The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-05-12
Father Damien, the Leper,s Friend.

Father Damien, the Leper's Friend.
A day or two ago our dispatches an
nounced the dealt # Father Damien of
Molokai, Hawaii. He died a. Kal%wa, the
lepsr village Of Molokai, on April 10 The
news of bis death was brought fro n Homo
lulu to San F anci;c) by a sailing YES el
By some Father Damie is called a saint,
by Others a MARTYR, but all christian people
who are acquainted with his history know
that he lived the life of saint an died the
d ath Of a martyr.
There has never BEEN a more splendid
exhibition Of the qualities Wi b command
universal resoect d admiration than that
found In the ca ee- OF Fat e. Damien, the
sper p lest He was a B lgian Of god
family, and WIS born in 1910. In 1873 he
was remarkable for his / tellectual at ain
ments, physical beauty, pie y and courage.
Those who knew him best predicted for
him a sple ldid carer. In 1864 he joined
the Catholic mission at Honoiu u, aid sooa
endeared himself to all with whom he came
in contact.
One day b. heard his bishop say that he
wanted priest TO 60 to Molokai TO look
after the spiritual welfare OF the l.perswho
we Q confined there. The remark made a
deep impression upon him, and after thilk-
ng Of It for a week he decided TO offer him.
self for the post. Hs anew what be wss
about 10 do. He had bcen in Hawaii long
seough to know all alb ut the lspera He
was veil aware that he would never see
friends nor kindred agaiu, and that he
w'uld, tn all probability, contract leprosy.
the most dreadful disease known TO man.
In 1873 he went to Molokai, and he found
a drea full condition OF Affairs there. The
that they ~ere incurable, and that they
we're doomed to horrible death, INDUCED
in all kinds of exces .es. Their mo al was
about IS bad as taeir physical condition.
They acted as if they had no hope of a
future life, and that an early death was the
most desirable Of all things.
Father Damie was coldly received by
them. They did not know him and did not
trust him. He went to work among them
courageously. however, and soon wo their
| conhde ICE and love. He taught them to
uid houses for themselves and TO get as
much comfort as possible out of life. He
adv .sed them TO be industrious in order
that their minds might be diverted from
their horrible condition, q they followed
his advice. Ia a few years after be began
to direct their lives they had homes which
we're in measure comfo table. and little
farms and gardens which yielded them
many of the n scessaries of life.
But what life must have been that Il
he bavnio rriasf9 - o1l..
| vi o suf red from the most offensive Of all
diseases and knowing that soone or later
| be would g a victim of the same disease,
the courage that enabled him to have a
| monen s pescs of mind must have bee
| extraordinary, AID his chris ian faith and
fidelity to duty must have b eel equal 10
chat Of tie saints mlrtyrs of old.
In 1854 he was attacked by the disea7e.
He did not despair, because that only had
happened which be had long expec ed. He
went amo the afflicted with as che 'rful
face as eser. and perfo msd his titles as
| faithfully. If at ii mes he faltered, an
| prayed that the end NIGH come soon, no
human eye saw him, and no hu ran err
heard his petition. His splendid courage
and profou I'd faith in thu religi IN no laugh
'u,tlinei him to tie last, and when his
W rk was done, leper hands gently laid
him to rest in grave that will never be
seen by tho e VINO wed him in his youth
The dead prizes, in his lonely gra e in t
FAR away lepsr land the Pacific ocea ,.
will not be forgo ten. His life teaches a
lesson t, at will iufue c, the world lolg
after tho are forg 'tten whose graves are
marked by adm.ring nations with marble
monuments.