Thos. P. Byrnes

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THOS. P.BYRNES


THOS. P. BYRNES   Lecturer

Foreword
THE MANAGEMENT takes great pleasure in announcing Thos. P. Byrnes, to the friends and patrons of the Lyceum.  Mr. Byrnes has had the needed history, training and experience to make a great lecturer, for he has added to his well-rounded academic and college education, a wide experience in the world, and the hard realities of every-day life.  Mr. Byrnes has been tested by time and experience, and he has proved his ability and success as an orator and lecturer, on many a brilliant occasion.

Mr. Byrnes is a man of splendid physique, of superb health and virility, a man of strong magnetic personality, one who makes a striking appearance upon the platform.  He possesses a strong, clear, rich, penetrating voice, and he always speaks with force, enthusiasm, perfect self-control and artistic finish.

He is a man of broad sympathies, a lover of humanity, a natural and easy mixer with all classes and conditions of people, a life-long friend of the poor and struggling classes, equally friendly and at home with the rich, cultivated and favored classes; a man who has given twenty years of his life for the betterment and uplifting of all kinds and classes of people, and therefore he is a man whose message has grown out of his work among the people, and his intense desire to make this world a better place in which to live.

Mr. Byrnes has been for years a student of social questions, he is a clear thinker, simple, forceful and original in the expression of this message, a plain speaker to the plain people, a man of strong convictions, with the spirit and courage of the reformer and civic upbuilder, and he speaks upon these themes not only as one who has thought deeply upon them, but as one who has lived his message, and who delivers it fresh and strong from his own heart and soul.—The Management.

Mr. Byrnes' style and type as a lecturer described by Mr. Lee Francis Lybarger, of the Philadelphia Bar

THE lecture by Thos. P. Byrnes, delivered at the I. L. A. Chautauqua, at Oshkosh, Wis., was a lasting inspiration to me.  No lecture on that great program—perhaps the greatest ever given on this continent—gave me so much encouragement, inspiration and determination to continue the fight for the right against all opposition.  I must admit that he had a slight advantage, because his hero is also one of mine.  To me it has long been a matter of surprise that so little has been said about him by platformists.  I think that it was the very best biographical lecture I have ever heard.  His facts and incidents were so abundant and so vital, his sketches of conditions were so vivid, his portrayal of the inner life and heart movements of the great abolitionist so dramatic, as to recall all that I had ever known or read of Wendell Phillips, and the dark days of slavery.  Then his delineation of traits and characteristics and especially his historical parallels made a literary production of surpassing excellence.  I was also struck with the marvelous harmony between his words and his character.  He did not seem a stranger to the noble sentiments and aspirations which he depicted in Wendell Phillips, and the emotions which inspired Phillips, seemed not foreign to Byrnes, and the courage Phillips displayed, the cause he espoused, the stupendous opposition which he met with a smile, were elements which inhered in his eulogist.

It was easy to believe that he would have done the same thing as Phillips, had he lived in his day.  It seemed that he were simply finding in his hero the qualities which burned in himself.  This does not often occur.  He should make this one of the most powerful, effective, stirring and ennobling productions on the lecture platform.



SUBJECTS

Wendell Phillips
Nature's Masterpiece
The New Social Ideal





Many Committees, Managers and Patrons of the Lyceum and the Chautauquas like to know from the circular what a lecture is about, so we give here a short description of each of Mr. Byrnes' three popular lectures



Wendell Phillips
IN the first place the lecture on Wendell Phillips, as the Bucyrus, O., Daily Forum, truly says: is not a mere biographical lecture, but an impressive characterization and word painting of the personality of a great man, in which the speaker enters into the heart, spirit and very depths of his subject.  This describes the lecture in part for it does aim to make Phillips live and breathe and speak to the assembled audience, but it also stirs the hearts of the people, it also makes Phillips teach many great lessons for our time.  It deals, of course, with Phillips, the man, and the reformer, the forces that made of a young aristocrat a champion of the most unpopular cause of his day, led him to turn his back upon social position, affluence and a life of leisure and to take the hissings of the mob, and privations and hardships in their place.  The lecture treats of Phillips' courage and moral heroism, his splendid service and sacrifice in his forty-seven years of eloquent pleadings for many great causes, also the mobs he braved and the forces of evil which he attacked.  The lecture abounds in dramatic incidents and thrilling episodes, it recalls his wit, his humor, his personal traits and characteristics, the secret of his power and his eloquence, and his success upon the platform.  It deals with the men and issues of his time, and it suggests the kind of men and the reforms that we need today.  The lecture in fact is the rich growth of many years of study and spiritual appreciation of the genius and services of the great orator and friend of humanity.  In this lecture Phillips lives again and speaks to a new generation through the magic voice of this friendly interpreter of his life and character.



