Chapter 5

One day a minister's servant brought a subscription book and laid it on his study table, saying, "A dumb man brought it, sir." On looking at the book, a thought struck the minister that he should not let that dumb man out of his house without seeking his soul's good. He invited the man in, and after kneeling in prayer before the man, and putting a subscription into his hand, the following conversation took place in writing. The minister wrote: "My dear friend, have you found the Lord Jesus Christ to be precious to your soul? Are you born again?" The dumb man answered, "Yes, I understand what is meant by 'born of the Spirit,' it means a 'new creature' in Jesus." The minister was not quite satisfied with the answer, and therefore he asked, "When were you made a 'new creature,' and how?" He answered, "I was under the impression of sin six years ago, but I prayed to God for Christ's sake to give me a new heart, and I felt joy and peace in my mind. I prayed O Lord, have mercy on me a poor sinner. I also read the Psalms of David." In order to bring out distinctly whether he really arrived at scriptural peace, for he feared that, after all, the dumb man's faith might turn out to be only a vague and wavering confidence, the minister asked him again "If God were to call you away this night, would your sins be brought against you, and would you have to answer for them all?" He answered, "I trust in God for Christ's sake, because Jesus died for me. All those who trust in Jesus' precious blood are cleansed from all sin. He is mighty to save." The minister then asked, "Was it through the instruction you got at the Deaf and Dumb Institution that these good impressions were made upon your mind?" He answered, "My teacher used to teach the Bible to all deaf and dumb pupils, but I did not feel any grace from God till I was afraid to meet God for sins; then I looked to Christ by faith and got peace." The minister then asked, "Will you write a sentence for me to read to poor sinners, from a dumb man that cannot speak?" He then wrote as follows--words which he meant to be used by the reader:--

"O Lord, have mercy upon me a poor sinner!" "O Jesus, save me from death and hell!" "O Jesus, take me away to heaven and eternal bliss!" "O Jesus, take care of me every day!"

"Will you sign your name to all this?" then asked the minister. He immediately complied with the request. We only give the initials J---- G----.

DEAF, DUMB, AND BLIND.

An examination of students who were deaf, dumb, and blind took place on Washington Heights. The principal, Dr. Isaac L. Peet, gave various interesting exhibitions of their skill and accomplishments. A blind, deaf, and dumb boy, about fourteen years old, who had had less than a year's instruction, was given an order to count out twenty crayons and put them under a mat. The order was given by means of the sign language, transmitted by feeling the motion of the hands of the person who communicated with him. The order was correctly performed amid the applause of the audience. A blind deaf mute also wrote several sentences on a type-writer, and on another type-writer a deaf mute without hands wrote by means of a stick inserted in his coat sleeve.

ORDINATION OF DEAF MUTES IN PHILADELPHIA, U.S.A.

