Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-08-28
MAINE DEAF MUTES
Hold Their Annual Convention in
the Capital.
Meetings Interest Mutes and Others 10 Whom
Proceedings Are Interpreted.

| Su9'"' '"''' Nt@S must nave seemed q
very strange place. Saturday and Sun
day, for great number of deaf mutes
were seen about the street. They came
for the State convention of the Maine
Deaf Mutes Mission. The meetings
We're Interesting to the visitors at the
Free Baptist church where all the
meetings were held. The rapid move
ments of the fingers, through which
these afflicted people give expression
to their thoughts. is really wonderful.
They do not seem to mind their afflc-
tion great deal for they were very
happy and their frequent laughter at
some funny remark on the hands of
the other was very amusing. Their
gestures and other motions amused all
the passeI shy. The mutes were at the
Augusta house and all the afternoon,
Sunday. they occupied the piazza and
their movements We're very amusing to
all the people who were in that vicin-
ity. The proceedings of the meeting
We're interpreted to those who have the
blessing of hearing by Prof. Abel L.
Clarke of Hartford, CT.
One stranger Who was in the city.
Sunday, thought some old blue law was
in force in this city and that people
could not talk out loud on the Sabbath
when he saw 50 many people about the
streets talking by signs.
The conference was opened with
ford. Ct, at . o'clock Saturday after
noon. Albert l.. Carlisle Of Bangor. the
president Of the Mission delivered the
following address, in the graphic sign
language of the deaf. while Prof
Clarke interpreted it orally for the
benefit Of the hearing people present.
He said in substance that this was
the 10Th annual meeting of the Mission.
a period long enough To test its useful
ness and prove its benefits to the deaf
people OF Maine: that in reference to
the law passed by the last Legisla ture
of compelling the deaf children 10 at
tend the Portland School and none
other, he thought il was an arbitrary
one and he believed that parents
should not be 50 restricted as 10 be un-
able to send their children to the old
long established institution at Hart
ford. ct. he urged that as the interest
on the Missions fund in the bank is in
sufficient to meet the annual expenses
without drawing on the principal.
something must be done to save the
principal and meet the deficiency in
some other way He suggested that as
a large contingent of deaf mutes from
other states usually came to attend the
Names annual meetings from friend
ship and sympathy. that such persons
be granted the privilege of being ad-
mitted as associate members: he re-
ferred to the wish expressed by some
members to change the date of the an
nual meeting from August to Septem-
Der to avoid conflicting with almost the
same dates as adopted by the New
Hampshire Deaf Mutes' Mission.
He asked for suggestions from MEM
bers for making better arrangements
for Sunday services in Mission meet
ings.
Secretary George w. Wakefield of
Brownfield read his report of the last
annual meeting at Portland. which was
held at Portland, in August of last
year.
Fred J. Flynn, the mission treasurer.
read a report of the modest financial
condition of the society. Cash in bank
amounted to $355.29, saved after years
of careful. painstaking management,
and the expenses We're $3.50. What
the Mission needs is a permanent fund
large enough to allow the interest to
pay for the regular Sunday services by
trained preachers in every large center
of population within the State.
Edwin Randall of Portland, the Of
fetal auditor, reported everything as
perfectly proper in the treasurer's ac-
counts.
On motion Of one of the members the
reports of all these officers were ac-
cepted.
After the enrolment of new MEM
bers the society proceeded to discuss
several points in the presidents ad
dress. Geo. l.. Wakefield supported
that part of the address pertaining to
making the deaf of other states asso-
state members with all privileges ex-
cept that of voting Mrs. Cora Wey-
mouth moved thai this idea be incor-
porated into the bylaws of the society
and her motion passed.
Hiram P. Hunt pf Gray. Me-. pro-
posed a union of the two offices of sec
retary and treasur4r into one to save
expense. Howard H. Mayberry OPP
posed the idea on the ground that there
would be too few votes left in the