A.W. Lamar, D.D., evangelist and lecturer

              A. W. LAMAR, D.D.
EVANGELIST AND LECTURER
Bishop Commander, Grand Christian Union of the World
A.W. LAMAR, D. D., LECTURER AND PREACHER
 Introductory
DR. LAMAR is from one of the most distinguished families in the South. He was born and reared in South Carolina, and resided in that state till thirty-five years of age. His father, Col. Thos. G. Lamar, was a large slave owner and an ardent secessionist, and died in the Confederate service. Dr. Lamar was also a soldier in the Confederate Army. He began preaching before he was eighteen. After the war he educated himself for the ministry. He was for nine years the successful General Agent and Corresponding Secretary of the South Carolina Baptist State Convention. He has occupied the pulpits of the leading churches of his denomination in Memphis, Tenn., Omaha, Neb., and Galveston, Texas. He was compelled to give up his last charge on account of impaired health, and for a number of years was largely shut out from public work. He entered upon business as General Manager of the Penn Mutual Life of Philadelphia for Tennes¬see. His health having been restored, he now goes forth preaching at his own charges and undertakes such platform work as his business permits. He has lectured in more than thirty-five states in the Union and goes time and again to the same places.

Dr. W. L. Davidson, Washington, D. C, Manager of many Chautauquas has had Dr. Lamar serve him time and again, and he says of him: " Few men on the platform of today give more abiding satisfaction. He is a unique character, and his past success in platform work has been phenomenal. His themes are attractive and interesting. His presence is inspiring. His voice is striking and penetrating, full of pathos and sweet southern accent. His method of delivery is unconventional, conversational and entrancing. His lectures are bright and winsome, yet thoughtful and helpful. Such blending of wit, mimicry, pathos and good hard sense belong to few men. As an assembly preacher he stands pre-eminent. If you want a most unique and eagerly sought for lecture, with which to brighten and render attractive your lyceum course or next summer assembly program, you should close a contract at once for Dr. Lamar. His time for lectures is limited.   The question is not (where can he go,' but ' where will he go.'"
NOTE— Dr. Lamar has during the past four'years lectured before more than one hundred of the leading Chautauquas, before some thirty of the Pennsylvania Teachers' Institutes; and before more than two hundred lecture course audiences. He is often recalled to give the same lecture by special request in the same place. During April and May of 1899, he repeated his lectures many times in Philadelphia, and people go from one place to the other to hear the same lectures several times because of their wonderful fascination. He can hold an audience at will for more than two hours, and the old and young alike are sorry when he stops.    He has to decline many calls on account of his limited time for this work.
PRESS COMMENTS
Jos. K. Gotwals, Superintendent Schools, Norrlstown, Pa.—Dr. Lamar's lecture gave general satisfaction. He held the closest attention of his audience for one hour and forty minutes. His lecture was both enter¬taining and very instructive.
Lancaster (Ohio) Assembly Herald—Dr. Lamar's ad¬dress was regarded as one of the most magnificent addresses delivered upon the grounds. He was fre¬quently interrupted by applause. He gave a graphic, humorous and thrilling account of a coon hunt by night in the wild forest amid glowing torches and baying hounds, and exciting crowd. It is impossible to reproduce it. For vividness it was as if all the audi¬ence were present in the melee.    They all saw it.
J. S. Oram,  President Lakeside,  Ohio, Assembly  Co.
I shall never forget Dr. Lamar's lecture, "Dixie Before and During the War." The speaker and lectures will ever be remembered as the brightest and best ever listened to.
S. H. Mead, Superintendent Platform—Dr. Lamar's visit to Moundsville Chautauqua gave a great deal of pleasure. His three lectures on Dixie gave immense satisfaction.
LIST OF LECTURES
Dixie Before the War. Dixie During the War. Dixie Since the War—Up to Date. The Nation's Mission and Destiny. The Greatest Thing in the World* The Lights and Shadows of Married Life—How to Stay Married*
EVANGELISTIC
Christ's Vision of a Man-
A Lad with Some Loaves and Fishes.
How to Know How.
The Big Achievement of Life.
SCIENTIFIC Human Electricity—A Great Discovery
A.W. LAMAR, D. D., LECTURER AND PREACHER
Carnell & Hoit, Principals Albany Business College, Albany, N. Y.—Rev. Dr. Lamar has delivered lectures to our students for four consecutive years, and, on each occasion, has given complete satisfaction. The students were interested, entertained, instructed and inspired.
