Alexander Corkey

              Lecturer from Ireland
Full of Irish Wit

Figure

Alexander Corkey
Formerly of Londonderry Ireland
Management MUTUAL LYCEUM BUREAU, CHICAGO



THE MAN
WHEN REV ALEXANDER CORKEY, the Irish Lecturer, speaks on Ireland he has a subject as familiar to him as his own fireside, for he is a native Irishman and a true son of the sod.

He was born in Ireland, near Londonderry, in 1871, and attended school and college there.  Coming to this country in 1889 he completed his education at McCormick Seminary in Chicago winning first honors in his class, and being chosen as Fellow of that great institution.  This honor gave him the benefit of a year of study and travel abroad and he revisited the land of his youth.

Returning to America he entered his profession in Iowa, and was soon noted as a rising young man of original ideas, marked intellectual ability and an orator of power and charm.  He is one of the foremost preachers in the Presbyterian Synod today, and his pulpit ability at Fairfield, Iowa, has won him a wide reputation.  On the lecture platform he is magnetic, humorous, eloquent and entertaining, a typical Irish Orator

Like so many of his fellow-countrymen he unites an intense patriotism for America with a passionate admiration for the famous sea-girt Isle of his birth.



THE SUBJECT OF HIS LECTURE.
Ireland has for centuries attracted the attention of the world and America has always had a deep interest in this historic island Millions upon millions of our citizenship trace their descent directly to Erin.  Upwards of two million native born Irishmen live in America today.

The land abounds in magnificent scenery, beautiful sights and interesting wonders.  Its history appeals to all.  The Irish character, as seen on its native heath, is most congenial.  Irish wit and humor can always drive dull care away.  Old and young enjoy hearing Ireland's story, and they never hear it without exhileration.


Erin, O Erin, though long in the shade,
Thy light shall shine out when the brightest shall fade.




A FEW COMMENTS.
WHEREVER this lecturer has appeared all have been delighted.  It would take many pages to give all the approving comments.  We select only a few.

Full of interesting information, animated displays of genuine wit, holding the attention of the audience to the last.  Omaha Bee.

He handles his theme with a master hand.  Any Committee desiring a good number will make no mistake in securing him for a popular Lecture.—H. T. Beattie, President Mills Co. (Ia.) Chautauqua Association.

Rev. Alexander Corkey gave his Lecture The Truth about Ireland on our local Lecture Course.  Our people were more than delighted with it.  We will use him again.—J. S. Tussey, Superintendent of Albia, (Ia.) and Monmoth. (Ills.) Chautauquas.

I attended the Lecture given in our Town Hall by Rev. Alexander Corkey, and was much pleased with its general tone and wide scope.  The Lecturer is a charming linguist and did justice to the Emerald Isle.—Rev. James Murphy, Pastor of St. Ann's Roman Cathol Church Vail, Iowa.

In his Lecture, The Truth about Ireland Alexander Corkey entertains while he also richly instructs.  We find ourselves living over Irish scenes as though we were actually there.  An easy and graceful speaker he will give great satisfaction anywhere as he did in Bloomfield.—Jesse C. Wilson, Pastor Presby terian Church, Bloomfield, Ia.


The Truth about Ireland as seen through the admiring eyes of a loving and loyal Irishman was masterfully presented at Citizens Bank Hall Thursday evening.  Those who were there were delightfully entertained and instructed.  Mr. Corkey combines a pleasing eloquence with a never ending variety and vivacity of manner.  The Lecture is a complete description of Ireland and the Irish.  The heavier parts are lighted up by flashes of irresistable Irish wit, bursts of genuine oratory, poetic and classic allusion, anecdote and description.  The interest never flagged for a moment.  All were regretful at the rapid flight of time.  A number of those present considered the lecturer equal to the best talent of last Summer's Chautanqua—
Mediapolis (Ia) NewEra.


Mr. Corkey is a young man who was born and raised in Ireland and could'nt successfully deny his nationality even if he wished.  He is a bright, fluent, eloquent speaker and has not lost the love of his home.  His decription of the country and of its people has a tendency to make a man who is not of Irish descent feel that he is minus some to the best blood of the world's history.—
Sigourney (Ia.) Review.


