Edward Russell Perry

              1917
Edward Russell Perry

Samson Aroused
COPYRIGHTED
The Golden Cornfield
The Olive Crown
The Mess of Pottage Redeemed
The Coming Age


Figure


MANAGEMENT OF
ALONZO FOSTER
Tribune Building,   New York City



THE THEME OF THE HOUR
THE subject of this great lecture, Samson Aroused, is one of the most vital the American people have ever considered, and in presenting it MR. PERRY speaks of that which has become his very life.

This is a time of revolution.  We are in the tide of the world's greatest period of history, and never has the world risen so high in the scale of progress.  Vast things are about to take place in the immediate future.

Realizing this, MR. PERRY points the way and brings to his audience a great message.  He says that though this revolution is different from the great French Revolution, its results are just as sure and as great.  Our own American Revolution was small in comparison with that which is now in progress, just as the Nineteenth Century is slipping into the Twentieth.  The forces are moving silently, but surely.

This is the day of the orator, a day with opportunities such as history has never equalled.  We often refer to the past as the day of great orators, but the present is freighted with the deepest and most absorbing theme that has engaged the mind of man, and bleeding with human interest, it forwards the orator's power to the sublime.  With a splendid training for this service, with a broad experience, and an intense devotion for the subject which he presents, MR. PERRY becomes a commanding figure on the platform.

Here is a man who, recognizing the considerations of humanity and brotherhood which are the impelling qualities in this revolution, has the courage to denounce the evils of great wealth, and has the wisdom and eloquence to give convincing reasons for his denunciation.

He is not a mere agitator, for he has an abiding faith in the ultimate reformation that will come, a reformation that will be effective because people will be aroused.  Never has public opinion been so susceptible as now to the appeal of reason and facts.  To help formulate public opinion is the inspiring purpose of Samson Aroused.

Money seems all-powerful, great changes will take place, and an aroused public opinion will compel recognition of man, rather than money.

Here is a great theme.  Presented by an experienced, eloquent man, whose devotion to the purpose gives him added consideration, the lecture is one every man wants to hear.



The comments on other page tell something of MR. PERRY'S method of treatment in Samson Aroused.

JOHN MITCHELL, President United Mine Workers of America, says: Your lecture is strong and well-prepared, pregnant with facts and very apropos at the present time.

WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN says: The ideas are all right and the treatment good.




MR. PERRY—THE MAN
THE early years of his life were spent in Evansville, Indiana, where he was born, and where he attended the public schools.  His college training was received at Lincoln University, Columbia College and Union Theological Seminary, from all of which MR. PERRY received academic degrees.  Throughout his years of college life those themes that interested him most were such as related to the welfare of mankind, and during the years of his pastorate in New York city these subjects have been the dominating passion of his life.  That which appeals to him most is due to incentives which come from a knowledge of man's circumstances under industrial, social and political conditions.  And for the past three years, especially during the campaign season, he has given himself most earnestly to the denunciation of graft and the tyranny of wealth, sometimes speaking to audiences of 3000 people and always carrying them with great enthusiasm.  So successful and important has been this work that his services are eagerly sought and commended by the most prominent men in the political life of New York.  Without exception MR. PERRY has been recalled to the many places where he has spoken, often for the third time.  Why?  He has rare gifts as an orator, and he has an enthusiastic devotion to a great theme.


One Hundred Nights in New York City
MR. EDWARD RUSSELL PERRY has lectured one hundred nights in New York City.  One whose knowledge of the old-time orators is authentic has said of him, that as an orator he reminds him of the days of Clay and Webster.



For Engagements in New England write: GEO. W. BRITT, 6 Beacon Street, Boston, Massachusetts.

Home address: 225 Street, Williamsbridge, New York City.

HON. N. P. HAUGEN, Commissioner Wisconsin State Tax Commission, says: You are certainly rendering a public service by your aggressive exposure of one of the greatest and seemingly growing evils of the hour.

SAMUEL GOMPERS, President Federation of Labor, says: I was very much interested in your lecture and particularly the optimism which permeates it all.  Your lecture is a valuable contribution to thought upon the subject.





PERSONAL COMMENT
I particularly enjoyed the spirit of quiet earnestness which burned like inward fire back of all his utterances and imparted to them warmth and unity.

REV. LEIGHTON WILLIAMS, Amity Baptist Church, New York City.


Mr. Perry prepares his lectures with care and thought and delivers them with so much earnestness that every one is held spell bound.
THE MORRIS JOURNAL, Dover, N. J.

Edward Russell Perry has appeared three successive weeks before the friends and seamen.  A most stirring lecture, giving perfect satisfaction.

WALTER A. A. GARDNER, Seamen's Institute, New York City.

