Who was Robert Ingersoll?

Robert Green Ingersoll (1833-1899) is too little known today. Yet he was the foremost orator and political speechmaker of late 19th century America – one of the best-known Americans of the post-Civil War era.

Ingersoll was born in upper New York state. His father was a Presbyterian minister who was forced to change congregations often because of his outspoken abolitionist beliefs. During Robert’s early years the family moved throughout the midwest finally settling in Illinois where he eventually studied law and entered the Bar.

Following distinguished service in the Civil War during which he organized and led a cavalry regiment, he was referred to as Colonel Ingersoll the rest of his life. He later served as the first Attorney General of Illinois. Politically, he was allied with the Republicans, the party of Lincoln and in those days the voice of progressivism. Ingersoll's electrifying speaking voice soon made him a most sought-after speechmaker on behalf of Republican candidates and causes. His legal career was also distinguished. He mounted a successful defense of two men falsely charged in the Star Route Scandal, perhaps the most controversial, politically-charged trial of the late 19th century.

But it was his private speaking career for which he became famous. On tour after tour, he crisscrossed the country and spoke before packed houses on topics ranging from Shakespeare to Reconstruction, from science to religion. In an age when oratory was a major form of public entertainment, Ingersoll was the unchallenged king of American orators. He was the friend of Presidents, literary giants such as Mark Twain and Walt Whitman, captains of industry like Andrew Carnegie, and leading figures in the arts. He was also beloved of reformers like Elizabeth Cady Stanton. But he had his enemies as well. He bitterly opposed the Religious Right of his day. He was an early popularizer of Charles Darwin and a tireless advocate of science and reason. He vehemently argued for the rights of women and African-Americans.

Ingersoll also praised the virtues of family and fireside. And he practiced what he preached. Contemporary sources say Ingersoll enjoyed almost idyllic contentment in his family life. Opponents frequently despaired of finding anything to disparage in his personal life.

Following his death his collected speeches were published in twelve volumes. They are as inspirational today as they were to the thousands who heard him speak 150 years ago.

Here are some quotations from Ingersoll’s speeches:

The man who does not do his own thinking is a slave, and is a traitor to himself and to his fellow-men.

Who can over-estimate the progress of the world if all the money wasted in superstition could be used to enlighten, elevate and civilize mankind?

The notion that faith in Christ is to be rewarded by an eternity of bliss, while a dependence upon reason, observation and experience merits everlasting pain, is too absurd for refutation, and can be relieved only by that unhappy mixture of insanity and ignorance called "faith."

What are the “Ingersoll Lectures?”

The Humanist Society of Santa Barbara (HSSB) is sponsoring an annual presentation of Ingersoll Lectures. The plan is to present a different Ingersoll speech at each session. Speeches will be selected by HSSB and may be cut back from the original to take no longer than one and one half hours.

The lectures will be posted on the SantaBarbaraHumanists.org website approximately one month before the lecture date.

An abbreviated version of one of Ingersoll’s lectures may be found here.

Who will give the Lectures?

It is planned that two speakers will deliver half of each lecture: one student, one non-student. A script will be used. NO MEMORIZATION IS NECESSARY.

All students and non-students from the community, including HSSB members, may audition to deliver the lectures. Auditions will be held approximately one month prior to the lecture. A panel of judges selected by HSSB will choose the presenters and alternates. Cash awards will be presented to those selected.

Applicants must be at least18 years of age, male or female.

When and Where?

The 2010 Ingersoll Lecture will take place at 3 PM on Saturday, October 16, at the Faulkner Gallery of the Santa Barbara Public Library. The lecture will be open to the public at no charge.

Auditions.

Auditions will be held on Saturday, September 25. Each audition will take approximately fifteen minutes. Applicants will be asked to read from an excerpt of an Ingersoll speech selected by HSSB. The selection or selections will be sent to applicants at least one week before auditions.

Auditioners will be judged on their accuracy, conviction, clarity and projection of presentation. A visual likeness to Robert Green Ingersoll will have no bearing on the judges decisions.

How can you apply?

To apply to audition, simply send an email to sbhumanists09@gmail.com. Include in your email:

Name:

Address:

Age:

Phone number:

Email:

Student?: No _______ Yes _______

If a student, School? _______________________ Name of Teacher _____________________.

APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY SEPTEMBER 18.

Disclaimer.

The Humanist Society of Santa Barbara reserves the right to modify any and all of the above rules and conditions.

Reference Material

The following references may be useful in finding out more about Ingersoll, his life, his character, and his speeches.

Greeley, Roger E. 1993. “The Best of Robert Ingersoll. Selections from his Writings and Speeches.” Amherst, New York. Prometheus Books.

Larson, Orvin. 1962. “American Infidel: Robert G. Ingersoll.” Second Edition, 1993. Freedom From Religion Foundation. Madison, Wisconsin.

Page, Tim. “What’s God Got to do With It? Robert Ingersoll on Free Thought, Honest Talk and the Separation of Church and State”. Hanover, New Hampshire. Steerforth Press.

Smith, Frank, 1990. “Robert Ingersoll, A Life.” Buffalo, New York. The Prometheus Press.

Wakefield, Eva Ingersoll. 1951. “The Letters of Robert G. Ingersoll”. New York. Philosophical Library.

For a collection of Ingersoll’s lectures on the web see; http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/robert_ingersoll/