John A. Broadus at Yale
In 1889, Yale University invited John A. Broadus to present the distinguished Lyman Beecher Lectures on Preaching. On January 10 of that year, he delivered the first in a series of eight lectures on “Preaching and the Ministerial Life.” Over the course of the following three weeks, his lectures were received by large and attentive audiences. One newspaper reported that,
“Men of considerable reputation have come and gone without their presence being known to any but the few immediately concerned. Such has not been the case with the visit of Dr. Broadus and the delivery of his lectures. He has made marked impression on the life and thought of the University, outside of the Divinity School, to which he has been specifically lecturing. Every available seat in Marquand chapel not reserved for students, has been occupied each day, considerably before the hour for the lecture, and after all available spaces had been filled by chairs many have crowded into the corners left and listened standing.” [1]