New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-21
BLIND AND DEAF GIRL
cOMPREHENDS sermon
TEACHER Ticks It OFF on Her Hand
as Deaf Mutes Read Priests
Words by Sign or Lip.
ono ATTEND SPECIAL MASS
M Defective" Children Born to
Father McCerthy's Flock, he
Tells Them, After Dinner
~ St. Joseph's.

~ ST. Joseph's.
N.srfy two hundred deaf mutes and a
49, who could neither hear nor see at
,.,5sd mass, partook of holy communion
"a hoard a sermon by the Rev. Michael
Mccarthy yesterday morning In the col
- chanel OF St. Francis Xavier. The oc-
..don was Ephphets Sunday, the patronal
,ssst set aside by the Catholic Church for
,ns deaf ell over the world, and privileges
sd ipduigsnces were bestowed, with the
.DcstoIc blessing. by Pope Plus X.
Eather Mccarthy is the pastor Of the
aasf in the New York Diocese. After the
mass Father Mccarthy preached a sermon
:, me gospel Of the day. which told Of the
.,re Of the deaf and dumb, As he spoke
he used the sign language which Is taught
along with the oral system TO the deaf IN
- Joseph's school sor Deaf NIutes at Ford
ha,,. May Of those in the front pews in
,srnreted the message by reading the lips
n the priest The sign language, however,
- the most practical for use IN speaking 10
large assemblies.
Understand, Though Blind and Deaf
Somewhere in the centre OF the chapel
sat
vssrs Old who, since she can remember, has
never been able 10 see or 10 hear any
sound. she was an infant when the great
blizzard Of 1888 swept down on New York
and in some way she was exposed to the In
tense cold OF the storm For many weeks
soe lowered between life and death. Final
II sire began 20 mend but she never saw
me light Of day again. nor heard the voice
RI her mother When she was ten years
Old she was sent 10 ST Joseph's To-day
4he uses typewriter. makes dresses and
helps her mother do the cooking.
Miss Megur heard Father Mccarthy :
sermon sitting by her side was Miss
Mary Kennedy, principal OF st Joseph s.
The girls right hand rested in Miss Ken
nedys right. and as the priest spoke the
teachers fingers passed IN rhythmic motion
ever the blind mute's hand. The girls lips
moved slightly as she caught the message
and her face seemed 10 radiate happy in
diligence that could not fnd expression
through her sightless eyes
TIE Most Rev Henry Moeler, Archbishop
n Cincinnati. in his request for indulgences
and privileges for the Ephpheta at the
hands Of the Pope. said there were SO, 2S7
ces1 rnutes in the United States, and Of
rh.s number about 15.ooo were - Catholic
origin
u doubt. however, he said, whether cf
al he deaf OF Catholic parents 1000 have
gent TIE faith Nearly al are losing faith
n the sscranents and IN the confessional
No wonder There are few priests capable
~ giving catechetical instruction 20 the
deaf Of Of dlsposine them at the hour Of
q ~
proper reception 81 the sacraments.
E2hpheta SUNDAY has been celebrated N
the United States six years. II is set for
rhe eleventh SUNDAY after the Penteccst
The Catholic clsrzy, realizing their neglect
o. the deaf. formed the Church Extension
Society. which has gone long way toward
educating the deaf.
! n the congregation OF deaf mutes at St
Eranci, Xavier yesterday were men and
women from mar walks Of life, including
a banker, an cditcr ana prosperous IA mers
from the countryside adjacent % the
zrcate- CITY Some in the chapel came
from rs far away as Boston. After the
service a breakfast was served, and the
congregation Their went 10 ST Joseph ;
School a. Fordhdm. where the remainder
81 tho day was spent CT the Fairgrounds
of tie asylum in Bathgate avenue The
Fcrdham institution cares for girls only
The boys are taught II West Chester.
Supper at ST. Joseph's.
A. g O'Clock supper vas served 10 ,'e
big .inine han Ct 81 Joseph's. Most OF
rNe -7a-'cd deas rnutes brought their chill
6rer with iherl. and without exception ne
-ailjre- could both hear and talk.
Ta-he- Mccarthy climbed into his chair
A. the head Of the table Just before II was
me % pronounce the benediction. IN the
sfEn language re told his Aock that Nc hac
performed th.-tv-Cvc marriages since BE-
coming pastor 20 the deaf In New York
and 20 tre children born ~ these couples
nor one was deficient in hearing. He in
r--cd every one 20 attend mass al ST
Na--erss whenever q was possible. When
hc Lad finished speaking. the room burst
OFT into odd sounding laughter. and the
4eaf mutes clapped their hands to make "a
.oiso which they themselves could not
tear
rather Mccarthy was Tor twenty year.
--oss1rer OK Fordnau University. For the
art wear he has devoted himself exclusive
~ 90 TIE work among deafmutes. and has
ilst returned from a trip through the
W.sL where 30 held weekly missions IN
~hicsgo ST. Louis and other large cities,
4udearor1u 30 MAKE more general the OBJ
.ervator Of Ephpheta Sunday.
we should have q church here ne
aid yesterday where the afflicted can go
ana participate in every part II the service
n Manhattan and Brooklyn alone there
are twelve hundred deafInutes. and they
would be wonderfully benefited b. such an
institution. Progress fl such a project is
necessarily slow but I believe that during
The last year il has been sure. expect
cooperation f. this plan from my ecclesi-
7sttcal supeTfcrs.
Father Mccarthy showed uncommon mod
osty n speaking OF his Iabors in the Eph-
1heta Society. He ls now endeavoring 10
establish q bur ezu OF employment FOR the
AFFLICTED n New York He is hard OF
hearing" himself. an affection which has
been overtakirg him in the last few years.
- 81 Joseph's and at Westchester the
girls ard boys receive common school
4ducation. along with their training in the
.ffgn language and in Zip reading They
Ire also taught carpentry. tailoring. arr
vc~k. -lIo@rraldng and printing.