Cobern Bible lectures

              Cobern Bible Lectures
He makes the old Bible blossom anew with human interest.—Louis Albert Banks.


PROFESSOR CAMDEN M. COBERN, D.D., LITT. D. Thobern Chair of English Bible and Philosophy of Religion Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania



An Appreciation
Freshness, Catholicity, Simplicity, Power.

—S. Parkes Cadman.

Most Suggestive, Illuminating and Inspiring.

—Newell Dwight Hillis.




RECENT BIBLE LECTURES

Bible Schools
NORTHFIELD, MASS. (MT. HERMON SCHOOL)—Dr. Cobern's lectures illuminate a portion of the Bible which in most minds is shrouded in cloudy obscurity.  His archaeological facts, so fresh and accurate, serve to confirm and strengthen convictions as to the historical accuracy of the Old Testament scriptures.—James McConaughy, Head of Depart.  of Eng.  Bible.


WINONA LAKE, IND. (BIBLE CONFERENCE)—Professor Cobern's lectures were highly appreciated, the pavilion becoming too small for the crowds eager to hear.  The speaker is well equipped to tell the romantic story of the monuments.—
The Continent, Aug. 31, 1911.

NORTHWESTERN BIBLE SCHOOL, MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.—His first hand information, ability as an orator, his fund of humor and flashes of wit make him a speaker to be followed by crowds.—W. B. Riley, Supt.

ATLANTA, GA.—No man we have ever had on our platform has ever delighted the people more.  From the first address he took the Conference by storm.—Dr. Len G. Broughton, Supt. Program of Bible Conference (1911 and 1912).


Crowds in Pennsylvania
PITTSBURGH.—The Y. M. C. A. hall was crowded and the walls were lined with those who had to stand, and who remained for the last word.  The hearers represented almost every phase of theology and ecclesiasticity and included many professors and Biblical specialists; satisfaction and gratification seemed universal.  The information given, the literary style, the geniality and enthusiasm, and his freedom from any claims of omniscience or special inspiration (sometimes in evidence on the part of Biblical lectures) made him very acceptable and helpful.—Wm. A. Stanton, Pres. Inter-Denominational Ministers' Union.


NEW CASTLE.—The church was crowded to hear the second lecture despite the unpleasant evening.  Indeed many crowded about the doors long before the hour they were to be opened.  Most interesting was the address.—New Castle Herald, (Jan. 13, 1911.) The churches were taxed to their utmost to accommodate the immense audiences, many standing after the second night.  The effect of these lectures is felt throughout the entire community.—Rev. A. B. Rich, D. D., in Pittsburgh Christian Advocate.  His message was a thrilling one.  He welds the new discoveries into mighty Gospel thunderbolts.—
Penna. Herald, Nov. 1911.



Crowds in Brooklyn, N. Y.

Prof. Cobern gave his last week night address in Plymouth Church on the general topic, 'New Light on the New Testament,' to an audience that filled the lecture room.  Prayers were offered by Dr. Lyman Abbott and Dr. Hillis.  Dr. Cobern said that more new light had been thrown upon the New Testament in the last fifteen years than in all the 1500 years that had preceeded.—
Brooklyn Eagle, (April 13, 1911.)



Crowds in the South

His first lecture came like an electric shock..........  He swept the audiences by storm.—
Atlanta Georgian, Feb. 9, 1912.


Dr. Cobern proved to be more than a match for Jupiter Pluvius who was incidentally spending the week end in Atlanta.  The great auditorium was packed to the galleries.—
Atlanta Journal.



Some Y. M. C. A. Tributes
Professor Cobern is one of America's greatest speakers to men.  Four consecutive evening audiences last year were 800–1000–1200–1500.  The same ratio of increase held this year.—B. A. Hoover, Gen'l. Sec'y Y. M. C. A., Bing hamton, N. Y.

His interpretation of the life of Christ is so splendid that I wish it might be heard the length and breadth of the land.—Fred. B. Smith, Sec'y International Com. of Y. M. C. A.

Profoundly strong, yet so simple a child could understand him.—John A. Evy, Chairman Program Com. State Y. M. C. A. Bible Conference.



