Lionel Logue… “passionate about healing”

Here’s a guest blog about the movie, “The King’s Speech”, from Western Australia (WA)’s Christian Science Committee on Publication, Anita Murphy, who writes about Lionel Logue, elocutionist and Christian Scientist, who helped Britain’s King George VI overcome a speech impediment.

Oscar glory tip for WA kingmaker tale, November 15, 2010

The above title of an article written by Malcolm Quekett in the Weekend West newspaper on October 30-31 talked about an upcoming movie (due for release on Dec 26, 2010) about King George VI. The movie, whose lead roles of King George and his elocutionist (played by Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush) is tipped for Oscar glory.

Prince Albert (second in line to the British throne) became King George VI after his brother, Prince Edward renounced the throne to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Prince Albert’s coronation speech made in 1937 was his greatest personal triumph, as he had been a stutterer for most of his life. The eloquence of this speech (along with another when he opened the Australian Parliament in 1927 without stuttering) was attributed to the training that the Prince had received from his elocutionist, Lionel Logue.

Logue was born in Adelaide in 1880, studied music and then moved to Western Australia and in 1907 married in Perth. He taught in private schools in and around Perth and then moved to London with his wife and children.

Lionel Logue was a Christian Scientist and as the Sydney Morning Herald wrote: ”As a Christian Scientist, Logue was passionate about healing, and perhaps this, coupled with his background in elocution, led to [his treatment of] returned servicemen who had speech disorders attributed to shell shock”. See the link below:

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/kings-voice-coach-calmed-a-nation-20101109-17m2x.html

Although very few records remain about the method Logue used to help rectify speech impediments, the movie (based on a book written by his grandson), portrays Lionel as using “humour, patience and super-human sympathy” when teaching his pupils.

No doubt, Lionel’s study of the Bible and the teachings of Christian Science would have assisted him in the treatment of his pupils. I’m reminded here of a paragraph in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy (founder of Christian Science) which comes under the marginal heading of Genuine healing: ‘The tender word and Christian encouragement of an invalid, pitiful patience with his fears and the removal of them, are better than hecatombs of gushing theories, stereotyped borrowed speeches, and the doling of arguments, which are but so many parodies on legitimate Christian Science, aflame with divine Love.’ (p. 367:3)

Can’t help thinking that Lionel’s method was one of love for mankind – unselfish, altruistic, patient, kind, confidence building. And, I can’t help thinking how much the account of Moses from the Bible may have assisted Lionel in his daily prayers.

The book of Exodus tells us that Moses is told by God to go to Pharaoh and ask for the release of the children of Israel. Moses answers God by saying he can’t possibly go because he is ‘slow of speech, and of a slow tongue’ , However God tells him not to fear and that He will be with him and ‘I will teach you what you will say’. (Ex 4)

God also appoints Aaron (Moses’ brother) to assist Moses. God instructs Moses that he will be ‘thy mouth and with his (Aaron’s) mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.’ (Ex 4: 15). And the story culminates in the Children of Israel being released to cross the Red Sea into the Promised land.

Fear of public speaking rates as one of the greatest fears for most people – even for God chosen Leaders and future Kings it would seem!

I’m thinking Lionel Logue’s success had a great deal to do with his understanding that each one of us inherently reflects spiritually derived qualities. Among these are quiet confidence, wisdom, inspiration and eloquence.