The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-02-17
THE LEPERs OF MoLOKAL
Frightfll Condition Of These Doomed PEI
ple-Father Damien Slowly Dying.

<ple-Father Damien Slowly Dying.
London Letter.
The latest news from Father Damien,
'the Apostle of the Lepers," comes in a let
rardy, an American priest who went
to Molokai some months. ago to
assist the sufferer. The ministers of
the Episcopal Church started a fund
have promised to collect for him the hand
some sum of 81, 200. Indeed, it became fash
ionable for all who claimed to be philan-
thrOpists to forward personal contributions
to the priest whose snfferings death alone
can end and whose devotion to his charge
has received such universal commentator.
Father Conrardy's letter is addressed to
a Birmingham gentleman, and declares
that Father Damien cannot live much lon
ger; that in all probability he would be
Father Damien has, according to his assO-
ciate, seen the populations of MOlokal renew
itself three times, the average duration of
a leper's life being about seven years,
build a little church. The only mason they
had was an Irishman-a leper-and Father
Damien, having yet the use of his hands,
the only carpenter. However. they man
aged to get the building. such as it is,
to be of iron, but while unloading
it in a small boat the latter cap
sized, and the iron is now at the bottom
of the sea. 1t took five months to bring
the iron from England. and the lepers
for another consignment. 1t was to build
this church that the fund was started by
the clergymen of the Episcopal Church, and
the interest In the project can be imagined
from the fact that the Ep~iscOpalian bishops
of Manchester and Peterborough and other
prominent prelates declare that they find
in the leper priest ''the most striking illus
tration that could be adduced of the living
power of Christianity"
The population of MOlOkai is now 1.150.
Regularly, every week." he writes, "a
small steamer makes its appearance here,
and very early in the morning announces.
by the loud blowing of Its whistle, that
lopers have been landed. Then, those who
newcomers soaking wet. Now again be-
gin the cries and tears, for one sees here
the meeting again of q husband and his
wife, or a wife seeing her husband
father or mother. They take the names of
the new arrivals and every one sets out to
find a lodging. Although / am not a leper,
/ could not leave here to go to any other of
these islands without a proper certificate
wish to go anywhere: My mission is here,
and here I'll remain"
Until about a year ago Father Conrardy
was connected with the archdiocese of Ore
gon, in the United States. Father Damien
is a native of Belgium. and is about forty
eight years old. Shortly after his ordina-
ton in 1864 he went as a missioner to the
Hawaiin Islands. The bishop of these
islands wanted a priest for the iepers, and
Father Damien volunteered. He was
landed on Molokai, and allowed to provide
for himself as best he could. He
had so much to do in simply attend
ing to the wants of dying people that
he was unable to provide shelter for him
self for a long time. Once placed on the
island he had to resign his liberty. The
sheriff had orders to arrest him II he crossed
to any of the neighboring islands. He is
priest, physician and teacher, the children
born of lepers depending on him for educa.
ton. King Kalakaua has learned to adj
mire him, and a few years ago bestowed
on him the privileges of the medical
inspector and the decoration OF
Knight Commander of the Order OF
Kalakaua L. He does not avail himself OF
the former. n the latter is of worthless
service to him in the social circles of tine
leper colony. The Irish leper to whom re.
ference has been made has been a soldier in
the English army. His name is Walsh, and
he reached Honolulu in broken health and
reduced circumstances just at the time 9
superintendent was needed to keep the col
ony in order. He accepted the position
with the result thathe is a leper himself to.
day and pining for relief in death.