The Cobern lectures

              The Cobern Lectures
A FEW OF MOST RECENT TESTIMONIALS, 1908–1909
Concerning the Crowds at Bible Lectures
AT THE MOTHER CHAUTAUQUA, CHAUTAUQUA, N. Y.—


After the third lecture of the course it was a question each day which could draw the larger crowd, Mr. Cobern or that supreme idol of Chautauqua, Mr. Edward Griggs.—
W. A. Keeler, Correspondent for Jamestown Journal.

AT TOLEDO, OHIO—


The audience grew to such proportions as to overflow the big auditorium and we were compelled to open the large Sunday School room to accommodate the people.—
J. B. Briggs, of the Toledo Blade.

BEFORE THE NORTH OHIO M. E. CONFERENCE—

Never before have we had so popular, inspirational and helpful a series of lectures at any annual conference.  The people had to stand from the second lecture.

—S. L. Stewart, Assistant Secretary.

AT BAY VIEW ASSEMBLY, BAY VIEW, MICH.—


He did not once descend in his addresses to ordinary quality. —
Daily Resorter.

His lectures were of striking beauty, freshness and interest.  His audiences grew daily, overflowing the building at the last.

—Wilbur F. Sheridan, Chairman Bay View Bible Institute.


One of the season's great lecturers. —
Bay View Magazine.

AT LAKESIDE ASSEMBLY, LAKESIDE, ON LAKE ERIE—

One of the most popular lecturers that has ever appeared on our platform. . . .  Each season has witnessed a constantly increasing crowd attending his lectures.

—Burton F. Mills, Secretary and Treasurer.

FROM NASHVILLE, TENN.—


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


FROM MEN'S CLUB, SIDNEY, O.—


It is because Professor Cobern applies new principles of interpretation and thus throws new light on the old Book and brings out new meanings from the old phrase that these lectures have drawn such crowds. —
Daily Republican, Sidney, O.

FROM DENVER, COLO.—

To make the old Bible blossom anew with human interest in twentieth century language, is Cobern's happy task.

—Louis Albert Banks, Pastor Trinity M. E. Church.

FROM THE MINISTERS' UNION OF PITTSBURG—

The Y. M. C. A. Hall was crowded and the walls were lined with those who had to stand.  The address was long and the day was warm but the interest of the audience never flagged and those standing remained for the last word.  The hearers represented almost every phase of theology and ecclesiasticism and included many professors and Biblical specialists.  Satisfaction and gratification seemed universal.  The information given, the literary style, the geniality and enthusiasm of the speaker and his freedom from any claim of omniscience or special inspiration (sometimes in evidence on the part of Biblical lecturers) made him very acceptable and helpful.

—William A. Stanton, President.

FROM MINNEAPOLIS—


He has visited the buried cities of the Orient and brought away from them marvellous testimonies as to the truth of the Bible.  The average archaeologist is a dry teacher but Dr. Cobern is a great popular speaker and knows how to take this scientific material and make it glow. —
Minneapolis Tribune.

FROM NORTHWESTERN BIBLE CONFERENCE—

His first hand information upon these subjects, his ability as an orator, his fund of humor and flashes of wit make him a speaker to be followed by crowds.

—W. B. Riley, Secretary and Superintendent.

FROM THE ENTIRE STATE OF OHIO—

When Dr. Cobern speaks, he makes dry Biblical archaeology as charming as romance and as entertaining as the most fascinating fiction.  The Bible becomes a new book, and faith in its marvellous records is intensified and deepened, after one hears this master and genius of archaeological exploration turn upon the Scriptures the light of archaeological research.

—Joseph Clark, Gen. Sec. of Ohio S. S. Association.



Concerning His Popular Lectures
FROM SAC CITY CHAUTAUQUA, SAC CITY, IOWA—

We have had some of the strongest men the country affords but Dr. Cobern cannot be excelled … an orator of rare ability … to be classed with the very best grade of talent as a popular lecturer.…  This last summer a large audience had assembled, at the rate of 50 cents each, to hear Gov. Joseph W. Folk, when we were notified that the speaker had missed his train.  With but a few moments' notice Mr. Cobern responded to our urgent appeal with his splendid lecture Personal Experiences Among the Arabs, with such telling effect that all disappointment was soon forgotten and the people were delighted with their investment.

—W. J. Findley, Secretary and Treasurer.

FROM JAMESTOWN, N. Y.—

A marvellous combination of all the qualities essential to a great popular speaker.  He has grip, grace, genial humor, dramatic imagination and personal magnetism of the first order.  He always masters and pleases.

—Horace G. Ogden, Pastor First M. E. Church.

FROM EX-GOVERNOR ADAMS OF COLORADO—

He has all the qualities that make a platform orator and popular lecturer … a man of wide culture, eloquence, energy and imagination.

—Alva Adams.

FROM THE LEADING PULPIT ORATOR OF MINNESOTA—

One of the strongest, most entertaining and most inspiring speakers on the platform today.  He brings to his task such a wealth of information, thoroughness of treatment, and deftness of touch, that he holds his hearers to the end and sends them away helped and uplifted.

—Andrew Gillies.



Flash=Lights From Bishops, Editors and Educators
The platform is his native heath.

—Bishop J. M. Thoburn.

It interested, instructed, inspired.

—Bishop David H. Moore.


Dr. Camden M. Cobern holds the Thoburn chair of English Bible and Philosophy of Religion in Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa.  He is amazingly well informed upon Biblical and archaeological subjects, and has a kind of genius in the popular and attractive presentation of these great themes.

—Bishop McDowell.

In a sane, clear, earnest, eloquent way he brings the wealth of modern learning to strengthen in their children the Faith of the fathers living still.

—J. J. Wallace, Editor Pittsburg Christian Advocate.

Among the scholars seeking to popularize important themes no one has shown more or better gifts.  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.

—Chas. M. Stuart, Editor Northwestern Christian Advocate.

His strong faith and impassioned delivery gave great force to his timely lectures.

—John M. Moore, Associate Editor Nashville Christian Advocate.

His qualifications (as a Bible lecturer) are extraordinary.  The combination of accurate scholarship and popular presentation found in his lectures is exceedingly rare.  In this day of craving for light and latest light upon the Bible such a lecturer will prove a God-send in any community.

—W. F. Warren, .Dean of Boston University School of Theology.

The lectures before the Summer School of West Virginia University were scholarly, able and popular.

—P. B. Purinton, President West Virginia University.

He holds a unique position as scholar, preacher and popular lecturer.  All his work is of the best quality.  I have heard him many times and always with increased delight.

—Ex-Gov. Henry A. Buchtel, Chancellor Denver University.

I do not believe there is a man on the Chautauqua platform who can approach Dr. Cobern as a popular and brilliant lecturer on the Bible.  The people crowd to hear him.

—Prof. Frank C. Lockwood, author of Robert Browning in the series, Modern Poets and Christian Teachers.