National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-05-29
rHE CHURCH AND THE DEAF-MUrEs

The famous elm known rs :" the plume of
Mont st. Geneyicven arrests the eye of
the traveller in every quarter of Paris,
Tradition associates it with the name of
SULLY; but it marks the present site Of the
Paris Institution for Deal-AIutcs, and the
thought of Inn who passes beneath its
spreading branches runs back TO the Abbc
DE I'EPEE, rather than to the mighty Gnan-
cer.
In 1853 the Abbe ConsecIatcd his life to
the humble work of teaching deai.mutcs.
\ quarter of II century lie toilcd in poverty
and obScurty; then, in the moment Of
Divine appointment, the attention Of the
court was fixed upon him and royal favor
secured n permanent home and endowment
for his school.
Since the beginning of this pious work
the Church has never wanted earnest devo-
tees for its continuance and progress; but
never has there been such general activity
in this direction as ip our own day.
At the Church Congress held in England,
at Stol,e-on-Trcnt, in October, 1915, this dc.
partment of church work was the subject Of
special reports and discussion, and interest
ing papers We're presented on the subject by
, the Rev SAMUEL SMITH, chaplain of the
Royal Association in Aid of the Deaf and
Dumb, and by DAVID BUXTON, Ph. ID.
Starting from Gasgow rs Il centre special
missions for these unortunates have multi
| piled since 1922 in Leeds aud Yorkshire, in
Liverpool and Nottingham, and so on,
! through all the leading towns of the United
Kingdom. Similar services were FIRST pro-
vided in London in 1sll and to-day the
society Of thai metropolis has II staif of two
ordained clcrgymen, three lay missionaries,
and an extra Sunday teacher ii has
erected Saint SlviOur's Church, and pro-
vidcs fourteen services weekly in various
parts of the city.
IN our own country the Church Mission,
under the conduct Of the Rev, DIR. GALLAU-
DIET and his assistants, having its centre in
New York, and extending its work and in
lluence through many States, has been
wonderfully successful.
On the sth of October, 1876, an interest
ing ceremony was witnessed in st, Stephens
Church. Philadelphia. This was the ordi-
nation Of HENRY WINTER STYLE, NJ. A., Il
deaf mute, rs deacon in the Protestant
Episcopal Church, which is supposed to be
the first instance in the worlds history OF Il
person deprived of hearing and speech be-
ing admitted to holy orders. Since that
time two similar ordinations have followed
that of Mr. A. w. MANN as deacon in
Grac. Church, Cleveland, and of Mr.
SAMUEL ROWE, Of West RoXlord, Mass, tC
the ministry in the Congregational Church
All of these gentlemen are consecratcd tC
the work among those Of their own class,
Thus, in spite of errors and imperlcrtions
the church goes on with the work of tho
Master, and repeats under Divine blessing
the miracle Of unclosing the deaf ears an,
loOsening the tongue Of the dumb.
HON. j. Il. THOMAS, OF ILLINOIS.
Hon. j. X, THOMAS, the youngest mem
bcr of the National House Of Represent
atiycs from Illinois, is certainly destined I
take rank ms one Of the prominent and in
, nucntal men of that body. Although no,
serving his first term in Congress he is al
ready recognized by his associates in th
House rs possessed Of marked abilities
His first speech on the floor Of the House
delivered some time since, was Il mastery
I ..I,..r.,t n.I g.uI Hmm, g,,uny, nI' ~ llama