I have had the pleasure of hearing Edward Russell Perry on the lecture platform.  He is a very interesting public speaker, possessing talent that places him in the front rank.  His oratorical powers are exceptionally high.  His appearance is attractive, carrying himself with grace and dignity to quite an unusual extent.  His subject matter is instructive, entertaining, inspiring, charming.  He holds the audience under his intense enthusiasm completely at his will.  I regard him as a most potent factor of the lecture platform in his handling of the subject he has in hand.  I can wish the public nothing better than the hearing him often.

HENRY ALTMAN, Commissioner Lewis and Clark Exposition from New York State.

I have heard E. R. Perry in his great lecture 'Samson Aroused.'  I consider Mr. Perry a second La Follette and a Tom Lawson combined.  He makes the Samson of our day 'public opinion,' and handles in a masterly way this the livest and most absorbing theme of the ages.  He is a thorough scholar, a polished orator, a powerful man, bubbling over with energy and enthusiasm, in his efforts to help break the cords which are binding the millions in our country.

His lecture is bound to stir the American people to rise in the power of a Samson and overthrow the Grafters who are seeking to control our government, from the president down to the humblest office in the gift of our people.

To me this is the newest and most up-to-date lecture I have heard on the platform.  I heartily recommend him as the livest wire among all our lecturers.

H. W. SEARS.

Permit me to thank you for your very interesting lecture which you delivered on board this ship last evening.  The manner in which you treated the subject was fine, and the applause and enthusiasm you evoked among the cadets and their guests, proved that your remarks struck home.  You are doing a great work through this lecture.

G. C. HANUS, Commander U. S. Navy, Nautical Schoolship, New York City.

Mr. Perry has spoken for three seasons against the dominating power of graft in this city, and his work has been most effective.  I have been in most intimate touch with the best speakers this city affords, but none have been more successful on the platform than he.  His powers as an orator are truly excellent.  He has never failed to hold an audience even under the most trying conditions.  He is master of his subject, which he discusses with the glow of human interest and enthusiasm.  He has gone to the bottom of the livest and most winning subject of to-day.  As one competent to judge of the effectiveness of public speakers after six years of most intimate direction of their work, I pronounce Mr. Perry one who can scarcely be equalled.

FRANK K. BOWERS, New York City, Speakers Bureau.

The lecture was one of the most satisfactory that I have ever heard.  During seven years at Cooper Union I have heard lecturers of almost every type, but at no time have I heard so excellent a delivery as that given by Mr. Perry in his lecture last night.  I commend him as one of the best lecturers of our time.

ROBERT C. McNALLY, Particular Council, Society Saint Vincent, New York City.

Mr. Perry's 'Samson Aroused' is the most interesting and vital subject in the whole history of our times—vital, because it relates in the spirit of revolution, the great forces which are working for the interests of the people, against the dominating power of great wealth and to the suppression of graft.  He is masterful in his discussion and powerful in his delivery and holds his audiences in absolute control with deep intensity, keen insight, and distinct clearness he wields his subject with the high aim of making his efforts prove to the good of mankind.  I consider the lecture one of the rarest treats on the platform.  He points a sure way out of the political and commercial corruption which harass our commonwealth.  As an orator he never fails to hold his audience spell-bound.  This lecture is the most inspiring presentation of this great theme that I have ever heard.

R. J. P. LEMMON, D. D., 61 West 104th St., New York City.

I cannot refrain from a commendatory note to you after your splendid lecture.  I am so glad you are in a field for which you have evidently made great preparation.

CHARLES D. HILLES.

It was a great delight to hear your splendid lecture on 'SAMSON AROUSED.'  The name of your lecture is judiciously chosen so that under its caption you can discuss the present great awakening against corruption in politics and the dominating power of great wealth.  The treatment of your subject is masterly, illuminating, convincing, often brilliant, and its delivery is that of the polished orator, the Christian patriotic enthusiast, who not only enlightens the mind, pierces the conscience, stirs the emotions, but carries the whole man captive at his will.  Your lecture is an intellectual, oratorical gem, and the triumph of your subject is sure to come.

JOSEPH SANDERSON, D.D., LL.D. 264 West 131st St., New York City.



NOEL H. JACKS, Hartford, Ct., Y. M. C. A., says: I commend you and your lecture to the Association Brotherhood.

CANTON (Ill.) DAILY REGISTER says: One of the most brilliant efforts of the season.  Mr. Perry is lavishly endowed with brains, while as an orator none of the big guns scheduled at this Chautauqua have any advantage over the scholarly New Yorker.  Mr. Perry's oratory is captivating.  His topic led him right up to the firing line of monopoly.

FERRIS & LEACH
PHILA.