Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-09-19
A CHURCH FOR MUTES.
A Novel Religious Tri-City Organ
izatiCn Perfected.
A Remarkable Service az Davenport
Yesterday-The Features
And Results.

One hundred deaf mutes of the tri,
cities. 80 of whom were from Rock ISL
and attended a service at the Fourteenth
street NJ. E. church at Davenport at
o'clock yesterday afternoon. the purpose
of which was to form tri-city religious
organization to be composed of deaf
mutes and conducted entirely in the ST.
lent language.
The services yesterday were conducted
by Rev. Frank Read. of Jacksonville,
who is deaf and dumb, assisted by his
son, Frank Read, Jr. The exercises
were carried on mainly by the finger
signs peculiar to the mute mode of COM
munication, with the exception of the
organization sermon, which was preached
by Rev. j. Il. Kerr. pastor Of the Gen.
trail Presbyterian church. this city. and
Frank Read, Jr., TO the congregation.
Mr.. Read like his father, is an expert
with the sign language and the sermon
was communicated as rapidly as it was
delivered.
In addition to the sermon a qusrtette
OF mutes rendered number of hymns in
their entirety in the sign language which
proved very interesting to the entire con-
gregation and as much appreciated by
the mute portion as if the music were
actually heard.
After the organization was completed,
the church, as body, was examined by
council of clergymen and delegates
representing the various denominations
posed as 70 lows:
Rev. A. w. Archibald. Frank Nader,
Edwards Congress tional church; Rev. J.
B. Little and J. 8. Wylie; First Presby-
NJ. E. church, and Rev. o. B. Waite,
Fourteenth street M. E. church; and Rev.
W. E. Shaw, United Presbyterian
church. Davenport; Rev. J. 81. Kerr,
Central Presbyterian church; Rev. F. w.
Merrell. First M. E church, Rock Island ;
Rev. j. N. Mcknight and Rev. Wilson
of the Second aud First Congregational
churches, Moline.
The service of recognition was con-
ducted by the council, of which Rev. DR..
Little was chosen moderator. The ser
mon as stated was preached by Rev.
Kerr, who spoke with great power of the
mission of the church. Rev. Mcknight
offered the prayer of recognition and con-
T. Lal
Mr.. Nader exte nded the right hand Of
fellowship to the new church. His words
of counsel and good will were very ap.
propriate to the occasion. The beauti-
full hymn, joy to the Worldl the Lord
is Come" was then recited in the sign
language BY Miss Fannie Brasher, who
graduated at the Illinois Institution for
the Deaf last June.
The church formed will be known
az Christ's Church for the Deaf,
and it stars with mem
bership of 80. and it IS expected
when perfectly organized will have so
names on its rolls. The services it is I'M
derstood, will be held alternately in the
tuEct CitlCS.
Chr;sts Church for the Deaf, which
is non-sectarian in character, makes the
fifth church of its kind in this country
There are three Episcopal churches for
the Deaf. one IN New York, one in
Philadelphia and one in Chicago.
Christ's Church for the Deaf in St
Louis, like the one just organized. is
non. sectarisn In character. Weekly re-
ligious services for the deaf are also con-
Quoted by DR.. P. G.. Gillett. superintend-
ent of the Illinois Institution, and his
assistants.
The pastor of the new church is Rev.
Frank Read, himself deaf mute and
teacher of the deaf at the Illinois institu.
ton where he has labored 80 years. He
also edits the Deaf Mute Advance, which
he has published for % years. MIR.
Read is assisted by Miss Alice CheDC-
with, daughter of W. S. Chen owita
of Davenport. Four years ago Miss
Chenowith organized bible class com.
posed OF the deaf of the tri-cities, and
has conducted it most efficiently to the
present time. The result of her labor of
love was the new church organiz I'd and
r. cognzed yesterday afternoon.
Wall paper a. SATELLITES cheaper than
anv other merchant west of Chicapo