G. M. Philips, Principal State Normal School, West Chester, Pa.—Dr. A. W. Lamar gave his "Dixie Before and During the War, as Seen by a Boy," in our Lecture Course during the past winter. His audience was a critical one, and he gave it great satisfaction. The lecture is useful and attractive, and I have not heard one of the audience speak of it since except in terms of praise.
G. F. Billings, President Southern Oregon Chautauqua Association, Ashland, Oregon—Dr. A. W. Lamar lectured for us three times last month. During the past five years no person has so fully succeeded in capturing our audience. We never expected to sur¬render to a man "from the South"—but we did.
Frank T. Israel, Chairman, District Epworth League Enter¬tainment Course, Washington, D. C.—Dr. Lamar proved a great drawing card. More than twice as many single admission tickets were sold for his lecture than were sold for all three other lectures combined. If I had the authority, I would put Dr. Lamar down for next season.
The New York Examiner—Dr. Lamar's famous lecture on Dixie before the Baptist Ministers' Conferenca at Philadelphia held the unusually large audience spell¬bound for two hours. It was poetic, pathetic and eloquent. Seldom has a speaker made a happier impression.
F. L. Adair, County Superintendent, Rome City, Ind. —Dr. Lamar gave universal satisfaction and every¬body was delighted. He is the greatest success we have ever had. We are more than pleased with him— we are delighted.
C.   H. Moore, Lancaster, Ohio—Dr. A. W. Lamar, having just given his three lectures on "Dixie," we take very great pleasure m saying that nothing has ever been presented from our platform that gave greater satisfaction. At the close the whole congregation arose and pressed forward to the platform, anxious to take him by the hand and thank him for the pleasure and inspiration of the occasion.
John B. Gough Pidge, D. D., Philadelphia, Pa.—From beginning to end Dr. Lamar plays upon every string of a man's character and plays upon it with such skill as causes it to ring with wit, humor and pathos.
D.  C. Osborne, Superintendent of Instruction, Epworth Park Assembly, Ohio—We found Rev. A. W. Lamar a most charming Christian gentleman. His lectures were eloquent, strong, entertaining and instructive. We laughed and wept, and gave him our hearts. He captivated and captured us all.
Eugene V. Debs—It was a superb exposition of the Southern life in the ante-bellum days that are now remembered only in story and song. The mellow sentiment with which your reminiscent discourse was replete appealed to me strongly, while the great heart that throbbed all through it went out to all your listeners, who sat as in thrall until the last word of your exquisite peroration fell from your lips.
Galesburg (Ill.) Republican-Register—The lecture was one that will not soon be forgotten. His eloquence at times was equal to that of a Webster, and the clear¬ness of his word pictures was wonderful. Now and then he would bring out the most brilliant climaxes. The audience was eager for more when the lecture ended and all were pronounced in their utterances of satisfaction.
C. R. Black all, Ardmore—Dr. Lamar's lecture at the First Baptist Church on "Dixie Before the War," was an eminent success. His portrayal of ante-bellum conditions in the South was full of wit and humor and pathos, and delighted his audience. At close of the evening he was cordially greeted personally by many who lingered to express appreciation of his effort, which had held the large company without a break for nearly two hours.
A. K. Hamilton, President Young Men's League, Paters on, N. J.—Dr. Lamar delivered his great lectures on "Dixie Before, During and Since the War" two successive seasons, under the auspices of the League, before crowded houses. He is an eloquent speaker. His most vivid portraj^al of Southland, together with his pleasing Southern accent, cannot help captivating any audience. Organizations holding lecture courses should not fail to secure the services of Dr. Lamar, and doing so means to raise the stand¬ard high and bring success to your course.
J. Frank Snyder, Secretary and Manager The Island Park Assembly, Rome City, Ind.—I take great pleasure in announcing the excellent work done at The Western Chautauqua, Island Park Assembly, by Dr. A. W. Lamar, of Nashville, Tenn., in his full week engage¬ment, delivering the Grand Army Day Address, preaching on the Sabbath, and in the afternoon pop¬ular lecture work. The fascination of his peculiar style of oratory, his intense earnestness, large fund of information on subjects presented, increased his audi¬ences from day to day, so that we could well give him a first-class rating in our report to the National Chautauqua Alliance. It is a great satisfaction to attest the worth of such capable, all around Chautau¬qua workers, who never disappoint. For a G. A. R. Day speaker Assemblies cannot find as near an equal to the late Gen. John B. Gordon as Dr. Lamar has proven himself.
