Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-06-28

ton OF my views. L never near the voices of
these blind pupils mingling in harmony with the
strains of this grand organ, in the Sabbath wor-
ship never walk through these spacious school
rooms never enter the portals of this edifce
without realizing that the world is moving on
ward without feeling grateful to the spirit of the
age When remember that less than century
ago there was nowhere in the world single In
stitution for the education of the blind, that less
than century and quarter ago there was not
an Institution for the education Of deaf
worthy the name, that it Is just forty year since
the first American Institution for the blind was
establishes at Boston and less than sixty years
since Gallaudet founded the American Asylum
for deaf-mutes at Hartford, and reflect that now
IN we'll nigh every enlightened land it is conce-
ded to be alike the dictate of moral duty and q
wise State policy to establish and endow and.fos
the moral progress Of my race can but realize
that the divinity in human nature marred and
well nigh destroyed by the transgressions of the
first man, Adam, has derived fresh life and re-
newed energy from the overwhelming influence
of the earthly career of that second man. who
gave up his life on Calvary that we might have
life more abundantly.
Jesus of Nazareth did not die in vain. He
died for the regeneration of our race, and God,
working in and through the affairs of men, will
see to it tfat this regeneration is accomplished.
And ladies and gentlemen, pupils of the
Institution, if these are my thoughts and feelings
how much moro should they be yours / am
filled with admiration and gratitude at the ear
nest sympathy manifested by society in
your welfare and the practical measures which it
adopts for your comfort and improvement: you
are the recipients of the benefits flowing from
this sympathy and these measures Contrast
your condition with that Of the blind and deaf
| mutes in past ages. We have already noticed
| that organized efforts for the education and I'M
provement of your classes are of comparatively
modern origin Formerly you were not only
without the means of improving your condition,
but you did not seem to have the regard or SYM
pathy. of those around you. In support of this
assertion, many painful illustrations might be
drawn from the history OF every age, but for
bear.
We have seen this afternoon and at other re-
cent exhibitions here, what is being done for you,
the pupils of this Institution,
Your appearance, your recitations, your must
cal performances are unanswerable arguments
in behalf of the School. The interest manifested
by this community and by the entire State in this
Institution shows how near your welfare is to the
public heart 80
Whence all these blessings2 To whom are
you indebted for the advantages and privileges
you enjoy
To your teachers who have the immediate
charge of you, to the State which founded and
continues to exercise fostering care over this
Institution, to the great public that watches with
interest your progress and reJolceS IN your eieVa
| ton, you owe much.
| These are your immediate benefactors. But
| they are the instruments, nevertheless, OF Tar
mightier agency-an agency Whlch LOT nearly
two thousand years, through all the vlclssltudes
of time and against the fercest opposition of
princes and potentates has worked increasingly
| for your benefit and mine and for the benefit OF
the whole world. That agency, 1t We're needless
for me to tell you is the Christian Religion. Its
| divine Author and Founder ever manifested the
deepest interest in the blind, the deaf and the
dumb around him. Some of the most beautiful
and touching exhibitions OF his miraculous pow
| er were for their alienation.
| That all-emb racing philanthropy which he
taught his disciples and SO gloriously illustrated
| by his example while on earth, working on
| through the ages, has produced the great moral
| results we see around us. His church has been
the fostering mother of civilization, the useful
arts and sciences, and these in turn have been
| employed as hand -maidens of the. church in
promoting the ends of this Heaven. born phlan:
| thropy Hence the organized charities and
eleemosynary corporations that mark and add
| lustre to the present era. Distress and mlstor-
tune in all their varied forms, now appeal TO US
| in tones that demand relief upon the ground
of the common brotherhood of man. The ques-
| ton so Indignantly propounded by Cain, Am
my brothers keeper" now finds an anmatve
response in every christian land
This christian philanthropy Of which | speak
is destined to work out far more glorious RESULTS
and whilst the contemplation of them is pleas
| ing, we have not time to dwell upon them now.
| 1t was not, however, my purpose to direct your
attention exclusively to the worldly achleVe-
ments and benefits of christianity. These are
mainly valuable to you, and to all of U.S. as af-
fording the means and opportunities OF preparing
ourselves for the enjoyment OF It's eternal pies
| sings. Our great Master has gone 10 Ills fabnef S
house, in which He has told us there are many
neutrality-suspicious. for all who are prepared to
enjoy them. Avail yourselves of the temporal
advantages conferred by our blessed religion that
you may attain Its eternal joys.
There are some among you'who may never be-
hold the scenes of Nature that seem so lovely to
our eyes, The azure sky, the glorious sunlight.
the majestic forest the crystal stream the varie-
gated landscape, clothed with verdure and be-
decked with flowers, may never meet your gaze
| You may never see the forms and faces OF those
nearest and dearest to you in life. There are
others who may never hear the sounds and voices
of Nature so charming to ears znay never lis
ten to inspiring music, 'by the ancients deemed
divine" Some of these little ones may never
hear the tones of mothers voice enriched by
those tender affections of the maternal heart, al
ways intensified by the msfortunes Of their OBJ
ject.
But in Heaven there are no blind, nor deaf,
nor dumb. The golden city of New Jerusalem
will appear as lovely to the eyes of the blind as
to those accustomed to the vision of earthly
scenes. The ears of the deaf will be penetrated
for the first time, by the soul-enchanting strains
of that seraphic choir which surrounds the
throne, whose songs Of praise shall be swollen by
the voices of those who never spake while on
earth.