Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-10
A MARTYR PRIEST.
sketch Of the Heroic Self. Sacrifice of
Father Damien, the Leper.

Father Damien, the leper priest, whose death
at Kalava, Hawaii, was mentioned in THE SrAr
yesterday, was born in Belgium, in 1910, and
was ordained to the priesthood in 1860. He
was sent as missionary to the Sandwich
Islands. and about sixteen years ago the Cath
Ole bishop Of the islands wanted o priest for
duty at the leper settlement at Molokai, and
Father Damien promptly volunteered for the
work. His work there was Of the most heroic
character, for he knew well what the end would
be. He was the physician and teacher Of that
unfortunate colony, the children born Of lepers
depending on him for all the education they
could expect to receive. King Kalakaua soon
learned to admire the martyr priest 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
did not avail himself of the former, and the
latter could be of no use TO him in the social
circles of the leper colony.
Years ago he contracted the dread disease
and. for a long time before his death, he was a
painful sufferer from the scourge. He had as
his assistant an Irishman by the name of Walsh,
who is the superintendent of the colony, and
Father Conrsrdy. who voluntarily went from
Oregon to engage in the work. Walsh is al
ready a leper, and is awaiting death as a relief
to his sufferings, bat Father Conrardy has not
yet contracted the disease. The Baltimore Sun
THE GOOD SHEPHERD:
Gan English organization known as the
Church Army has taken great interest in Father
Damien's work, and last year Mr.. Edward Cliff
ford, its treasurer, went on a visit to the leper
settlement at Molokai. In letter from there,
dated December 30. he wrote as follows: L
have now been here nearly fortnight. There
are / $50 lepers here well cared for not gener-
ally suffering pain, and in most cases seeming
hght-hearted and happy. The air is very soft
and pleasant. even when the wind is high and
gusty. Enormous cliffs close in the leper set
Element, and make 1t almost inaccessible from
the other parts of the island. and the sea is SO
wild that often even boat cannot land. When
i arrived had to come on shore at a prccipitous
rock at some distance from the village. Father
Damien met me there. having with him about
twenty lepers. He gave me a hearty, affec-
tionate welcome, and, as it was too rough to
have my large case landed, / had il unpacked
in the boat and all the presents taken out one
by one, handed across the waves, and carried
by the lepers to Kalawa. The engraving of The
Good Shepherd, from Lady Mount-Temple,
came first, and then the magic lantern (Which
j have since been three times showing), the
arisOn "a sort of little barrel-organ with many
hymn tunes-the lepers love to turn it), and
many pictures and books. Mr.. Burne-Jones'
beautiful picture had myself carried by hand
all the way from London, and it Is now hung in
Father Damien's room.
IN HIs MASTERS FOOTSTEPS
"He is just what you would expect him to
be-a simple, sturdy. Woodworking, devout
man. No job was too mental for him-build-
ing, carpentering, tending the sick, washing
the dead. and many other such things form
part OF his daily work. He is always cheerful.
often playful and one of the most truly
humble men / ever saw. The leprosy has dis
figured him good deal, but never feel it any,
thing but a pleasure to look at him, and already
the gurian oil which brought is making a
manifest difference in his face and hands and
In his power Of sleeping. How far the cure will
reach it Is, of course. impossible to say He is
such a busy man that 1 sometimes fear he
will not find time to do the medi-
cine full justice. The English affection and
sympathy touch him very much indeed. Pray
for him. for there must be many times when
he is tempted to be discouraged and oversad
at all the terrible cases-bodes and souls
around him. L was very glad to be here
Christmas. You would have enjoyed the
hearty way in which the lepers sang o
come. all We faithful have been much in
terested in an old Christian leper from Amer
lea, who says he can thank God for HIS kind
ness and for many great mercies since he came
here. He is more happy and contented than
many people who have health, wealth. and
friends. and ii has come TO him through his ILL
ness. Father Damien has told me to-day that
for the first time for months he has been able
TO sing again"