James H. Shaw, Chautauqua Superintendent, Bloom-ington, Ill.—Dr. A. W. Lamar has been at my Chau-tauquas over and over again, always to the delight of the people. Thev had him three years in succession at trie Ottawa, Ill., Chautauqua. I have just sold him for seven lectures at the Dakota Chautauquas, because one of the superintendents there had him before, wanted him again, and persuaded the others to ictk■» him.    Dr. Lamar is a good preacher.
Rome City (Ind.) Assembly Herald—Dr. Lamar grows with acquaintance, and has won his hearers in a quiet way. He is not a demonstrative man, but rather reticent and hard to approach. He has a typical Southern drawl and can tell negro stories capitaliy. His lecture has been of ever increasing interest and a source of great pleasure and inspiration.
Island Park (Ind.) Assembly Herald—Those who have heard Dr. Lamar in the past few days at the Assembly, will stand in testimony to the strength of this distin¬guished orator from the Southland. He is the clear type of Sam Jones, smoothed and polished, yet lack¬ing none of his clear-cut convictions and peculiar man¬nerisms. The old veterans have certainly been hon¬ored in having this brilliant orator as speaker Of the day. He has been upon the grounds since Saturday and has won his way to every heart, and his new lecture promises a great audience of those who have heard him and are hanging on the charm of his magic way of putting things.
Geo. M. Brown, General Field Secretary, Chautauqua System of Education.—I have heard Dr. Lamar give several of his lectures on life in the South, and con¬sider them the most entertaining and instructive of anything of the kind I ever listened to. He is a thoroughly interesting speaker, eloquent and earnest, and never fails to please his audience.
A.W. LAMAR, D. D., LECTURER AND PREACHER
J.H.. Shaw, Chautauqua Superintendent—Dr. A. W. amar is one of the ablest orators of the South. His "Dixie Before. and After the War" is a gem. No man since Henry W. Grady presents the South as does Dr. Lamar.
Greensburg, Pa.—Rev. A. W. Lamar, D. D., of Nash¬ville,- Tenn;, lectured at.the First Reformed Church Saturday night to a large and representative audience on "The South Before the War." For two hours Dr. Lamar' told in a vivid manner incidents of the great Southland. His word pictures were so life-like that one could almost see the characters in the drama. His pictures of a coon hunt captivated his hearer*. Dr. Lamar is a noted lecturer and story teller. He is sometimes pathetic and at others sarcastic, cutting, keen. His logic is forceful, h's conclusions true. Those who listened to him will never forget the elo¬quence and pathos with which he told of his "Old Black Mammy." Dr. Lamar is one of the few who represent the old school of Southern orators, whose passing is greatly to be deplored. Dr. Lamar preached Sunday morning and evening at the First Reformed Church.
De Funiak (Fla.) Breeze—Some men deliver "sermons" others preach the Gospel. It is to this latter class  that Dr. A. W. Lamar belongs—to the God-inspired pulpit orators of whom it may be said in truth that "it is not they that speak, but the Holy Ghost that dwelleth in them." No word of praise tnat we might add to that which Dr. A. W. Lamar has received here and elsewhere in other years could be made to increase his popularity as a lecturer. Good voice, something to Say, and a happy way of saying it, and a knowledge of when to quit, all go to make him one of the most popular men on the platform.
John R. Clarke, Platform Manager, Island Park Chau¬tauqua, Rome City, Ind.—Dr. A. W. Lamar of Nash¬ville, Tenn., is a power and a blessing on the plat¬form1-—a man with a message and a mission—charm- ingly attractive in oratory, pungent in putting truths, sweet in spirit; a living connecting link between the North and South. In splendid magnanimity no m«n since the lamented and . chivalrous Georgian, Gen. Gordon, is so thoroughly equipped to bring about a glorious oneness, so needed and so true to the ethics of real Christianity. As preacher and lecturer Dr. A. W. Lamar wins—most.delightfully.
Geo, R. Pretf, Manager Gettysburg College Enter¬tainment Course, Season 1905.—"Dixie Before and During the War" proved to be one of the best drawing cards on this season's course, and Dr. Lamar's return ' to Gettysburg is the desire of all who heard him. For almost two hours he held us in rapt attention by his eloquence.
