CATHOLIC INSTITUTE FOR DEAF MUTES, NEWCASTLE, N.S.W.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 264, 24 May 1878, Page 15

CATHOLIC INSTITUTE FOR DEAF MUTES, NEWCASTLE, N.S.W.

The Most Rty\\ the Bishop of Maitland writes thus in a pastoral lately issued by him:— It occurs to me. that I cannot dd better in the interests of the Catholic Deaf and Dumb Institute, at Newcastle) than insert ft copy of a letter of the Newcastle special t'orrßspttadtint df the PreVmaris JiMrmti, and an article oil tile Sonic subject which appeared in that journal on April JiUhY— t now come to the most interesting of all the ftcliools— tile school for the deaf and dumb. Before giving my impres-»-»ous «♦ Ulis establishment I may remark that the schools already i-cfurred to are of a local character and principally for the benefit of tnrrJSTcwcastle people, whereas the deaf and dumb institute is established not for Newcastle, but for the b3nefit of the afflicted mutes, wherever they may bj ; and so to my mind a description of it will bo of much more general interest than those schools whose advantages arc purely local. Then, to recall my visit, I was ushered into the institute — the model of order and neatness — comfortably and cheerfully situated, commanding n widespread view of the wide ocean, the l-iver and environs of Newcastle. Good ventilation, so well provided \i\ the other echools, is not neglected in. this. The internal fittings fire well adapted. Noticeable among other things are three large »late» sft. by :>, on which the inmates practice caligraphy and arithmetic. Each in turn gave a specimen of dictation from signs. The rapidity with which the pencil ran along the- slate was something marvellous, the style of writing inimitable, the orthography and punctuation most accurate. It struck me that perhaps what was \yritten~ vas an oft learnt lesson, so without communicating my doubts "I took the liberty of dictating one or two sentences, but with the same pleasing result as the Sister's dictation. The education imparted is rather of a high class, mid not limited, as in some institutes, to the three H's. and I saw around" the walls some pretty landscape drawings, and some tasteful specimens of decoration and illumination executed by Hie children, Neatness, order and health, so characteristic of this institute, are personified in the children, whose pretty costumes, graceful manners, and ruddy fresh faces speak its eulogy more forcibly than any •words I could use. They arc quick of perception, vivacious in manner, contented and happy in appearance, aud in all their doubts they look for assistance in the most filial way to the Sister in charge. This lady, who is a deaf mute, camo some lime ago from the great Deaf and Dumb Institution at Cabra, near Dublin, where she had a long experience, for the express purpose of conducting the affairs of the institution here. Besides being a trained teacher solidly educated, she possesses those natural qualifications so necessary for developing the intellects of the deaf mutes, and is thoroughly acquainted with all the details of the system, having been general supervisor of the children, and special director of the higher classes at the institution at Cabra, which is acknowledged by oil to be first in the United Kingdom. The institute at Newcastle is got up especially for the poor. The arrangements for admission are very simple. And what a blessing and a liappin ess to these afflicted ones ! Here they find a happy home, kind and gcutlc hands to attend to their every want. Here they are nurtured in holiness, accustomed to industry, and though severely visited by God, trained nevertheless to bo useful members of society. With all the advantages of an attentive education and refining influences, still there are very few children who avail themsel ves of them, while in the kindred, but State-aided, institutes at Sydney and Melbourne there arc numbers of Catholic children. Being through and knowing something about them, I am in a position to compare them with the one at Newcastle. In the latter, a higher order of education is imparted, move care bestowed, and the manners better formed : here you .see at a glance the genial influences of kindness and charity, there the traces of the sternness of rule sternly enforced. But the groat difference between both is that whilst here the children are trained to be religious, taught to know God, to serve God, and work out their eternal happiness, there the children's simple faith is tampered with, and thoir eternal salvation jeopardized. I kuow children brought up in those institutions, not only having a dislike to, but an inbred hatred oC those Catholic devotions so dear to the Catholic heart-, scoffing at the Blessed Sacrament, ridiculing confession, and mocking the mother or" Our Lord, kc. .Now the question is, why are these poor children exposed to the danger of perversion when it can be easily avoided, when for that very purpose we Catholics have a Catholic institution ; and the second question is, who arc the parties responsible ? The most indifferent Catholic is averse to perversion, and would undergo sumo trouble to bring back a pervert to the true profession of the true faith, or to remove him from the causes cf perversion. Now if this be true (and I think it is) of the Catholic generally, who has no responsibility, or no obligatiou, unless, indeed, it be imposed by charity, what must be said of those who as a matter of fact are responsible not because of the general rule of charity, but by particular obligation? Do Catholic parents or Catholic guardians act rightly and conscientiously, by leaving children in those institutions where their faith is liable to be perverted .' Of course such a sad consummation is not wished for. but is nevertheless not the further removed. No Catholic parent or guardian would place his child or his charge in that position irom which perversion would surely follow ; but th»it is not enough ; he is obliged to place the child beyond the danger of perversion or to remove the cause if .such exists. Here is an institute in which no such risk is incurred ; here is an institute in which the children will be fittingly prepared for the duties of this life and for the happiness of Ihc next.