Nature's Masterpiece
THIS lecture deals with the great sentiment of love and human brotherhood from a new standpoint, and in the modern spirit.  It takes Emerson's epigram, A Friend Is Nature's Masterpiece, as a text and proceeds to show in what way that it is true.  It deals with the greatness of man, the nobility of human nature, and the qualities and characteristics in which man's real greatness consists.  It describes all the great vocations and forms of leadership in human society, from the merchant and captain of industry to the preacher, poet and prophet, and after pointing out all this high service of man to man, it draws the conclusion that the greatest service that one man can render to another is to be his friend.  The lecture traces the growth of the sentiment of love through the centuries, and shows the many ways in which it has expressed itself in human life and society.  It discovers the sentiment of love and brotherhood in the very heart of Nature and in the very soul of the Universe, and it points out that in spite of the conflicts, cruelties, struggles and warfare, in nature and in human life, love, altruism and human brotherhood are triumphant forces, because the deepest forces of nature and human progress are on their side.  The lecture points out that love is the steam in the human boiler, the spur to human energy, the main spring in the human soul, the builder of our great cities, industrial marvels and wonderful civilization.  It paints the joys and delights of the human heart and points out what love has inspired in art, literature, eloquence, poetry, statesmanship and in the services and heroisms of everyday life.  It shows the moral power of love and friendship, why we hunger for love and affection, and it tells the story of some of the great loves and friendships of the past.  It points out that our modern democracy of man is built on love and brotherhood, and that these are the ties that bind modern communities, nations and races together.  The lecture pays a glowing tribute to the friend of man, the lover of humanity, and paints him as Nature's Masterpiece, the Masterpiece of God.  This is a lecture born out of the heart, delivered in the warm language of the heart, and it appeals direct to the hearts of men and women.



The New Social Ideal
New for Season 1909
THIS lecture deals with the new Social, Political and Industrial Ideals of our time, from a nonpartizan standpoint.  Its claim is that society should be reclaimed as well as the individual.  It recognizes the social duties and powers of christianity and religion.  It makes a plea for a greater democracy, for a greater trust of and reliance upon the common man in all the affairs of our social, industrial and public life.  The lecture teaches that the highest ideal of heaven may be established here on this earth, but that to do so we must lay the social, political and industrial foundations of such a kingdom deep, strong, and in accordance with the teachings of the prayer, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  The lecture deals with human nature and human society as the plastic material out of which a new and splendid social, political and industrial order may be created, in which justice will be the prevailing principle, brotherhood the recognized fact, liberty and individual rights preserved and maintained, and yet social co-operation and interdependence made an effective and successful working principle.  This lecture has not been merely written, not merely produced with the pen and delivered with the voice, it is a lecture that has been lived out, dreamed, seen in visions of a better world.  It is a lecture that contains a great message to our time, for it is a gospel of a new day delivered by one who believes that it is coming, and who wishes to point out some of the ways it may be brought about.  It is a masterly interpretation of the signs of the times and contains the logical methods for meeting the conditions of today.  It is a wonderful lecture and should be heard by every one desirous of a better world and social order.



Some Personal Commendations from Educators and Public Men

From President Southwick, Emerson College of Oratory, Boston
I heard Thos. P. Byrnes lecture at the Silver Lake Chautauqua.  So pleased was I with the man and the lecture, that I made occasion to speak of him to several other Chautauqua audiences where I knew that Mr. Byrnes was to lecture later from the same platform.  Mr. Byrnes tells the story of Wendell Phillips, that great reformer who fought at close quarters with a mighty system of wrong, and as a background he gives a picture of the anti-slavery crusade, vividly, eloquently and in a manner altogether admirable.  He holds a Chautauqua audience, an audience naturally restless and hard to hold—in the strongest sympathy and closest attention.  It is an educational address, one broad in its appeal, and both simple and stirring in delivery.  It is a lecture that has a real lift in it, and directs one's attention to things that are permanently worth while, the highest, purest conceptions of American political manhood.



From President Hughes, Ripon College, Wis.
I was deeply interested in the lecture on Wendell Phillips and I was greatly pleased with the personality of the lecturer, his clearness and force of expression, and the grip he maintained upon his Chautauqua audience.



From Prof. John W. Wetzel, Yale University, Conn.
It has been my pleasure to hear Thos. P. Byrnes upon several occasions.  He is a thoughtful, interesting and inspiring speaker, possessing a voice of unusual range and power, he is able to fill the largest Auditoriums with ease; his articulation is clear and distinct; his delivery is direct, pleasing and impressive.




From President W. N. Ferris, Ferris Institute, Big Rapids, Michigan
Thos. P. Byrnes gave his celebrated lecture on Wendell Phillips, in the regular course of the Ferris Institute.  The student body, as well as the city patrons were highly pleased with Mr. Byrnes' lecture.  Mr. Byrnes' style is simple, his oratory is of the Wendell Phillips type.  He has a message in presenting his theme.  As a lecturer and orator he compares favorably with the best men we have ever had on our platform, and it should be remembered that the Ferris Institute has had the best men in America.