Any praise we might bestow on Rev. Alex. Corkey's Lecture would be below its actual merit.  He is a natural orator.  For an hour and a half the speaker commanded the closest attention of his hearers while pouring forth a ceaseless stream of eloquence.  Many speakers of national reputation, commanding large public patronage, in the elements of true eloquence, do not measure up to his standard in our estimation.—
Malvern (Ia.) Leader.


The Lecture was simply grand When it comes to eloquence Rev. Corkey is hard to beat.  That beauty of expression, mellowness of voice, the oddity of gesture, the momentary flashes of sparkling wit, the bursts of eloquence, the touches of pathos.  Who has all these in such harmonous blending as does the Irish orator?  The speaker held the large audience in close attention to the end and at the close we felt like calling out to him to go on, go on.
In speaking on Ireland the orator was at home on his native heath, for he is an Irishman of the Irishmen and is proud of it.—

Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Journal.

The Lecture was delivered at Emmetsburg, Ia., in connection with the Celebration of St. Patrick's Day and the Emmetsburg Democrat speaks of it as follows:

The Lecture at the Court House by Rev Alexander Corkey was highly enjoyed by all.  His subject was The Truth about Ireland.  He is a brilliant rhetorician and a fluent, earnest and impressive speaker.  For over an hour he held the closest attention of his audience.  He described in interesting detail the beautiful sea-girt isle.  He spoke of the history of the people, of their undying love for home and country, of their courage and attainments.  He was frequently and enthusiastically applauded.




A FAVORITE AT THE CHAUTAUQUAS
Nowhere is this Irish Lecturer more enthusiastically received than at the great Chautauqua Assemblies.  For several years his Chautauqua engagements have proved his growing popularity with the American people.  His lecture on A World of Jewels is an inspiring appeal to Young America.  He has return engagements to the finest Chautauquas in America, a sure sign of worth.

Dr. Wilbur L. Davidson, Washington, D. C., the foremost Chautauqua Manager in America, says: Rev. Alexander Corkey, lectured for me at my Chautauqua at Mountain Lake Park, Md. on 'The Truth About Ireland' and told so interesting and satisfactory a story that I am taking him back once more to repeat it and to add to it a second lecture [A World of Jewels] which has won much favor with the public.  He knows how to please and interest an audience.

The Chautauqua Auditorium at Mountain Lake Park is considered the largest and most complete in America, and this great Assembly has a national reputation.

Jay W. Somerville, Platform Manager at the great Oskaloosa Assembly says: Your lecture at our Chautauqua was highly appreciated.  It was full of humor, pathos, wit and wisdom.  The lecture will please the patrons of any Chautauqua.  Oskaloosa also showed its appreciation further by contracting a return engagement.

The Nebraska Circuit Chautauqua, which operates Chautauquas all over Nebraska and for which he lectures says of him: He is the eloquent, witty and popular Irish lecturer.  His lecture on Ireland never fails to capture an audience.  He is strong on reform subjects and his lecture A World of Jewels is admirably adapted to the rising generation.  He has a large Chautauqua booking.

Besides his popularity as a Lecturer, Alexander Corkey is also in constant demand as a preacher and Conductor of Bible Studies.  His Bible Studies are unique and he is invited to large State Conventions of religious workers, as well as to Chautauquas, as a Teacher of Bible.


Just a Sample of Newspaper Notices
Speaking of his appearance in Jefferson, Iowa, the Jefferson Bee said: Nothing more delightfully entertaining from a lecture platform has been heard in Jefferson in years.  The audience was large and thoroughly appreciative, and Rev. Corkey charmed all present by his brilliant sallies of wit, and his adroitly told stories significant of Irish life and customs.  The matter of the lecture was instructive, but the manner of it was its chief fascination.  Mr. Corkey is an Irishman of Irishmen, and in speech and spirit he need take a rear seat for none of his countrymen.




Hear This Irish Lecturer
AND YOU WILL KNOW WHY HE IS SO POPULAR

HAMMOND PRINTING CO., FREMONT, NES