Dr. PEET, as chairman of the committee on business, then submitted a report from that committee in continuation of their report of yesterday. "The committee on business, in continuation of their report of yesterday, beg leave respectfully to submit the following papers to be read, and for discussion, the following questions: 1. On Significant Action in the pulpit. By J. ADDISON CARY. 2. An Inquiry whether deaf-mutes are more subject to insanity than the blind. By O. W. MORRIS. 3. Plan for a Syllabic manual alphabet. By J. R. BURNET. 4. On Deaf-mute instruction. Anonymous. 5. Moral state of the deaf and dumb, previous to education, and the means and results of religious influence among them. By I. LEWIS PEET. QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION. 1. A resolution proposed by Rev. Mr. CARY, of New-York, relative to the census. 2. A resolution respecting the introduction of the manual alphabet in common schools. 3. Information by principals of institutions, in answer to questions contained in the fifth volume of the "Annales de l'Education des Sourds-muets et des Aveugles à Paris," under the direction of Prof. MOREL. 4. Resolution relative to a periodical. The report of the committee was adopted. On motion of Rev. J. H. PETTINGILL, it was resolved that the anonymous communication on the subject of deaf-mute instruction be first read. Mr. BROWN of Indiana, stated that as a member of the committee, he had accorded his assent to the reading of this paper, on the assurance that it was a clever article; but he objected to the reception of such articles as a general rule, and hoped that this instance would not be regarded as a precedent. The paper was then read by the Secretary. Mr. PETTINGILL offered the following resolution at the conclusion of the reading of the paper: Resolved. That the anonymous communication just read be excepted from the published proceedings of the convention. After some remarks from Hon. J. W. BEEKMAN in support of the resolution, taking the ground that anonymous communications were not entitled to the same consideration as those furnished by members of the convention, the resolution was adopted; A paper on "Significant Action in the Pulpit," was then read by Prof. J. A. CARY, of New-York. ON SIGNIFICANT ACTION IN THE PULPIT. The mind is not dependent solely on the vocal organs for an expression of its thoughts and emotions. The interior spirit finds an index in the hand and eye, and paints upon the countenance as upon canvas, its minutest conceptions. In a general sense, that "actions speak louder than words," is a maxim which combines the results of common observation for ages. But in a restricted sense, as an auxiliary to speech, to indicate the motions, forms and uses of objects, and express the passions and emotions of the speaker, the language of natural action possesses an extent and power too little appreciated. Pantomime is a worthy companion, and rival of the sister arts, poetry and painting. Zeuxis, the Sicilian showed the wonder of the pictorial art in painting grapes so true to nature, that birds flew upon the canvas to pluck them. But Whitfield, by the fascinations of his unrivalled action, drew men from their seats, and as they fixed their eyes on the sinner, so vividly sketched before them, sinking into hell, they shrieked, as he went, "there, he's gone." A perfect master of the art has a kind of portable scenery which he can produce and change at pleasure, and which possesses a beauty and a charm not surpassed by the painted landscape or the scenery of the stage. We here broach no new theory. When the great Athenian orator was asked what contributed in the highest degree to the success of a public speaker, his reply was, action. When asked what was next in importance, he replied action! And when the inquiry was made, what was of the next importance, his answer was, action!! Every speaker then, who would move mind, must be, in a sense, an actor, whether he appear before a popular assembly, in the halls |