Nearly all the deaf mutes connected with the Protestant Episcopal Church in this city assembled yesterday morning in the church of the Covenant, to witness the ordination into the priesthood of two deaf and dumb men. The ceremony had been long talked of among the deaf mutes, and as none of this class of persons had ever before been ordained to this order in the church in this country, there was a widespread desire among the Episcopal community to be present at the ceremony. The church was well filled when the exercises began. Owing to the length of the services, the regular morning prayer was omitted, and after hymn 153 had been sung, Rev. Thomas Gallaudet, D.D., Principal of the Deaf and Dumb Institution in New York, who was to preach the sermon, was introduced. Dr. Gallaudet prefaced his sermon by saying that when a deaf mute was addressed, the words were not spelled out, but that the ideas were represented by signs. Ideas about the intellect were conveyed by a sign about the head, those relating to the sensibility by a motion near the heart; in short, the sign language was as distinct and individual as the English language. Rev. Mr. Chamberlain, of Iowa, stood up in the chancel as Dr. Gallaudet began his sermon, and interpreted the sermon to the deaf mutes who sat in a body near the front of the chancel. Dr. Gallaudet sketched the progress of deaf mute education from the establishment of the first school in Hartford by his father in 1817. As illustrating the individuality of the sign language, he mentioned that while he was in Brussels in August last he preached to a congregation of about twenty deaf mutes, English, French, Belgian, and his sign language was comprehended perfectly by all. "Sounds," he said, "are only outward symbols of ideas, just as signs are." At the conclusion of the sermon, Rev. Henry W. Syle and Rev. Arthur M. Mann were presented for ordination, the former by Rev. Dr. Miller, and the latter by the Rev. Dr. Atwell, of Toledo. Sitting within the chancel, one at each end of the communion table, were Bishop Stevens and Bishop Bedwell, of Ohio, while nine other clergymen surrounded them. Among them the placid countenance and venerable form of Rev. W. H. Syle, father of one of the candidates, was especially noticeable. Bishop Stevens then read the exhortation, and it was interpreted by Dr. Gallaudet to the two candidates, who stood in their robes at the chancel rail. Eagerly did they watch the motions of the reverend gentleman as he conveyed to them the words the Bishop was speaking. The Bishop then asked Mr. Syle the questions laid down in the prayer book. As Dr. Gallaudet finished interpreting each question, Mr. Syle handed a slip of paper on which was written his answers, to Rev. Mr. Clere, of Phillipsburg, who read it aloud. Rev. Mr. Mann then arose, and Bishop Bedwell stated that the questions and answers would be interpreted. He asked the same questions asked by Bishop Stevens, and Mr. Mann slowly communicated his answers, using only his right hand in replying. The ceremony of laying on of hands was then performed, Bishop Stevens and several others laying their hands on Mr. Syle's head, and Bishop Bedwell performing that office for Mr. Mann. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was then administered to the newly ordained priests, and they were welcomed within the chancel rail. A special invitation was given to the deaf mutes to commune immediately after the clergy, and there were enough present to occupy the long chancel rail twice. The sacrament was then administered to the congregation, and the audience was dismissed with the benediction by Bishop Bedwell. On Saturday, the second biennial session of workers among the deaf mutes in the Episcopal Church was begun in St. Stephen's Church. Rev. Dr. F. J. Clere, of Phillipsburg, was elected President, and Rev. Mr. Syle secretary and treasurer of the conference. An address of Bishop Howe, and papers by Messrs. Clere and Syle were interpreted to the conference by Dr. Gallaudet.--_Philadelphia Inquirer_, 15th Oct., 1883.

PICTURES BY DEAF AND DUMB ARTISTS IN THE ROYAL ACADEMY, 1876.

No. 1301. "Despatches." T. Davidson. " 30. "Elter Water, Langdale." C. E. Emerson. " 1235. "The late W. A. Langdale, Esq. " 1247. "Portrait of a Lady." Mrs. North, deaf from girlhood.

WHAITE'S WATER COLOUR EXHIBITION, MANCHESTER.

"The Staff of Life," by F. T. Tavarè, is a drawing worthy of Hunt for its literal truth.--_Manchester Courier._

March 25th, 1876.

FAIRLY DONE.

A good story is told of ex-governor Magottin, of Kentucky, who is a good talker and likes to do most of the talking himself. Recently, in making the journey from Cincinnati to Lexington, he shared his seat in the car with a bright-eyed, pleasant-faced gentleman. The Governor, after a few common-place remarks, to which his companion smiled and nodded assent, branched into a description of the scenes that he had witnessed in different parts of the country, grew eloquent over the war, described with glowing speech the numerous horse races he had witnessed, talked learnedly of breeding, and told thrilling stories of his battles with the Indians in the North-West. The hours slipped rapidly away, and when the train was nearing Lexington the two exchanged cards and parted with a cordial shake of hands. The Governor drove to an inn, and to a number of friends he remarked that the ride had never seemed so short before. "Then you must have had pleasant company aboard." "You are right. I met a gentleman of unusual intelligence. We conversed all the way over. I never was brought in contact with a more agreeable man." "Indeed! Who was he?" asked his friends. "Wait a minute; I have his card," and the Governor felt in his pockets and produced the bit of pasteboard. "His name is King." "Not Bob King?" shouted a dozen in one breath. "Yes, gentlemen; Robert King--that is the way the card reads," was the proud reply. A roar of laughter followed. "Why, Governor, Bob King is as deaf as a post; he was born deaf and dumb!"