I have been informed that advertisements in connection ■with it Lave been frequently inserted in your journal, that you have called attention to the advantages ifc offers, that the Australian prelates are exercising tbeir influence in its favour, that many of the Australian priests have promised to take a kindly interest in it, and yet I find four or live Catholic children here, whereas there are numbers of them in the kindred institutions of Sydney and Melbourne. Certainly a cause so Avell ventilated &nd backed up with such influence ought to be more than successful, ought to show- better results. Few there niay be who read my remarks on this or any other subject, but if any one, let .him "he priest, parent or guardian, who is charged with the eternal

as well as the temporal interests of afflicted mutes, and who may perchance glance over Avhat.l have "written in their interest, I say let him reflect for a wnile on the gravity of his responsibility, let him diligently enquire. — keeping in vieAv the spiritual as Avell as the temporal — whether ho is satisfactorily performing his duty before God, lest perhaps by-and-bye he be held accountable and blamed for the perversion ) aud consequent perdition of his charge before that tribunal from Avhich there is no redress. Before leaving this charitable praiseAvortby institute I cannot but express my best wishes for its success, that soon it may boast of having within its holy precincts many of those Avho arc now in worldly hand?, aud in danger of perversion, that ifc may extend itself and give shelter to those of our Catholic children Avho, Avhile benefitting themselves, will'i'pflect credit on those whose charity, like their Master's, is ever exercised in favour of the need}' .and afflicted."

The following is the article of tho Freeman's Jintrnal already referred to —

*• The able letter which avo publish in this issue, describing the Deaf and Dumb Institute at Newcastle, is suggestive of thonght. The Institution may undoubtedly be regarded as a successful charity. No eligible candidate is rejected from its Avails. The inmates are tenderly treated. The burden Avhich God has laid on them is lightened. They arc taught to derive pleasure from their intellects. They arc madeto believe that even they haA-e a Avork to do in their life — that although they haA r e but one talent, that talent is not to be buried, but to be used for a high and noble purpose. So far the Institution is a success. But then the question arises — Avhy is tho Institution there at all .' There is a similar institution in Sydney, Avell supported, and AA r hieh professed to respect the religious convictions of all. If this be the case, -why should Catholics be compelled to go to the expense of providing an asylum for their own deaf and dumb . The answer to this question Avill be fresh in the minds of our readers. The fact is that the Sydney Deaf and Dumb Institution did profess to respect the religious couA-ictions of the inmates, but iv. reality it Avas made an instrument of perversion. For years the work was secretly carried on, and all the time the Institution Avas largely supported by Catholics. No suspicion "was aroused until one day Father Cunningham desired to find out how much a Catholic inmate kucw of her religion. To his blank astonishment he found 'that she knew Avorse than nothing at all — that, the name of our Blessed Lady or a saint Avas hateful to her. The game Avas uoav up. The Archbishop and the. priests were conscientiously bound to withdraw their snppdrt ; and the Sydney lustitution sailed on under her true colours, viz., as a purely Protestant asylum. What Avas to be done ? — to allow Catholic children to go to a purely sectarian institution avouUl be a sin, to leave them uncared for would denote a want of charity. To this difficulty the Institution at NcAvcastlc oaves its establishment. The Church^Avas obliged to do for her deaf and dumb that Avhich she, will, sooner or later, be forced to do for her children at HandAvick. After the supreme moment of death, the period of childhood, while the latter is plastic and the mind receptive,' is the most important time of life in the eyes of the Church. Cost what it may the faith shall not be denied to our little ones. This Avas the instinct out of Avhich the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb at Newcastle arose.

Everything possible has been done by tho Dominican nuns, but yet something remains to bedono, and that is the nnUed support of the Catholic laity — support, not merely in subscribing, but in raking care that the deaf and dumb children of Catholic parents do not go to any institution where their faith Avill be tampered Avith Why should those who have been stricken doAvn and afflicted be left in ignorance of the truth, be denied the sacraments and consolations of our holy religion, be allowed to Ka-c and die at best in a state of invincible ignorance ? Is it not enough that they should never know the sound of a mother's voice and should never respond Avith the lisp of love — are such as these to be still more heaAnly Aveighted in the race for eternity ? If Avorks of charity are Catholic duties, there is no 'duty' more clear than that of supporting such an Institution, as this."