The Irish standard., 1886-11-13
LIVING AMONG THE lEPERS,
A Priest Devotes His Life to Them
And Becomes MARTYR
Of Charity.
TIE LEPERs OF MoL0KAI,
An Admirable Anglican Minister Pays a
Glowing Tribute to the Sacrifices
of Father Damien,

O!OW1uSs lIluuLG Gu VI6 Os|GlAlC66
Of Father Damien.
tCtuholic Columbian}
We are able to publish a letter from
Father Damien, the apostle OF the
lepers OF Molokal, which we think few
indeed will read without emotion. In
a quiet, simple way he relates how the
long ;nartyrdom has begun at last, and
1.-THE foreseen consequence" of his
heroic announcement ''is appearing on
the skin and is felt throughout the
body" Miss Lambert, in her letter to
the London Times, quotes from an
earlier communication written when
the presence OF the awful disease was
suspected, but not sure; now it has de-
clared itself, and Father Damien tells
how he is happy and we'll pleased and
resigned 81 in the rather exceptional
circumstances which it has pleased
Providence' to place him. Shut Off
forever from all communication with
wholesome human creatures, and
vowed for life to the service OF living
masses Of rottenness around him, and
at length himself infected witt, the
corruption, Father Damien now asks
for a little help for the solace Of his
stricken flock. IL is not wonderful OF
strange to learn that, in the horror of
his forsaken but accepted lot, which
we at this safe distance can hardl5
think of without shudder, Father Da.
nien should find all his strength and
consolation in the Blessed Sacrament.
But if any human alleviation were pos
sible in such a living death, it would
probably be the presence Of a conpan-
ion; and it is pleasant, therefore, to
learn from Father Damien-and surely
it should make us proud Of the faith
that can nerve to such sacritce--tfat
an American convert has gone out to
join him in Molokai, there to work and
live for the lepers. What poor stuff is
all the "gun powder and glory busi-
ness" when compared with heroisnl
such as this.
THE APOSTLE OF THE LEEEKS.
Through the courtesy of the Rev. Fl.
B. Chapman, Vicar of St. Luke's, Cam
berwell, England. who has yielded to
our urgent request. we are able to pub
lish the following touching letter from
Father Damien:
KALA?dAo, MUL1KAI, SANDWICH 1SLLS.
August %G, 1886
REVEREND Sir our highly appre-
ciative letter OF June is to hand.
Thanks to Our Divine Savior for having
fired up in you, by the example of g.
humble priest fulfilling simply the du-
ties of his vocation, that noble spirit OF
the sweet life of self sacrifice. AS you
say in your letter, the Blessed Sacra-
ment is indeed the stimulus for us all,
for me as it should be fol- you, to for
sake all worldly ambitions. Without
the constant presence Of our Divine
Master upon the altar in my poor
chapels, l never could have perseyered
casting my lot with the lepers Of Mol
okai, the foreseen consequence Of
which begins now to appear on my
skin, and is felt throughout the body.
The Holy Communion being the daily
bread of priest: feed myself happy,
we'll pleased and resigned III the rather
exceptional circumstance il which 1T
has pleased Divine Providence-to put
me.
Your statement regarding your con-
nection with the Church OF England
leads me to say a few words of what a
middle-aged, well-educaIed man has
done, who until a few years ago be-
longed to the Episcopalian Church in
America. He became not only a con-
vert to. the Catholic faith, but shortly
after his abjuration he made a long re-
treat in a Trappist Convent, and fol-
lowing the Divine inspiration of self
sacrifice, came few weeks ago to this
far distant and poor country, resolved
to spend the remaining days at Mol
okai, asking the authorities that
be might be permitted to come
and work here with me without salary
for the relief of the distressed lepers.
He now resides here with the leper
priest, and, as a true sympathizing
brother, helps me caring for the sick.
He, too, though not a priest, finds his
comfort in the Blessed Sacrament.
Without doubt you will admire with
me the almighty power Of Gods grace
in favor of my new companion, and
please allow me to pray daily for you
and your brethren that we may all have
one faith, belong all to the same one
true Apostolic Church, and become all
one in Christ Jesus, ald thus obtain
the same eternal crown in heaven.
In regard to Your intended collection
in favor Of the nnfo tunata lepers- -un:.