A NOVEL SITUATION.

During the past year a gentleman had occasion to visit a certain city in New England. He arrived at night, went directly to his accustomed hotel, and to bed, slept soundly throughout the night, and in the morning discovered his watch had stopped. When he opened the door of his room another gentleman was taking in his boots on the other side of the corridor, and of him our friend asked if he could tell him what time it was. To his surprise, the gentleman took no notice whatever of the question. He asked again, "Sir, will you be good enough to tell me what time it is? My watch has stopped." No answer. The gentleman, without looking up, shut his door and disappeared. At that moment two other gentlemen came walking down the corridor, and Mr. X. asked of them the same question. The two gentlemen, without looking to the right or left, continued their walk without an answer or sign. "Well," thought Mr. X, "this is very curious." However, he went back to his room. Presently the bell rang for breakfast, and immediately a waiter entered the room, seized him by the arm, and began a series of gesticulations. Mr. X. lost his temper, and burst forth with "What in the name of goodness is the matter?" when the waiter cried "Oh," and vanished, laughing. Mr. X. began to think something was very wrong, but went down to breakfast. When he entered the _salle a manger_, which commonly had a dozen or twenty people at the tables, he found the hall filled with gentlemen in black coats, all feeding gravely, and in silence. A waiter silently beckoned him to a place, and when he was seated he said to his neighbour--"Sir, will you be kind enough to tell what all this is about?" No answer. The person, like Charlotte in Werter, went on eating bread and butter. Our friend began to feel decidedly queer, and getting out of his seat, went to the nearest waiter and piteously besought him, for heaven's sake, to tell him what was the matter with the house. "Oh," said the waiter, "don't you know? Why this is the Deaf and Dumb Convention, which meets to-day at Hartford."

THE DEAF AND DUMB BOTH HEARD AND SPOKE.

Vincent Ogden was recently charged with begging, under the pretence of being deaf and dumb, at Launceston. P. C. Barrett said that he saw the prisoner in the butcher's market. He was making signs, and pretending to be deaf and dumb. He took him into custody, and after they arrived at the police station asked him his name; he made no reply at first, but subsequently said he was called William Ogden, that he was a native of Manchester, and had just come out of Bodmin Gaol. Committed for two months, with hard labour.

ENTERTAINMENT BY DEAF AND DUMB.

The inhabitants of Mansfield had some most enjoyable meetings on Monday last, when a number of the pupils from the Deaf and Dumb Institution at Derby gave some very interesting illustrations of blackboard sketching, including animals, birds, fishes, &c. In reply to the question asked by one of the audience, "What have you come to Mansfield for?" A little girl, amidst considerable laughter, wrote "To get money." The gentleman then asked her what work she would like to do on leaving school? The reply was "I would like to be a lady's servant."--_Mansfield Paper_, 1885.

LORD SEAFORTH.

Lord Seaforth, who was born deaf and dumb, was to dine one day with Lord Melville. Just before the time of the company's arrival, Lady Melville sent into the drawing-room a lady of her acquaintance who could talk with her fingers, that she might receive Lord Seaforth. Presently Lord Guildford entered the room, and the lady, believing him to be Lord Seaforth, began to spell on her fingers quickly. Lord Guildford did the same, and they had been carrying on a conversation in this manner for about ten minutes, when Lady Melville joined them. Her female friend said, "Well, I have been talking away to this dumb man." "Dumb!" exclaimed Lord Guildford, "Bless me, I thought you were dumb."

A "SUPPOSED" LUNATIC IN DERBY.

