The New York herald., 1870-03-28
ST. ARMS r. L. FREE CHURCH.

A Remarkable Service--Combinntion OF the
Regular Service with the Deaf Mute Ser.
vice-Tbe Blind Orator in the Pn'pit-A Free
Church i'm its Triumpbs.
Those who saw not. spoke not, and heard not and
those who with facility, could supply these inrni
ties with providential substitutes, personated
the characters OF very remarkable religious
drama last evening at St. Ann's Protestant
Episcopal free church, in West Eighteenth street,
near Fifth avenue. The Rev. DR.. Gaaudet,
expert in the sign language; the Rev. Dr. Milburn,
devoid OF sight ana famous for 'What a blind man
saw in London;'' deaf mues who could only express
their sensations by the ready mechanism OF their
fingers and many with special senses unimpaired
were the different persons of the scene 1t was a
service where the orator spoke with blinded eyes,
unconscious OF the number or
QUALITY OF HIS HEARERS;
ignorant OF the impressions left by his words and
without the satisfaction Of following the facial
demonstrations evolved by glowing or effective
period; 1t was service where the discourse had 10
be distilled by filtration through the swift medium
OF DR.. Gallaudet's marvellous Interpretation, where
ne keeps pace with the speaker and pictures his
ideas with silent but graceful art presenting the
curious spectacle in which sightless man ad-
dresses those who can see but cannot hear
speak, save when addressed through the subtle
science or an understanding instrument. Ana thus
we have the bind the deaf, the dumb and the
physically perfect man-lnks OF o severed and mutt
lated chain OF facultes-restored TO q conviction
strengthened by the truths or heaven and magnet
lied by the eoquence Of earth. 1t is told us that
there is poetry in the peaceful hills in he quiet
wales and In the ripping silver OF the brooks and
rils; but how much more Of poetry ana grandeur.
OF mighty, irresistible within, be found In
fbat inai nalff I'M
outward communion with the world by the
destruction OF some material tssue2 In that soul
Is the contemplation or the integral mind; views
from the oftest preciplces ofthougnt and from the
highest peaks OF the intellect. Imagine man who
can neither speak, heaY see nor use any actual
sense except that Of sustenance lie has only to
think. The glare and glitter OF the world do not
dim his eyes, for already blind the false tongue
does not HIM for he Is dea he Is tempted to
no idle words, for he is speechless.
ISOLATED FROM THE WORLD
he can rample only In the avenues OF his soul, far
IRON the frivolous allurements Of the hour. 1t is
only in the absence Of such outward influence that
the mind can truly bloom and fruit. As 1t is now it
brings forth only decayed and withered leaves.
Milton, the blind poet who has left US his great
creation, has exemplIlled the blind man, ana
though such a wish may be tinctured with
solution Of morbid philosophy the desire
Is strong to drive men to within to divorce
them from the without. The only trouble
with men OF improved physical senses Is that they
cultivate the memory and do not deveope the inven-
ton. They are content TO receive Impressions from
others rather than to systematise ana promplgate
their own and this s the Sin OF the nineteenth cen
tury. Men OF rugged and massive genius sit su-
pnely down and are torpid III their own decay.
they DO not snatch burning Goals rom their glowing
furnaces and set the world fire. but rather In the
feeble warmth OF memory slumber like expiring
embers and die. More Millions. more Byrons, more
Goetnes are wanted. Who shall they be? waning
literature VIII not be deaf to the response.
AT ST. Ann's last evening the service was truly
wonderful, but from the unfavoraDle weather was
witnessed by but few. But 1t was picture OF mag
netic grandeur, where all the choicest elements OF
beauty were inlaid with the elegance OF pearls DR..
GalaudeJ al one side OF the chancel In his oclal
vestmens the reader stood at the desk and the blind
orator sat at the right. The combination service
nna Dr. aaadet bsgan his interpret ason
opening sentence with simplicity, following Its
unduatory vibrations with expressive gestures.
rounding, period III which no eye could be mis-
taken, and reaching q climax with all the tone and
sorority OF spoken language. All the softness OF
breaking day seemed to pervade the church In the
opening prayers, and then, when the interest
there was tine rushing sng and then
material Tor the artist or the poet
BEHOLD DIVINE
postured In the attitude OF isupplication wearing
the obes OF spotless purity; behind him the dark
mahogany OF Gothic architecture and before him
congregation OF beautiful faces. ST. AIMS IS noted
for It's female beauties, and these added to the
charms OF the occasion. One young lady-eighteen,
perhaps-had face OF Madonna symmetry, eyes
deep with expression ana sou WIN pleasant spar
kle, her complexion white; her hair RICH ample and
brown; and she wore scarlet jacket, jaunty hat
jet Jewery and sat in an admirable pose, with her
head drawn in her finely chiselled chin resting
upon her bust.
Dr. Gallaudet at the close OF the preliminary ser.
vice advanced and said that the work OF the church
was great that It's funds low for tne past three
weeks, and that he desired further contributions
The field OF the society is large, its accomplished
labor gratifying, and the efforts OF its pastor noble
and seif-sacri1cng.
THE REV. DIR. MILBURN
then preached very eloquent ana melo-dramatic
discourse upon st. John, who, he said, was born
a d. 347. and reared in Antioch among Its dissipa-
tions and vice. He sketched the career OF the
preacher during his self-abnegaton In early child
hood to the age Of twenty; his devotion to his
mother TIL twenty-seven; his subsequent seclu-
SION his abors an humble priest; his
exaltaton; his honors and lofty duties as the Arch
bishop OF Constantinopie; his prosecutions his hu.
mility, suffering disease; the love and reverence OF
his admirers and his final DEATH the exhumation OF
his remains and his stately funeral. Throughout Mr.
Milburn was extremely forcible copiOus and
powerful In dction pathetic In marathon and start
ling when ne sounded upon the higher keys OF ora
tory. The singing was excellent. The services at
this church deserve the fullest attendance, for they
arc iree-and free from h0llowness and fashionable
folles.