The Republican journal., 1886-09-09
The Deaf Mutes.

A brief notice was @iyen last wcck of the
eighth annual meeting ut Bath, of the Maine
Deaf Mute Mission. There We're fifty present,
and the meeting was an interesting and profit
able one. The treasurer reported that the AS
sociation has S33.62 deposited in the Maine
Savings Bank, and $239.S2 in the Belfast Say
ings Bank, making total of S211344. Charles
\. Brown, of Belfast, the president elect, is
firm believer i'll Rev. Samuel Rowe, State mis-
sionary, and has appointed him to the same
position for the ensuing year. The following
is an abstract of an address delivered bv Mr.
Charles A. Brown of Belfast:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: | present for
your review and consideration Il subject which
! cannot think else than that which benefits
us and is the result of our conventions. 1t
concerns Us collectively and individually. Con-
ventons are common all over the country with
all classes of people, and mute conventions are
sprnglng up i'll many States. We are bound
to keep pace with progress and not to lay be
hind. Naturally we are burdened with feel
mgS Of isolation, but visiting each other cullcc-
lively through the agency of the Maine Deaf
Mute Mission brightens us up immcnselv in
deed the speaking people take great interest in
our welfare and are ever ready to render uS
assistance in various ways. But among the
obstacles to our rapid and easy intercourse
with them is the pencil and paper. 1t is pro-
YoklnS to the sour tempered to put on spccta-
cles and write or read the fewest questions and
brieiest answers, and they breathe easier when
done with conversing with the deaf and mute
With the sign language we are perfectly at
home. Shall we discontinue our conventions?
No, we should never consent to such move
ment.
Nine years ago this month"; one Saturday af-
ternoon, | took out the last shovelfui of clay
i'll the well which | had dug twenty-o feet
deep myself, and Rev. job Turner. the mute
Episcopal missionary sent word down the
well that he wanted to see me. Upon coming
out of the pit the first word | ever spoke to
him was that would be most happy to listen
to his preaching the next day, though he never
sent me his notice. Soon mute preachers came
and went away. After looking over the field
taking into consideration all expenses and pro-
bable obstacles, | found Rev. Samuel Rowe
available for the missionary work among us.
lie heartily and earnestly Went into his pastor
al field, and though he has found it an uphill
task i'll many instances, all his patience and
forbearance, his zeal and steadiness is known
to the recording angel. We love and reverence
him as true friend, and better salary should
be awarded him. The appropriate and advan-
tageOus object of meeting on Saturday and Sun
day is fully appreciated, as we may 90 home
Monday to our weeks work with thoughts
suggested at the convention to reflect upon
even when engaged in our daily cares. The
New England Mute Association which met in
Portland a few weeks ago, used to assemble on
Wednesday and Thursday. VIM. b. SWEET
peace to his ashes, as he was the best abused
mute in the community-was first elected Pre-
sdent of that Society, and being its Secretary,
made an argument in the Board of Officers in
favor of holding its conventions on Sunday,
and 1t was carried into effect. 1t convened i'm
Bostcn on Sunday, December 31st. 1871, and
lasted through the two following days, and ever
since, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday have been
theirs. The Maine Deaf Mute Mission ought
to pass into an incorporated body and teach its
law. May the Supreme Being ever prosper the
Maine Deaf Mute Mission.