A Sunday School
Organized for the Deaf Mutes
Sketch of organization of L.D.S. school for the deaf, Salt Lake city, Sunday Jan. 10, 1892. Stake S.S. superintendent T.C. Griggs and his assistants R.S. Horne and W.C. Burton met Elder H.C. Barrel and Laron Pratt at the Utah school for the deaf where Principal F.W. Metcalf furnished us with a list of 11 girls and 16 boys as pupils for our Sunday school. With them we marched to the Nineteenth Ward Relief Society room. Mr. Metcalf kindly assisting as interpreter. The programme was as follows: Prayer by Supt. T.C. Griggs, statement of object of meeting to organize S. School, nearly all present had been baptized; none held the Priesthood. Elder H.C. Barrell was appointed as Supt. of S. School and Elder Laron Pratt as his assistant, each addressing a few words to the school. Brother V.C. Burton inquired how many had attended S. School, before and many responded. Brother W.C. Horne related the circumstances of the crucifixion and death of Christ and Prof. Metcalf interpreted. Roll called and distribution of the first principles of the Gospel as a session for Sunday. Benediction by R.S. Horne.
[The Daily Enquirer, Feb. 11, 1892]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Aug. 2006]
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For Blind, Deaf, and Dumb
Ogden, November 16, 1896—As an item of news we send you a brief account of the organization of a Sunday school for the benefit of the deaf, dumb and blind who have been sent to the State Institute, now located in Ogden City, for instruction in the deaf, dumb and blind languages.
At 10 o’clock Sunday we perfected the organization as follows: Edwin A. Stratford was appointed to take charge as superintendent, with George Seaman as first and Laron Pratt as second assistant. The school was divided into four classes of departments; one for the blind, consisting of nine students; twenty-six young men and young women, deaf and dumb, constituted the higher department. Sister Amy Devine was given charge of the primary; Andrew Madsen of the intermediate, John Clark of the higher, and George Sorensen of the blind. Total of the school, including the superintendents and teachers, seventy. Each class has a separable room for class work, but the whole school will meet together to be benefited by the opening and closing exercises. The deaf and dumb cannot understand the singing of prayer, but the blind can, and they assist in the singing. Both the prayer and song are, however, interpreted, as the praying and singing proceeds, into the sign language, and the students are greatly interested in the interpretation. Three of the above named teachers are students in the State school and were selected because of their proficiency in the sign language and other qualifications. We were greatly assisted in this work by the Deseret Sunday School Union board and by Brothers Griggs and Hummerhays, two of the members; also by Brother Laron Pratt, who comes from Salt Lake City to assist in teaching and regulating the school.
The school starts under very propitious circumstances, and no doubt will do much for these unfortunate brothers and sisters.
R. Ballantyne
L.F. Murnon
T.B. Evans
Stake Superintendency
[Deseret News, Nov. 21, 1896]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Aug. 2006]