Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-21
WORSHIP BY SIGNS
FAVORED BY DEAF
Conference Delegates Think
Lip Reading Unlikely Ever
to Be Adopted.

Lip reading is unlikely ever to dis
place sign language in the conduct of
public worship for the deaf in the Jpir-
ion of delegates to the Conference Of
Church Workers Among th3 Deaf which
is being held IN connection with the
Gene"al Convention of tn Protestant
Episcopal Church
Despite discordant notes sounded by
some churchmen that the sign Ian
guage is "unscientific. unsatisfactory,
conspicuous and self-conscious," discus
sions at the conference. it was said. re-
vealed an overwhelming opinion that
years Of experience have proved MOTH
ing can take the place of sign language
in public meetings for the deaf ard
particularly with respect to public
worship.
During Friday evenings session Of
the conference, which is being held III
st. Marks Church, Third and A streets
Language" formed the principal basis
of discussion. Nearly all the Silent
missionaries" most of whom are gradu-
ates of Gallaudet College in Washing
ton, registered in favor Of the sign
language as the best adaptable to pub
lie meetings. Some of the missionaries
expressed the belief thai lip reading
has been generally miSrcpresented to
the public and declared the results are
disproportionate as to the time and
effort in learning thi; form Of COM
munication.
The deaf are not unreasonably OPP
posed to speech and lip reading, it
was pointed out. They advocate Ii
for the deafened or hard-cf-hearing,
for those who lost their hearing at an
re Al
alton of sound and for those with keen
eyesight and genius for perception.
What they DO oppose, 1t was said in
their behalf. Is the sacrifice of the
highest possibilities of education and
training to the Moloch of Pure Oral
ism which makes fetish of the mouth
way gate to the mind"
Oral Services Failure"
The Silent Missionary, official organ
Of the conference. mas this to say
about the movement to abolish sign
language as the medium of commune
cation in places of public worship.
The moment the sign language OF
the deaf is effectively abandoned or
abolished in favor of speech and
lip reading, the Protestant Episcopal
Church and likewise all other churches
their doors to the deaf and forego their
present splendid pastoral services and
preaching in their behalf. The expert
ment of holding oral services for the
deaf, both In and outside the schools
for the deaf. has been tried with at
tendant failure"
A survey of church work among the
deaf. made for the first time on behalf
of the Episcopal Church, it was re-
vealed at yesterday mornings session of
the conference, shows a remarkable
progress in the growth of mission work
and also in the number of deaf COM
municants of the Episcopal Church.
This was emphasized by Rev. Oliver
J Whildin of Baltimore, president of
the conference, who was the principal
speaker.
Conditions. nevertheless. are not en-
tirely satisfactory in the mission field,
President Whildin pointed out, since it
is far too large for most effective work.
Some of the mission districts for the
deaf comprise six States with a result.
he said too much time Is spent In
travelling from place TO place. Ill
AS a solution of this situation, Presi-
dent Whildin recommended reappor-
tionment of the present field with an
increase in the number of missionaries
SO that more time might be devoted to
nastoral and social work among the
deaf. Funds are urgently required, he
said to assist deaf candidates for the
holy orders Plans are under wav for
the consideration of this by the House
If Bishops of the Episcopal Church. he
told the conference
Bishop James II. Darlington of
Harrisburg. who addressed the confer
ence FRIDAY night. was in favor of such
recommendations for the expansion of
work among the deaf and stated that
large proportion of the clergymen had
never heard Of what Is being done bv
the church In behalf of the deaf COM
municants He urged the conference
to aim at more publicity through the
nreqs and church. papers so that its
""ttrifinS may become more generally
known.
10000 Reached Yearly.
The report on the survey. prepared
by Rev. Olof Hanson, missionary in the
Diocese of Olympia and Oregon, will
be presented later to the conference br
Rev. Herbert c. Merrill of Syracuse,
N. Y, in his unavoidable absence.
It will show that the missionaries
among the deaf are reaching approx
imctelv 10000 church goers a year and
notes the progress that Is being made in
the work
There ere about $500 deaf communi-
oants IN the Episcopal Church. but these
figures the report points out, do not
include about 1000 in isolated commu-
mites not regularly visited Probably
the number of non commandments is
twice as great as the church member
ship, the report shows. and it is esti-
mated that about 10000 of these adults
a"e reached by the missionaries. In
addition. approximately 5000 deaf
schoo! children are said to be reached
each year In like manner.
One of the active members Of the
conference, Rev John H. Kent of New
York. left yesterday to keep a lecture
engagement IN Philadelphia He Is
vicar of st. AIMS Church in New York
?rd oharlein Of the Church Mission to