Hints on Gesture '' And these arguments of preaching do not consist only in the beauty of the speech or greatness of the wisdom touching things divine ; but in the feelings, in the gesture and fitly-proportioned movement of the body and the limbs, to which the instruction of the saints comes near when they teach the preacher to implore in his opening the grace of the Holy Spirit, and abundantly to shed tears of devotion while he is persuading." —RoGeR Bacon.
Hints on Gesture O what has already been advanced on the use and cultivation of the voice, the directions in Wesley's Works add the following hints on gesture. To the man who "thinks himself like Demosthenes because he employs the same movement of the arms and body" they will be of scanty service; but he who has learned how to take the eye of instruction without letting its hand weigh too heavily upon him, shall not peruse them in vain. Toa public. speaker fitting gesture is an important acquisition, and though it is doubtless best studied with the aid of a living teacher, where such opporJohn Wesley on Preaching tunity is lacking, the hints here given may do something towards supplying the deficiency.
''That this silent language of your face and hands may move the affections of those that see and hear you, it must be well adjusted to the subject as well as to the passion which you desire either to express or excite. It must likewise be free from all affectation, and such as appears to be the mere natural result, both of the things you speak, and of the affection that moves you to speak them. And the whole is to be so managed that there may be nothing in all the dispositions and motions of your body to offend the eyes of the spectators.
'* But it is more difficult to find out Hints on Gesture the faults of your gesture than those of your pronunciation. For a man may hear his own voice, but he cannot see his own face. Neither can he observe the several motions of his own body; at least, but imperfectly. To remedy this you may use a large looking-glass, as Demosthenes did, and thereby observe and learn to avoid every disagreeable or unhandsome gesture.
''There is but one way better than this, which is to have some excellent pattern as often as may be before your eyes, and to desire some skilful and faithful friend to observe all your motions, and inform you which are proper and which are not."
If preachers could induce their friends to render them this simple John Wesley on Preaching service, and would themselves accept it graciously, many of the mannerisms of the pulpit, some of which are extremely inelegant, would disappear.
The admonitions of the friend, moreover, would be less likely to foster self-consciousness than the revelations of the mirror.
'"'As to the motion of the body, it ought not to change its place or posture every moment; neither, on the other hand, to stand, like a stock, in one fixed and immovable posture, but to move in a natural and graceful manner as various circumstances may require.
''The head ought not to be held up too high, nor clownishly thrust forward; neither to be cast down, and hang, as it were, on the breast;
Hints on Gesture but to be kept modestly and decently upright, in its natural state and position. Farther, it ought neither to be kept immovable, as a statue, nor to be continually moving and throwing itself about. To avoid both extremes, it should be turned gently, as occasion is, sometimes one way, sometimes the other; and at other times remain looking straight forward to the middle of the auditory. Add to this that it ought always to be turned on the same side with the hands and the body, except in refusing a thing; for this we do with the right hand, turning the head at the same time to the left.
'* But it is the face which gives the greatest life to action. Of this, therefore, you must take the greatest care John Wesley on Preaching that nothing may appear disagreeable in it, since it is continually in the view of all but yourself. And there is nothing can prevent this but the looking-glass, or a friend who will deal familiarly with you. You should adapt all its movements to the subject you treat of, the passions you would raise, and the persons to whom you speak. Let love or joy spreadya cheerfulness cover your face; hatred, sorrow, or fear, a gloominess. Look with gravity and authority on your inferiors; on your superiors, with boldness mixed with respect.
'""You should always be casting your eyes on some or other of your auditors, and moving them from one side to the other, with an air of affection and _ regard, - looking Hints on Gesture them decently in the face, one after another, as we do in familiar conversation. Your aspect should always be pleasant, and your looks direct, neither severe nor askew ; unless you desire to express contempt or scorn, which may require that particular aspect.
**Tf you speak of heaven or things above, lift up your eyes; if of things beneath, cast them down; and so if you speak of things of disgrace ; but raise them in calling God to witness, or speaking of things wherein you glory.
'The mouth must never be turned away; neither must you bite or lick your lips, or shrug up your shoulders, or lean upon your elbows; all which give just offence to the spectators.
John Wesley on Preaching ''We make use of the hand a thousand different ways; only very little at the beginning of a discourse.
Concerning this you may observe the rules following : (1) Never clap your hands, nor thump the pulpit. (2) Use the right hand most; and when you use the left, let it be only to accompany the other. (3) The right hand may be gently applied to the breast when you speak of your own faculties, heart, or conscience. (4) You must begin your action with your speech, and end it when you make an end of speaking. (5) The hands should seldom be lifted higher than the eyes, nor let down lower than the breast. (6) Your eyes should always have your hands in view, so that they you speak to may see your eyes, your
Hints on Gesture mouth, and your hands all moving in concert with each other, and expressing the same thing. (7) Seldom stretch out your arms sideways more than half a foot from the trunk of your body. (8) Your hands are not to be in perpetual motion: this the ancients called the babbling of the hands.
'There are many other things relating to action, as well as utterance, which cannot easily be expressed in writing. These you must learn by practice ; by hearing a good speaker, and speaking often before him.
'*But remember, while you are actually speaking, you must not be studying any other motions, but use those that naturally arise from the subject of your discourse, from the place
John Wesley on Preaching where you speak, and the characters of the persons whom you address.
'*] would advise you, lastly, to observe these rules, so far as things permit, even in your common conversation, till you have got a perfect habit of observing them, so _ that they are, as it were, natural to you.
And whenever you hear an eminent speaker, observe with the utmost attention what conformity there is between his action and utterance and these rules. You may afterwards imitate him at home, till you have made his grace your own. And when once, by such assistances as these, you have acquired a good habit of speaking, you will no more need any tedious reflections upon this art, but will speak as easily as gracefully."