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FATHER of mercies, and God of all grace and consolation, enable us, at this time, to raise unto thee the united desires of our hearts, in behalf of those whose necessities thou hast not forgotten, and whom thou hast visited, in their calamity, with the kindest tokens of thy regard. We would reverently admire the overflowing abundance of thy bounty, and the countless ways in which thou dispensest thy gifts to the sinful and suffering children of men. -- We thank thee, for all that thou hast done, both in this and other parts of the world, to succour those who are deaf and dumb, and we do beseech thee to bless them and the institutions which cherish them, with the kindness of thy paternal care, with the light of thy gospel, and with the dew of thy grace. -- Especially would we acknowledge, with humble and devout gratitude, all the manifestations of thy goodness towards the Asylum established in this place. By the wonderful workings of thy providence, thou didst direct the attention of the benevolent to these children of suffering; thou didst prepare and open the way for their relief; thou didst move the hand of charity to supply their wants; thou didst provide the means of their instruction; thou didst touch the hearts of the wise and honorable, and the rulers of the land, with compassion towards them; and, now, to crown all thy other gifts, thou hast gathered them, as it were, beneath the shadow of thy wings, into this their own dwelling, in which, we humbly hope, both they and many of their fellow-sufferers, will be made partakers of still greater and richer blessings. - In all these things, we desire, O God, to see, to acknowledge, and to adore the hand of thy power, and the riches of thy bounty. "Not unto us, O ! Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name, be all the praise and all the glory." - And now, O! Lord, what shall we render unto thee for all these thy benefits. -- We can only give back to thee what thou hast already given. Wilt thou, then, enable us -- by the aid of thy Holy Spirit, through the intercession of thy Son, and with faith in him, at this time, most solemnly to dedicate this Asylum to thyself.

Almighty and most Merciful God, in behalf of those whom thou hast called, in thy providence, to direct and govern the concerns of this Asylum, we do now dedicate this whole Institution to thee; to thee, in all its departments of intellectual, moral, and religious instruction; to thee, in all its privileges of worship, prayer, and praise; -- to thee, in all its domestic regulations, and various means of comfort and usefulness; -- to thee, with all its benefits, both spiritual and temporal, -- beseeching thee to accept the offering, and to make it subservient to the promotion of thy glory, to the honor of thy Son Jesus Christ, and to the building up of his kingdom in the hearts of all who have been, who now are, or who may be, the objects of its care. O! Thou Father of mercies, take now, we beseech thee, this Asylum, with all its interests under thy future protection. Defend it from every danger by thy Almighty arm. Give it all salutary favour in the sight of our fellow-men. -- Excite the prayers of thy own children in its behalf. -- Shed down upon all who are entrusted with the direction and management of its concerns, in their several stations, and in the discharge of their respective duties, a spirit of wisdom and prudence, of patience and kindness, of fidelity and industry; so that all things being conducted in thy fear, may meet with thy blessing, and result both in the temporal and spiritual good of those who resort hither for instruction. May, the pupils ever be taught the truths of thy gospel, in all their affecting simplicity and force. May the friend of the wretched, the Saviour of sinners, the Son of thy love, here abundantly display the riches of his grace, in gathering these lambs of the flock into his own fold, and in making them meet for an entrance into the spiritual land of promise, the Canaan of eternal rest.

We would also remember before thee, O! thou hope of the afflicted, the many deaf and dumb in this and other lands, who are still enveloped in the midnight of intellectual and moral darkness; we beseech thee, in thine abundant goodness, to make provision for their relief, and to cause, that while the consolations of thy gospel are extending to almost every corner of the earth, these helpless may not be forgotten by their fellow-men.

In imploring these blessings, Almighty God, we humbly confess, that we are most unworthy to receive them. -- For we are sinners in thy sight, and if thou shouldest be strict to mark our iniquities, we could not stand before thee; -- we would look to Jesus Christ alone and to his righteousness, for acceptance with thee. O ! for his sake, wilt thou hear us, and grant us an answer of peace. And to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, be rendered everlasting praises.

Amen.