Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-05-13
THE CHURCHES SUNDAY.

THE CHURCHES SUNDAY.
On Sunday evening, May 10th, the service at
Trinity Church. Staunton. had q feature Of spe-
cial interest from the fact that quite company
| of deaf-mutes formed q part of the eongreea-
ton. Most OF them were pupils Of our State
Institution. While the Rector, Rev. Mr.. Huil-
hen. conducted the servic as usual, the nrst
part was interpreted in the sign language Dy
Rev. DR.. Gallaudet, General Manager OF ''Ine
Church Mission to Deaf mutes" New York. and
the latter part by Rev. Job Turner, former
instructor in our Institution. who is a mission
airy among his deaf-n ute brethren In Inc
Southern Dioceses. In his address to the con-
gregation, Rev. DIR. Gallaudet explained ana
il Illustrated the language of mo ion. showing
that in its effect upon the inner life of the DEAL
reaching it through sight, it correspoudeo 10
the language OF sound to those who have tneir
hearing. In the sign language a motion, lnsteao
of a word spelled by the manu- l alphaoet, rc-
presents the idea. As the spoken word tooe re-
presents the idea In its richness and 1ulihess W
those who hear. SO the sign made ny pressing
the heart with the right hand expresses IL 10 JIG
deaf With this understanding o fthe matter, the
congregation readily perceived the force OF the
signs which were used in rendering the Lords
Prayer, the Apostles Creed and several hymns.
When we think that deaf mutes live In a worio
OF silence, getting no pleasure from the souno
of the human voice. we should be grateful tnat
this graphic instrument of conveying impress
sions from one mind to another should haVe
been gradually formed from its feeble pegln-
ningstabout lao years ago. under the Able lie
LEpes in Paris, till it can justly be called an
other language. The deaf mutes of France and
TJv1fa Gfofo I,oxy nsto ffol1 10
sign Language. so that they can converse with
each other without reference to the French OF
English language. DR.. Galaudet remarked
that in preaching to a congregation Of deaf
mutes. he never thought of English consiruc
ton. His ideas flowed out directly in the
channel Of signs. Ii is thus seen that the ed
ucated deaf mutes OF our country have two
languages-one of melton. their vernacular SO
to speak; and the other. the English language
acquired by various processes. It is very ma
tural therefore. that deafmutes after leaving
school, should specially enjoy sign services.
now so generally provided for them in our
larger cities by eight clergy men Of the Episco
pal Church, three of whom are deaf-mute
themselves.
After giving some idea of the education of
deaf mutes in the SO or go Institutions of the
United states, the one at Washington having
a collegiate department open to young men
from all those Insttutions,-Dr. Galaudet
sketched the rise and progress of church-work
among deaf mutes from the Bible class which
he began in New York in September. 1850, to its
present condition.
Rev. Mr.. Turner gave a short account of mis-
mission through the Southern dioceses. bis
silent address was interpreted orally by DR..
Gallaudet. The collection was appropriate to
|
in the field entrusted to Mr.. Turner.
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