At the Borough Police Court this morning, a man, who said his name was "Jim," but from whom no further information could be obtained, was charged with being a wandering lunatic. Sergeant Parker said that, at a quarter-past one o'clock on Monday afternoon, his attention was called to the prisoner, who was on the Midland Railway platform. He noticed that the prisoner was wandering about in a strange manner. After making enquiries, he had telegrams sent to Bath, the replies to which were to the effect that the prisoner had been found wandering about the line there greatly excited, that they did not consider he was right in his mind, and that they had given him written directions to enable him to obtain a ticket for Derby, which he succeeded in doing. He spoke to the man, and thought he wanted to go to London; but when the London train came in he could not prevail upon him to take a ticket. He had £1 8s. in his possession, and also some tea, a razor, basket, and other articles; but no letters or anything from which they could find out his address. He took him to the police station, where the police surgeon examined him on Monday night, and pronounced him to be of unsound mind. The doctor promised to call again this morning, but had not yet done so. The Bench remanded the man until the following morning, so that the police surgeon might attend and give evidence.--_Derby Daily Telegraph._

The alleged lunatic,--the deaf and dumb man, whose only name was Jim, and who had been charged with being a wandering lunatic, was again brought up. Mr. W. R. Roe, head master of the Deaf and Dumb Institution, said that he had been sent for, and that he had been communicating with the prisoner by means of signs, and found that he was deaf and dumb, and totally uneducated, but certainly of _sound_ mind. The police surgeon again appeared, and said he had examined the man, and had come to the conclusion that there was no indication of insanity about him. The prisoner was discharged and handed over to Mr. Roe, who promised to take care of him till something was heard from his friends.--_Derby Daily Telegraph._

The man was kept at the Deaf and Dumb Institution for a few days, when it was found that his friends were residing on the other side of Bath. It transpired that the man had been on a visit to some friends at Bath and could not make the authorities understand where he wanted to go, hence the error in sending him to Derby.--W. R. R.

A CLEVER GYMNAST.

Walter Stevens, a member of the British Mission to the Deaf and Dumb, last year won the first prize for "all round performances" at the Gymnasium of the Young Men's Christian Association. The prize consisted of a very handsome gold and silver medals with silver buckle and strap. He was successful in 1883 and 1884 in winning second prizes, but this year he carried off in grand style the much-coveted first prize. His performance on the horizontal bar was truly marvellous.

WILLIAM DE COURCY.

This boy was educated at a Deaf and Dumb School. He was fond of learning, and soon had many companions. One of the delights of his life was visiting the farmyard which was attached to the Institution. William had been taught to be kind to dumb animals. He watched the little birds with much interest, and liked to feed them. There was one bird which came daily to be fed which he used to call his own. He was eager for religious instruction, and soon knew God made him, and that Jesus was his best friend, and that sin was displeasing to God. He loved Jesus much, and often signed about Him to his school fellows. After William had been at school for some years he was taken seriously ill, and he was asked if he were afraid to die? His reply was, "No, I know that God sent His Son to save me." Shortly before he died his school mates signed to him that Jesus was kind. William smiled, and then signed in answer, "Yes, Jesus is kind," and shortly after fell asleep, his happy spirit took its flight to that world where there are no deaf and dumb.

A DEAF AND DUMB SCULPTOR.

There has just been placed outside St. Saviour's Church, for the Deaf and Dumb, Oxford Street, London, a statue of "The Good Shepherd," which has been entirely modelled and carved by Mr. Joseph Gawen, a deaf mute, who was a pupil of the late Mr. Behnes, and an assistant of the late Mr. Foley, R.A. The statue is pronounced by competent judges to be an admirable work of art. He also executed a marble bust of the wife of Sir G. E. Hodgkinson. Some years ago he produced a splendid model in competition for the Wellington Memorial.

BUXTON.