Latest Chautauqua Echoes
ROUND LAKE, N. Y.—
Dr. Cobern's lecture on the New Testament in the Light of Recent Discoveries was worth going 100 miles to hear.—
Dr. Robert Stuart MacArthur, (Calvary Baptist, N. Y.,) in Christian Advocate.



CHAUTAUQUA, N. Y.—After the third lecture.......... crowds.—
Jamestown Journal.


BRIDGEPORT, CONN.—A fascinating speaker, presenting his facts in a most attractive and interesting way.—Bridgeport Post.  Each lecture seems to be more brilliant than the previous one.—
Bridgeport Morning Telegram.

NASHVILLE, TENN.—
Dr. Cobern had the largest hearing which was accorded any of the lecturers.—
Nashville Christian Advocate.


LANCASTER, O.—
Marvellous indeed were his lectures.  No such master of Biblical knowledge has ever before appeared on these historic grounds.—
Harry B. Lewis, Supt. of Program, in Lancaster Daily Eagle.


CINCINNATI, O.—Dr. Cobern, while here, rendered an immense service to the cause of Biblical learning.  I know of no more engaging, illuminating and convincing lecturer on Biblical Archaeology and Cognate themes.—Dr. Albert J. Nast, editor Der Christliche Apologete.

COLUMBUS, O.—Thoroughly evangelistic.  I know of no other lecturer upon Archaeology who can touch him.—Dr. Joseph Clark, Gen'l Sec'y State S. S. Ass'n.  He charms the cultivated and delights the masses.—Dr. Luther Freeman.

BAY VIEW, MICH.—Dr. Cobern produced a profound impression both by his address and sermons.—Editorial in Michigan Christian Advocate.  Dr. Cobern's audiences are larger every year.—Bishop Joseph F. Berry.

WATERLOO, IA.—
His Bible talks are a revelation.—
Waterloo Times.  


His lectures alone were well worth the price of the entire course.—
Waterloo Evening Reporter.


Dr. Cobern's library is a sight.  It is a veritable scholar's den.  There was the orderly disorder of an intense worker; piles of literary chips; the dust and rubbish inseparable from the job of exhuming a long lost mummy, some old neighbor of Moses, or perhaps an old contemporary of Abraham.  His desk was piled high with notes on the Syriac gospel, Sinaitic manuscript, cuneiform inscriptions, hieroglyphics of the Nile and endless archaeological mysteries, while busts, medallions, pictures, curios, and outlandish relics of the long ago when Samson ran off with the gates of Gaza, stare at you from the walls.—
Dr. Samuel Steele in “On the Wing,” Vol. I: p. 229. (Editor “Epworth Era,” Nashville, Tenn.)





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Tributes from Scholars
BOSTON UNIVERSITY, BOSTON, MASS.—His qualifications are extraordinary.  The combination of accurate scholarship and popular presentation found in his lectures is exceedingly rare.—President Wm. F. Warren.

GARRETT BIBLICAL INSTITUTE, EVANSTON, ILL.—It is not too much to say that among the scholars seeking to popularize important themes, no one has shown more or better gifts than Professor Cobern.  To a sound erudition he adds an unusual power of popular address which gives his teaching instant currency with audiences of all degrees of culture.—President Charles M. Stuart.

OXFORD UNIVERSITY, ENG.—Fair and thoroughly up to date.—Professor A. H. Sayce, (Hon, L.L.D. Dublin, etc.)



His Sermons
MARK GUY PEARSE (ENG.)—Admirable, fresh, forceful, convincing.

S. PARKES CADMAN (NEW YORK.)—Freshness, catholicity, simplicity, power.

RUSSELL H. CONWELL (PHILA.)—So elegant in simplicity, so comprehensive in accuracy, such Gospel radium.

FRANK W. GUNSAULUS, (CHICAGO,)—Forceful because true interpretations of the spiritual life of men.



His Popular Lectures

Professor Cobern's hunt for papyri among the tombs and ancient ruins and his thrilling adventures among the Arabs made a fascinating discourse and put Roosevelt's lion hunt quite in the shade.—
Toledo News Bee.


Dr. Cobern told of discovering comic cartoons in ancient Egypt that rival the best newspaper cartoons of today.—
New Castle Herald.


That the Hobble Skirt was one of Dame Fashion's decrees in the days of Moses, that surgery was practiced, that decorative hair pins were used—these were a few of the interesting details.—
Latrobe Bulletin.