From President F. M. Spencer, Cooper College, Kansas
I heard Thomas P. Byrnes deliver his lecture on Wendell Phillips at the Sterling, Kansas, Chautauqua.  It was an admirable presentation of the character and work of a great man.  The large audience enjoyed every part of it, and it was to us all an inspiration.  No one can go away from such a lecture without a mental and spiritual uplift.



From Thomas McCleary, Minneapolis, Minn.
I listened with great pleasure and profit to Thos. P. Byrnes on Wendell Phillips.  The speaker proved himself a true orator, for though his own work was excellent, he fastened our attention more on the grand man and his deep, far-reaching influence, than on himself.  As I listened, thought and felt, I said such a grand lecture, so plainly and forcibly delivered will help to elevate humanity.  Mr. Byrnes is a man of power and strength of character.  Hear him and you will get your money's worth.



From Ralph Parlette, Ada, Ohio
I was happily disappointed by Thos. P. Byrnes' lecture on Wendell Phillips.  It was ever so much better than I anticipated.  Byrnes has the genius to win out with a biographical subject.  The man is in earnest, and his sincerity is apparent to all.  He won me most of all because of these qualities.  He did not rant.  His manner was persuasive and agreeable.  There was not one thing either in his lecture, or his delivery that I could adversely criticize, and it is a lecture worth while and a good thing for the platform.



From Dr. H. W. Sears (The Taffy Man), Decatur, Ill.
I consider Thos. P. Byrnes' lecture on Wendell Phillips a masterpiece.  It is well written and well delivered.  Mr. Byrnes puts his heart and soul into the lecture.  He was applauded again and again by an enthusiastic audience.  I gladly recommend Mr. Byrnes to any Chautaugua or Lyceum Committee.  He has a message and is worthy a place on the platform.



From Lou J. Beauchamp, Hamilton, Ohio
Byrnes' lecture on Phillips gave me an idea of his power of thought and expression and I was glad to feel that he measured up to the Lyceum standard.  More than this every word that came to me of his lecture, and they came to me from our leading men, was of the highest approval.  Everyone said that he measured up to the best that we had.  He can hold his own in any course and I hope that he will be kept busy.



From Booth Lowery, Blue Mountain, Miss.
In my estimation the lecture by Thos. P. Byrnes on Wendell Phillips should be ranked with the really great lectures of the day.  He shows marvelous familiarity with the political and social conditions of the time, and his presentation of the character and personality of Phillips, is like a vision.  In voice and manner Mr. Byrnes is an attractive speaker, and he is destined to score a marked success.



From Dr. Eugene May, Washington, D. C.
I-heard with very great pleasure Thos. P. Byrnes' lecture on Wendell Phillips.  It was a lecture unique in style, and unusual in treatment, not the ordinary lecture on Phillips.  Those who hear it will be delighted, and more than repaid.



From Fred High, Waynesburg, Pa.
I was so pleased with the lecture by Thos. P. Byrnes on Wendell Phillips that I entered into negotiations at once with him for a two weeks' engagement on our Lyceum circuit.



From John F. Carter, Editor Mobile (Alabama) Herald
When I heard Thos. P. Byrnes' lecture on Wendell Phillips, I was held in a tightly drawn vise of attention, and I did not know until then what strength could be mustered from the life of a single man.  Mr. Byrnes possesses that rarity which we call courage of conviction, and he delivers his great lecture with a purpose.  It was one of the best lectures I have ever heard.



From Geo. C. Rhienfrank, Dubuque, Iowa
The lecture on Phillips contained periods which fascinated and thrilled me.  I consider it one of the best delivered at the I. L. A. Chautauqua and Convention.



From Judge Emory A. Walling, Erie, Pa., President Judge of Erie County, Pa.
Thos. P. Byrnes' lecture on Wendell Phillips is a masterly presentation of the life work of a great man; and it should be heard by all who are interested in that irrepressible conflict, and great moral uprising of the last century.  Mr. Byrnes is a brilliant orator, and in this lecture he is at his best.



From W. W. Lawrence, Manager of the Marysville (Ohio) Chautauqua
Thomas P. Byrnes is a wonderful orator, and his Wendell Phillips aroused the greatest enthusiasm by the large audience that heard it.



From Rev. E. E. Carr, Manager of Chautauquas at Danville, Ill., and Vincennes, Ind.
Thos. P. Byrnes is a thoughtful, eloquent, striking speaker.  In his Wendell Phillips he has a great subject, and he handles it in a masterful way.  His Nature's Masterpiece was great and caused many of our people to say that it was the best on our program.




RLB

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