Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-12-02
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The Dear NIutes.

THEIR CHURCHES, COLLEGES, SCHOOLS AND THEIR
onIaIN-METHoD OF IMPAKT1Na EDUCATION.
Rev. Mr.. Gallaudet, OF New York, impaired to
small audience at Trinity Chapel, last evening,
some interesting information. not generally
known, in relation to the method Of teaching
doaf mutes. The gentleman is an Episcopal
minister, rector Of st. AIMS Church, 18th street
near 9th Avenue, New York city, and is promi-
nently identified with the growth of tho instruc
ton and religious training OF the deaf mutes in
the United States. HIS mother Was a deaf mute
aa ia also his wife.
Instruction is given to deaf mutes in three
wsys-by the manual process, the sign language,
and in tho ordinary manner from books. Tho
two latter are receiving the most attention. Tho
system of signs was introduced into this country
from France in 1917 by tho father OF MIR. Gal
ltidet, who had become deeply Interested in a
htle deaf mute girl in Hartford Conn, There
the first school WAS established, since which time
forty others have sprung up in the principal
cities and towns in the United States The sign
nysiem reinains much the same as when first in :
troduced into this country, but has been subject
to some notifications. Its formation has been
established on the same princlplesa as our spoken
huguage, with root signs and IDEAS which are
capable Of a wonderful expansion.
This system il for tho benefit chiefly of those
deaf mutes who are incapable of being taught
10 ariicnate words. certain proportion of
thiA unfortunate class, however, by a long pro-
cess of training, learn in a mechanical way to
speak 1t as persons who not afflicted, and in
the ssme manner are taught to properly modu-
late their voice. In the United States there arc
estimated to be y, 900 deaf mutes, about one
half of whom are born in this condition. As to
the capabllity of deaf mutes in receiving inAtric-
non from books they arc not crcumscrlbod, but
develop just other children, though more
slowly. Some difficulty is at first experienced in
making them comprehend words and their mean
ing and objects, but this is usually
overcome in mechanical way
by illustration Many become scholarly in their
attanments, and one instance was cited OF Il
minister who, having graduated at the college
for deaf mutes at Washington, afterwards
passed through college course at one of the
higher schools Of learning in Now England.
Religious instruction is not overlooked in the
eiucaton OF deaf mutes, but they are taught the
principles OF christianity with the same care as
other children. This work has devoved mainly
upon the Protestant Episcopal church, though
hume other denominations have assisted in it.
Alf. Gallaudet explains this on the ground that
the prayer book is n necessary adjunct to an uu-
derstanding of the services, as they cannot 30
rapidly comprehend the extempore method of
inc other denominations. Service ID conducted
IN the sign language, and oftentimes by the
inutes themselves. The pupils cannot make the
responses, but they follow tho order OF service
from the prayer book and take deep interest
n 1T. The method OF repeating the Lords pray
ar was shown. In its translation tho words are
changed just as in any other language 80 as to
adapt 1t to this manner OF expression, but the
IDEAS are all preserved.
The flrst church for deaf-mutes WAS estab-
.lshed in New York, in 1852, by Mr.. Gallaudst,
and IN 1859 the society removed into its present
This is the only regular church for
this method of worship in the United States. but
Ehnrch Missions have been established at Phil
adclpha, Baltimore, Washington, Allentown,
"a, and numerous other places, East and West.
Homo for Aged and Infirm Deaf Mutes has
been opened in rented property in New York
city, and contains several inmates. Tho society
IS desirons of erecting building of its OWE, SO
as to increase its efficiency and field OF useful
ness. 1t was in this behalf that Mr.. Gallaudet
addressed his audience. last evening, and DIR.
Frost, rector of Trinity Chapel, kindly took up a
collection for it's benefit.