The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-02-04

SILENT MISSIONARY
REv. A. w. MANN CARRIES CHEER
TO DEAF-murEs.
breaches with Flying FInsers-tiolds
Large Audiences Entrsneed by
His Manual Espoundlns OF
the Scriptures.

tnc bcrtptures.
Cleveland. O.--Rev. Austin w. Mann
r. the most interesting missionary In
the world today. His work II with the
deafmutes Of the United states. For
over 40 years this silent. conscientious
Episcopal minister has been about the
United States. carrying with him cheer
and hope 20 the deaf-mutes OF this
country.
II IL a strange sight To see a minister
stand In the pulpit delivering his mes
sage 20 a congregation who look up at
him with rapt attention. yet during the
entire service no word or sound IL
heard. With fast flying fingers he
brings the same message Of Christian
service IA do the other more fortunate
ministers. Certain Il Ia that no
speaker receives more rapt attention
than does Rev Austin Mann. Those
people who understand the sign Ian
suage state that his talks are vitality
Interesting and highly polished ora
torical products.
Mr.. Mann was the FIRST deaf-mute
ordained west Of the Alleghenies. and
the second since apostolic days. On
January rs. 1877, he was ordained 10
the ministry OF the Episcopal church
by Bishop Bedeil at Cleveland. which
city 10 now his headquarters. The only
deafmute minister ordained before Mr..
Mann died some years ago. 80 that
now he 10 dean Of the deafmute clergy
OF America. and the Oldest deaf-mute
clergyman In tho world. In fact. there
are but nine OF these silent ministers"
In the world.
Mr.. Mann has founded silent mis-
sIons" In all the large cities OF the
middle west In 1855 he held the first
service according TO the prayer book
OF the Episcopal church. on the Pacific
coast. San Francisco he has also
spoken In New Orleans and the large
eastern cities. Besides this. he has
spoken In Canada and Great Britain.
and has represented the church's mis-
sion TO deafmutss At many convsn-
tons. During his ministry OF &c years
he has travelled more than 100000
miles 20 preach In the sign language
90 his affiIcisd parishioners.
This man OF silence" was born At
Pcndleton. Ind. December is. is41. Up
TO the age OF ave years he could hear
and speak perfectly. and was In nor.
NAL health, but at this tender age scar
Let fever destroyed his hearing and
left him 10 lame that since that time
he has suffered intense pain At every
step. He was educated at the Indiana
institution for dsAf-mutss. In Indiansp-
oils. and later was on the teaching
star OF the Michigan Deaf-Mute school
n Flint
His regular Sunday seryices-and he
gets around 10 each as often az may
be--include parishes in Detroit, Grand
Rapids, Kalamazoo. Chicago. lndianap-
oils. Louisville. Cincinnati, Dayton.
columbus. Toledo. Youngstown and. of
course. his home city.
lie serves smaller parishes on week
days. going all the time. He has held
more than 5000 services. has oficiated
in <ss parishes. and his baptisms to
date number LOLA. The list OF his ac-
tivities abroad includes London. Glas-
gov. Belfast. Dublin and Cork. and
every state and territory in America
has had the benefit OF his helpful pres
ence.
Small wonder the bishops OF Ohio
look upon this travelling missionary
with regard and affection.
Rev. A. s. Lloyd. secretary OF the
board Of missions. says OF the work OF
this noble missionary to the deaf
mutes:
Il am sure that Rev Mr.. MAINS
work. apart from the astonishing deyo-
ton that has marked IL. deserves
everything In reason that he can ask
OF the church. I do not believe any
body can measure the influence that
silent old man has exerted on mems
iives. as they have seen him going up
and down In the church. fulfilling his
days work. have never come In con-
tact with him without feeling ashamed
that l should ever have objected to
anything that befell me in the days
work: and have no DOUBT that my
feeling has been experienced by . null