Prof. H;  H.   Boyesen,  Columbia  College, N. Y.—He
has a rernarkable power of graphic description, and what I especially value, a faculty of. conjuring up in vivid colors whatever he touches upon, so that it rises before the memory like an actual experience. It was the. personal note in his narratives which charmed . me-and which gives to him such a unique place among lecturers.        .           '
Jesse L. Hurlbut, Secretary   S.   S.   Unipn   of    M. E.
Church—^1  listened' with' great interest  to the  Rev.
. Mr.'-' Lamar's lecture, and can heartily recommend it.
Dr.' A. C. Hirst, President Pacific Coast Chautauqua, Pacific Grove, Cal.—The Rev. A. W. Lamar, D., D., of .Texas was the leading attraction at the season of 1893 of the .Pacific Coast Chautauqua Assembly, held at the Pacific drove; California. He proved himself to be a splendid orator and lecturer.' His rhetorical word painting was a surprise and a delight. He has rare gifts that make his descriptions matchless. The* great enthusiasm of his audience was a testimony of his powers.  
Rev.   E.   S.   Chapman,   D.   D.,  Wills  College, Cal.-—
It was my privilege to hear Dr. Lamar at Pacific Grove and to become personally acquainted with the distinguished lecturer. He is a charming Christian gentleman, and his lectures are simply grand. They mingle instruction, pathos and humor in faultless pro-portions. I never neard anything of the kind more thrillingly real than his pictures of negro character and conduct. Those who hear him will laugh and weep and go away better in heart and mind.
Richard G. Boone, Principal of Michigan State Normal Schools—Dr. Lamar appears perfectly at home on the lecture platform. He is scholarly, choice in his Eng¬lish t and one of the most entertaining lecturers on social and public questions it has been my pleasure to hear for many years.  His oratory would grace any lecture course in any community, as it has been tested in widely distant sections of our country.   .
Beatrice  Chautauqua  Assembly,   Beatrice,   Neb.—Dr.
Lamar has lectured with great acceptance at Long Pine, Nebraska, Chautauqua, the Black Hills, South Dakota, Chautauqua, and the Omaha-Council Bluffs Chautauqua, the Monona Lake Chautauqua, the Beatrice, Nebraska, Chautauqua, the Winfield, Kan¬sas, Chautauqua, the Ottawa, Kansas, Chautauqua, to all of which he is privileged to refer.
Des Moines (Iowa) Daily Register—The third lecture in the Callopean Literary Society course was delivered at the First Baptist Church by Rev. A. W. Lamar, of Omaha, Neb., on "Recollections of Southern Life." The speaker was greeted by a large and fine audience, and gave his audience a lecture that was worth hearing. Mr. Lamar is a cousin of the Southern statesman, L. Q. C. Lamar, now Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He is a Southern man by birth and education, having served in the Con¬federate Army. His lecture was largely made up of personal reminiscences. The lecturer paid a beautiful tribute to his colored foster mpther, "the good woman, the big-hearted and tender-hearted woman," who watched over his early life and taught him his first prayers; and he had nothing but words of praise for the colored man who acted as his body guard through the years of his boyhood. The pictures which he drew of these two persons were very vivid and full of ihingled comedy and pathos. The Southern sports of coon hunting and fishing were all described with a vividness that made them seem real to his auditors. The cojored church and the surrounding burial grounds, which superstition populated with ghosts and awful fantasies, also well described, and the influence these had upon the formation of the negro mind clearly brought out. The festivities of a marriage on his father's plantation, where engagements were always duly announced and the bride given to the groom by the owner of the plantation, was another bIt of good description.
Madison (Wis.) Democrat—Rev. A. W. Lamar, who
preached a scholarly sermon\ Sunday afternoon, appeared at 2:30 and gave his lecture on "Brace Up." He is from the Lone Star State, and is a gentleman of large culture and fine personal appearance; His effort was bright, pithy, earnest and eloquent. It was a. mixture of common sense, humor and/ pathos. He talked along a reformatory line, urging all to brace up and live better, dress better and think better. He held the rapt attention of 2,000 people all through  his lecture, and that takes a genius when the mercury is at 90 degrees in the shade.
Oakland (Cal.) Lutheran—Rev. A. W. Lamar, D. D., of Galveston, Texas, has completely captured Oak¬land by his realistic lectures on Dixie, in which wit, eloquence and pathos were most happily and power¬fully blended.