Henry William Ravenel, 1814-1887: Private Journal 1859-1860:Page 157

Sept 1860 New York

that I found difficulty in following him even with the book before me.
His sermon I could not hear intelligibly. The music is said to be good - but not so in my judgement. To my ear it was inharmonious & altogether unsuited for sacred worship.
4.30 PM I have just returned from the evening service at the "Mutes" church in 18th St. near corner of 5th Avenue. The services were conducted by Revd Mr Gallaudet in the sign language - a clerk near him making the responses also in the same. It was not a large congregation but a most impressive & solemn service. Mr G's mother was a mute - his father was connected with a mute institution & he has married a mute. It is said to be the only church of the kind in the world. It is a wonderful thing & intensely interesting to see these poor unfortunates, by these human institutions brought into communion with their maker through the instrumentality of those holy scriptures, which otherwise