Many believe that the greatest address George W. Truett ever delivered was in May, 1920, when he preached from the steps of the United States Capitol in Washington D. C. where many U.S. Presidents have delivered their inaugural addresses. There Dr. Truett held a vast crowd absolutely spell-bound for ninety minutes, most of them standing! Before him on the Capitol steps were gathered Supreme Court Justices, Senators, Ambassadors, Cabinet members, and other Federal leaders surrounded by an enormous audience. There was no public hall large enough to contain the huge crowds attending the Southern Baptist Convention and the tourists they attracted,

Liberty of the Individual

Skillfully drawing materials from the Bible, European and American history, and current society, Truett discussed the principle of an individual's right to private judgement and the true Christian's commitment to defend this freedom for all. The values he upheld are now well shared by Christians from many denominations but, as his assigned topic was "Baptists and Religious Liberty" he framed those convictions within his own fellowship saying, in part:

Although the Baptist is the very antithesis of his Catholic neighbor in religious conceptions and contentions, yet the Baptist will whole-heartedly contend that his Catholic neighbor will have his candles and incense and sanctus bell and rosary, and whatever else he wishes in the expression of his worship. A Baptist would rise at midnight to plead for absolute religious liberty for his Catholic neighbor and his Jewish neighbor, and for everybody else, games, 1939:4).

Such an utterance was typical Truett -- one in which he explained and illustrated some biblical truth with a clear representation of its social and cultural implications in behavior while sensitive to the needs and rights of others. Yet, while the content of that speech was in itself compelling, it was his vocal delivery, backed by the persona of the preacher himself which demanded attention from his hearers as his sermons always did.

The Authority of Authenticity

Truett, a large man, made the most of his height and personal strength of character, but also carefully sought to invest his voice with an appropriate confidence and authority in the truths he proclaimed. His convictions were firm, his spiritual commitment high, and his personal maturity full. Without pride or bombast, he specifically determined to project these elements of his personality and character through the words he chose, the clarity of his enunciation, the force with which he focused his ideas, and the energy by which he projected his vocal expression The sincerity, humility, and obvious discipline he exhibited combined with the power of the truths he expounded enabled him to hold that crowd of fifteen thousand spellbound.

But just how did Truett develop such a spiritual and vocal power which enabled him to hold crowds of such magnitude enraptured for one and a half hours?