The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-07-19
SKETCH
Of the Life and Labors of True
Philanthropist,

The following touching letter, addressed
to one of our citizens, is proof sufficient
that the world has, to-day examples of
heroic self-sacrifice equal to any cele-
brated in verse or story:
OAKLAND, CAL, July l, 1883.
Dear Friend-I write to you in behalf
of the unhappy flock of an afflicted and
unfortunate priest, who cannot write to
you himself. l will tell you his story,
then you will be able to juoge whether he
is worthy or not.
Two thousand miles across the ocean
from our metropolitan city of San Fran
cisco, lies the little island kingdom
Hawaii. The climate of the Sandwich
islands is delightful, the scenery is lovely,
but over that otherwise blooming Eden
hangs with its awful blight the curse
of leprosy. Leprosy is fatal disea 9,
slow but sure, for which men have never
found cure. To save the healthy popu-
lation, the government of Hawaii years
ago set apart Molokai, one of the most
isolated islands of the group, as leper
settlement.
Molokai! The place of all the places
on The earth which has witnessed the tears,
wretched beings by the thousands.
For years the doomed were transported
to Molokai, and for years, like sheep with
out a shepherd, they were left to them
selves.
In the year 1873 there was amongst the
regular clergy attached to the
vicariate apostolic of tie Sandwich
islands young Catholic priest
belonging to the congregation of the Sa-
cred Heart named Father j. Damien. He
had been ordained in Honolulu in 1864,
and for nine years had led the laborious
life of a Catholic missionary.
Having heard that the lepers on Molo-
kai needed the services of a priest he
asked permission of his bishop to visit
that island to help the lepers there keep
their Easter duties. Bishop Maigret
granted his request, and Father Damien
was left on the Molokai "for a
short time" "For short Time
SO said the good bishop, but il
was not to be. For inspired by that
generous self egation-that spirit
which sacrifices all to God-Fathel
Damien announced it his intention to re
main and consecrate his life to Gods ser
vice in ministering to the lepers of Molo
kai. Father Damien began his missionar!
work with truly apostolic zeal. He hst
the wretched huts replaced by decent
little structures upon which he laboreC
with his own hands. He induced tn,
lepers to renounce their sinful recreation:
and adopt such innocent amusements a
they could enjoy. For fifteen year
he has been the most faithful
of priests aud devoted of physi
CLANS, ministering almost night and day Il
the souls and bodies of his afflicted PEG
pie. Fear never kept Father Daimler
from dying leper's bed, but love ha
found him therein the name of Jesu
Christ, hundreds of times.
He had been on Molokai alone lonI
years before help came in the form OF
, good French priest, Father Albert, but h
berg in 1885 recalled Father Damien ha
been alone since then, up to the perio
lying between the 14th and 18th OF las
May. He has now Father Conardi.
When Father Damien left the scene c
. his missionary labors to enter upon tn
= exile he was but 33 years. He renounce
country (Belgium), kindred, friends an
companions in the sacred ministry
succor the lepers of Molokai.
Is Shut in with the silence of sea and SIX.
with no visits and few letters, with lepel
|, for his companions, and with the prospect
Of becoming like those ever before HI
). eyes-such he's his life been. o, brav
noble, devoted Father Damien What
!. crown viii be yours in the glorious kinl
dom of our blessed Lord! Till 1875
Father Damien escaped the terrible dl;
, ease, but at last he was stricken. l.
u bowed to the Divine will vii
y heroic courage and sanity resiG
% nation, saying these subhn
Words; almighty God knoS
what is best for my own satisfaction, al
with that conviction l say daily goo
a "fiat voluntastua." So Father Damien r
ceived his sentence of death. My hea
bleeds for my dear, stricken friend, and
hope yours will be touched with the san
divine fire of charity and composite
e when 1 make the appeal to you. Faith
# Damien, Notwithstanding his sad cond
Y, ton, is as mindful as ever of the unfort
). nate people for whom he has laid down h
g life. The government is collecting 6
n lepers without mercy and sendir
e them to Molokai. Furthermore, it
a lows for the support of each frien'
10 I6oS lOPOI OlllJ PO PSA
lie How far, / ask you, in the name of hi
k msnity, will that go to support man
10 woman for one year?
ID Father Damien has lightweight bo
10 undor his immediate care.
#, Some of his friends have already gene
~ ously aided him, but there are still mai
or unprovided for.
Or | need say no more. The story
w finished. With sore and painful hano
y. with disfgured face (dear face! mo
BY beautiful to me than the fairest of mem
y, bravely hearing the heavy CROSS which
n bowling the sinking body to the earth, wi
I'd anxious heart for his people, Faith
O. Damien, at 4S years of age, awaits
IN. ending of his pilgrimage.
is The least assistance is enough to gla
re den the brave priests heart and light
Iy, his CROSS. The sufferipgs of this holy m
a to many appear as nothing, but some 1
DIV BILE souls have been touched with comp
rs, sion, and for their mercy towards the o
70. cast lepers of Molokai, God will rememt
le and recompense them before the holy
nd gels and blessed saints on the great lud
ok ment day. Cordially yours,
ne FATHER DAMIEN's FRIEND
of "