and Howson's Life and Epistles of St. Paul. Notes 3, 4, 5, 6. |
| II. General Character of the Epistles.
1. The Author. 2. General Purpose. 3. Form and Literary Style. | Students required to read the whole of the Epistles to the Romans. |
| III. Doctrinal Epistles--Romans.
1. When and Where Written. 2. Outline of Its Purpose and Doctrine. 3. Select Readings from Romans. | Notes 7, 8, 9, 10. Reading, State of the Pagan World; Chap. i: 13 and Chap. ii: 1-13. (The passage should be read without noting chapter division.) |
SPECIAL TEXT: "Whatsoever things were written afore time were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scripture, might have hope."—PAUL.
NOTES.
1. Chronological Order: The arrangement of the Epistles as found in our Bibles and as followed in these lessons, is not one of chronological order. As far as the chronological order can be followed at all, it is generally conceded to be about as follows: