Edited and Presented

By

Roger D Duke

Of

The Inverted Christian

(Broadus writings are in the Public Domain.)

“He cultivated a great power of application and grew to have a great ability to work, and was not ashamed that others should know it. The wonderful result of this steady, methodical industry was that in after years he could do unheard-of things in the briefest time. His disciplined faculties were so under his will that the result, while natural, was surprising. . .. He demanded of himself the best he could do in all that he did. The resulting clearness and correctness of his thinking begat that limpid, lucid, crystalline purity of expression which marked his writing and speaking.”[1]

Broadus was the best debater in the Jefferson [Society] while a student at the University of Virginia. “In June 1848, he delivered the valedictory address for the society, a distinguished honor for his second year. In the fall of that year the society formally asked for the publication of this address. The subject was ‘National Literature.’ Here is a characteristic extract:”[2]

            “What nobler purpose for the young man who is just going out form college, than that he will contribute to the progress of letters? I cannot but be persuaded that either directly or indirectly you will do this. But whether it be in literature or in other pursuits, that you seek for usefulness and distinction, on thing remember—the price of all success is toil, hard and unremitting.”[3]

[1] F.H. Smith, “An Observation of John A. Broadus’s Intellect and Work Ethic;” in A. T. Robertson, Life and Letters of John A. Broadus (Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society, [1901]); reprint, Harrisonburg, Virginia: Gano Books, 2003), 66 (page citations are to the reprint edition.

[2] Henry, “An Observation on John A. Broadus’s Debating and Speaking Skills;” in A. T. Robertson, Life and Letters of John A. Broadus (Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society, [1901]); reprint, Harrisonburg, Virginia: Gano Books, 2003), 66 (page citations are to the reprint edition).

[3] John A. Broadus, Excerpt from his valedictory address to the Jefferson Society entitled “National Literature,” June 1848; in A. T. Robertson, Life and Letters of John A. Broadus (Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society, [1901]); reprint, Harrisonburg, Virginia: Gano Books, 2003), 66 (page citations are to the reprint edition).

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