Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1878 — A Wedding Without Words. [ARTICLE]

A Wedding Without Words.

An interesting occasion yesterday was offered in the religious services in the chapel of Christ Church, corner of Thirteenth and Locust streets, by the Rev A. W. Mann, of Detroit, a deaf mute, before a congregation of deaf mutes. There were about sixty deaf mutes present who comprt hend no vocal language, but converse through the organ of sight by means of signs and the spelling of letters with the fingers. Among the mutes were'adults over 40 years of age. The preacher was clothed in his Episcopal robe, and appeared to be a dignified clerical gentleman, and, with the exception of the multiplicity of bis gestures it would not otherwise appear to a persbn at a distance but that he was discoursing in the ordinary vocal manner. He vent through the customary Episcof service and delivered a brief sermon. giving out the text and quoting from scripture he spelled the letters with his fingers and thumb, but otherwise he spoke mostly in signs. The mute audience listened throughout to all that was said with earnest attention. *

The afternoon service was made particularly interesting by a little surprise, being a wedding ceremony, the happy pair being two deaf mutes, who were united through the medium of a mute language. The name of the groom is Mr. Adam Suttor and of the bride Miss Barbara Marshall, all of Fairview, on the Missouri Pacific railroad, some seven miles out from the city. Of course mutes marry and are given in marriage. Their affections are mutual. Love speaks a silent language, and it is not essential that its expression should be through the throat, assisted by the tongue, lips and teeth, as among ordinary mortals. The lady’s trousseau was simply elegant, and there were no bridesmaids nor groomsmen. The parties joined hands, the groom placed the ring on the bride’s finger, and the ceremony, though in pantomime, was in accordance with the usual custom.— St. Louis Republican.