The Entertainments given on Tuesday in the Pavilion by Deaf and Dumb children from the Institution at Derby drew large audiences. The children looked bright and happy, and their personal appearance was a sufficient indication that they were taken good care of at the Institution. Mr. Roe gave some interesting illustrations of teaching the dumb to speak on the oral system by placing the youngest girl on a chair and explaining how sounds were produced. Mr. Roe asked various questions as to names and objects orally, to which answers were instantly given in the same way. The Institution at Derby is an excellent one, and the Committee of management deserve the warmest thanks for what has already been achieved, and we hope will be materially assisted in north Derbyshire by all christian people who have at heart the welfare of an afflicted class of society.--_Buxton Advertiser_, Sept., 1884.

One of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools recently visited the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb at Derby, and says the children wrote some texts which pertinently answered some questions on religion which were given to them. In answer to the question "Who made the world?" a little girl at once wrote on the blackboard "In the beginning God created the heaven and earth." The second question was "Who are sinners?" One of the boys wrote "All are sinners and have come short of the glory of God." A little Irish girl was then asked "How do you hope to be saved?" The child wrote "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ came into the world to save sinners." In answer to the question "What does the Bible say about the righteous?" a little girl wrote "The righteous are as bold as a lion." The last question proposed was "How can you show your love to Jesus?" when one of the pupils at once wrote "He says if ye love me keep my commandments."

HER LATEST AND BEST.

A little girl was admitted to a Deaf and Dumb Institution, and in due course, before she had obtained a thorough knowledge of language, learned "Little Jack Horner." Two nights afterwards, when the deaf and dumb pupils were kneeling at prayer, they were surprised to see this little girl kneel down and earnestly repeat "Little Jack Horner." It might be said she was offering the latest and best thing she had.

THE LITTLE DEAF AND DUMB PREACHER.

In a small town in Germany lived a locksmith and his wife, to whom God had given one child, a girl, who rejoiced the hearts of her parents as she grew up strong and happy. But the father longed for a son, and God heard his prayer, and a boy was born to him. Now indeed there was joy in the home; but their happiness was soon saddened, for the child was found to be deaf and dumb. He was otherwise a beautiful boy, with large blue eyes. What could they do for him but pray?

"Ah, if only the Lord Jesus was here now," spoke the father once, "how would I seek Him, and bring our child to Him; how would I pray Him to lay His hand on our dear child, too, and give him hearing."

"And I know He certainly would," the mother answered.

"But the Lord Jesus is with us, though we see Him not; let us entreat Him for our child."

At length the boy was three years old. His eyes were full of intelligence, and he seemed to understand everything around him. The God-fearing habits of his parents had a great influence over him. At family prayer the mother held the little one on her lap, his hands clasped together, and when the father asked a blessing on their frugal meal, the little child would also stand behind his stool, and would never taste a morsel before it was asked.

It was advised that the boy be placed under the care of a famous physician in a neighbouring town. The father would leave untried nothing possible for the welfare of his boy, and so very soon set out on his journey. The sun was already set when they reached their destination.

Then the father took the boy's hand, and they went together to a relative's who lived in the town. But what a different home from that which the boy had left: the relative did not believe in the Word of God, but only thought of pleasure and doing according to his own wisdom. So long as the father was with him the child was content. He would not move from his side, and at night slept locked in his arms. But the father could not stay long; pressing business compelled his return home. His departure was very sorrowful for the child, and the father felt it no less.

At length the dinner time came. All was prepared, and the family gathered round the table, and with a good appetite began the meal. But the dumb child sat not; he stood behind his chair and waited. The others told him to sit and eat, but he understood not. His lips were speechless, but he made signs that they should pray. The people understood him, but would not show they did. Then the child ran to each, and, with a supplicating look, tried to clasp their hands together. A feeling of shame came over them. They wished to quiet him, but dared not try. Should they pray? They had never done it, but the child waited. At length the wife stood up, then the husband, and then all the others, for they did not know what else to do, and the wife prayed, with trembling voice, "Lord Jesus, come to our meal and bless it, and grant us Thy mercy."

Thus did the dumb child become a holy messenger, and, though he was speechless, witness for God where He was entirely forgotten.