The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1889-08-07
TIE DAMIEN MEMORIAL.
speech OF the Prince OF wales at
marlborough House.

speech OF the Prince OF wales at
marlborough House.
The following extracts are taken
from the London Globes report of
the first meeting of the committee
for promoting memorial TO the late
Father Damien, which was hed on
June 18th at Marlborough House
and presided over by the Prince of
Wales:
The Prince of Wales, in opening
the proceedings, said the heroic life
and death of Father Damien had not
only aroused sympathy in this coun-
try, but it had gone deeper; it had
brought home to us that the circum-
stances of our Indian and colonial
empire oblige us in q measure to
follow his example, not only in re-
gard to foreigners, but in connec-
tion with our own fellow-subjects.
India, with its 250,000 lepers, and
our colonies with their increasing
victims to loathsome disease, had
far stronger claim on our aid than
the poor natives of the Hawaiian
Islands could ever have on the
young Belgian priest who had given
his life for them. TO mark our debt
to him as well as our sympathy with
his noble self-sacritice he proposed
to this committee memorial scheme
embracing three objects. The first
was a monument to Father Damien
on the spot at Molokai where his re-
mains were inferred: the second
was the establishment of a leper
ward in London, probably attached
to some London hospital or medical
school, and the endowment of
travelling studentship TO encourage
the study of leprosy; and the third
was q full and complete inquiry into
the question of leprosy in India,
where there were about 100000
lepers, and no adequate means of
dealing with the evil. The first
part of this scheme needed no com
ment; its fitness was manifested
Immediately it was named. The
second part of the scheme required
some consideration or explanation.
1t might be said that there were but
few lepers in London, and that
these were now treated in the gen
eral hospital most convenient for
them. But these objections strength
ened the argument he submitted to
them. A special study of leprosy
was acknowledged to be necessary,
and the fewer the cases that occur
red in this country, the more inn
portant it was that they should
be studied by specialists. Lon
don should be looked upon
as the centre of all knowledge.
No reason for refusing to es-
tablish leper ward could be urg-
ed which might not with equal JUS
ticc be urged against the founding
of chair of astronomy in London,
Because few observations could be
taken in our misty atmosphere
(laughter). But if leprosy were
communicable, we ought to seek tC
limit as far as possible the chance Of
its spreading. Further, lepers were
not welcome patients at the genera
hospitals and in the state of doubt
which existed as to the infectious
ness of leprosy hospital authorities
) were justified in hesitating to admit
, lepers to wards open for the treat
ment of ordinary diseases. Very
recently great difficulty occurred il
: Dublin in dealing with case o.
leprosy, that of a soldier just return
ed from India. Not three years age
leper lad wandered about Folkes
tone without home or shelter, unit
physician gave an order for his ad
mittance to the London Hospital
AT the present time leper, with hi
hands distinctly infected, was en-
gagged ia business in a London mea
market. Such facts as these, takeI
almost at haphazard, showed the ne
cessity for leper ward in Londol
(cheers).
Mr.. f. Clifford, who was intro
duced by His Royal Highness as til
; most fitting person TO move the frs
resolution, proposed that monu
ment to Father Damien should b.
; erected on the spot where his re
mains are inferred. He read an in
teresting letter from Brother James
giving an account of Father Da
n MEMS last moments.
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