Before he was through with his story of the Arabs, the audience were wondering if their senses were playing them false in making them see and hear a man who had frolicked with death in so many strange places.  Yet it seems that Mr. Cobern is soon going back again to the scenes of his adventures—again anxious to loop the loop on a Turkish scimitar.—Birch Rod, State Normal School, Pa.

He has all the qualities that make a platform orator and popular lecturer.—Ex Governor Adams of Colorado.

We have never heard a better popular lecturer than Dr. Cobern.—W. J. Findley, M. D., Sec'y Sac City Chautauqua (Ia.)


The termination of the address was almost a shock in the surprise felt by those who had been so absorbed as to lose the sense of passing time.—
Tribune Republican (Scranton, Pa.)





COURSE LECTURES

Early Hebrew Prophets and their Message to the Men of the Twentieth Century

1.
Amos, the Peasant Prophet.
2.
Hosea and His Prodigal Wife.
3.
Isaiah, the Prince.
4.
Micah and His Perfect Definition of Religion.
5.
Nahum and the Fall of Nineveh.
6.
Habakkuk, the Doubter, and Jeremiah, the Cursing Prophet.

This is the course which drew such extraordinary audiences at Chautauqua, N. Y.  Upon hearing this course at Bay View, Mich., (1910) Dr. Len G. Broughton, of Atlanta, Ga., immediately engaged Dr. Cobern to join with Dr. G. Campbell Morgan, of London, Eng., in the great Atlanta Bible Conference in March, 1910 (2300 ministers present.)  Dr. Cobern has a second series of lectures on Later Hebrew Prophets and Their Messages, which includes all the exilic and post-exilic prophets, and directly connects the Old Testament with the New Testament.



Archaeological Lectures

1.
The Romance of Papyri Hunting.
2.
Light from the Papyri on the New Testament.
3.
The World of Abraham's Day and Earlier.
4.
The Age of Moses and the Wisdom of the Egyptians.
5.
The Hebrew Prophets and Their Times.
6.
New Light on the Times of Jesus and St. Paul.

Upon hearing one of these lectures Dr. Wilbur Chapman immediately engaged the lecturer for a course at the great Bible Assembly (attended by 3,000 preachers) at Winona, Indiana, 1911.  This course has also been given to many Colleges and at several Theological Schools.



New Ideas Introduced by Christianity
New Ideas of God, Brotherhood, Womanhood, Sin, Duty, Church, Salvation, etc.  (Six lectures.)

This course was first given 1908 to constantly increasing audiences at Titusville, Pennsylvania, under the auspices of the Men's Club of the First Presbyterian Church, and has been often repeated.



Evidences of Religion

1.
Argument from Nature.
2.
Argument from Human Nature.
3.
Argument from Archaeology.
4.
St. Paul on the Witness Stand.
5.
Jesus.
6.
Christianity, the Absolute Religion.

This course was first given 1909 under the auspices of the Men's Brotherhood of St. Paul's M. E. Church, Toledo, Ohio, during Passion Week.



New Light on the New Testament

1.
The New Testament in the Light of Recent Discoveries.
2.
Light from the Talmud on the Gospels.
3.
St. Paul as a Missionary.
4.
St. Paul as a Letter Writer.
5.
Jesus and His New Gospel.
6.
The Twelve.


This is one of the most popular series of Bible lectures known to the public.  It is the most frequently repeated of any course mentioned here.  Dr. Hillis, of Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, said of these lectures: They were among the most suggestive, illuminative and inspiring to which I have ever listened.—
New York Christian Advocate Aug. 9, 1910.



Stereopticon Lectures
Modern Discoveries in Bible Lands.

This course is the result of recent travel in Egypt, Ethiopia, Sinaitic Peninsula, Palestine, Syria, Babylonia, Crete, and Greece, making a personal examination on the spot of all the most important recent excavations and their results.



Life of Jesus in its Historic Development
(Six or nine lectures.)

This course was first given before the Y. M. C. A. and Y. W. C. A. at Erie, Pa., (1909) and in 1910 at Mt. Gretna, Pa., at the State Y. M. C. A. Bible Conference.

For List of Popular Lyceum Lectures See Other Circular

Personal Address—360 N. Main St., Meadville, Pa.