The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-09-12
THE MARTYR PRIEST.
UNWILLING OF THE DAMIEN
MONUMENT.
An Interesting Event at the Leper
Settlement OF Molokai-Two
Addresses Made

turned this morning The principal
event of the visit was the unwilling of
the Damien monument, at which Mr..
Stiles of the Foreign Office, made the
following address to the Catholic
Bishop and the audience present:
Your LoRDsHIp | have been dele
gated by His Excelency the President
OF the Provisional Government to come
hither and place in charge of the Cath.
Ollie church this memorial monument,
gift of the National Lcprosy Fund OF
Great Britain, the honorary president
of which association is His Royal High
ness the Prince of Wales. In under
taking this mission it was with the
earnest desire that l might be able to
bring with this beautiful stone some
words of comfort and cheer, some mes
sage that would inspire hope among
you. 1t comes from an association
composed Of the leading men of great
and enlightened nation who have organ
lied for the purpose of aiding in every
possible way in the alienation of those
suffering with leprosy to bring to their
aid all that money and science can
lend towards its relief and cure. I'm
der the patronage and support of the
donors of this memorial scientific men
are studying the disease in the distant
Indies, in the cold regions of Norway
and where the waters of the St. Law
renee wash the shores of Tracadie.
Their powerful influence and aid have
been promised to this Government in
selecting skilled specialist to study the
disease here. This monument-the
type Of enduring faith-brings you
this message; all that human effort
can do for you is being done. 1t is a
token from far distant land assuring
you of the sympathy and compassion
of the outside world in your affection
In the busy mart of the worlds COM
mercial center amid the strife for gain
and political supremacy, philanthropy
ical organization has sprung up,
Phenix-like, from the ashes of hum
Bile servant of the Catholic Church
Father Damien-composed of men re-
nowned in the service of the State,
the Church, in the profession of medi-
cine and surgery, and in civil life,
whose leader is England's future king
Their sole aim and object is to discover
a balm for those afflicted with leprosy,
to bring the torch Of medical science
to enlighten the gloom that has so
long surrounded thousands Of victims
in every land and cline. The result
OF modern research and study of the
disease has encouraged the belief that
it may be grappled with with the hope
of ultimate success. Though the ex-
perience of the past may have proved
the task almost fruitless, yet the heal
ing art has made such prodigious
strides during the past half century
that it is confidently hoped that fresh
methods and new zeal brought to beal
on the subject will yet solve the
problem. 1t is the wish of the donors
that this tribute to the memory anc
life work of Father Damien should bt
placed here in your midst. 1t is no
only an evidence of their reverence
and esteem for the dead father and fo
the purpose of honoring his last resting
place, but also an assurance to you, hi
fellow sufferers, of their earnest ant
continued efforts for your relief. lie
US take brief glance over the histor.
of the father whose name and memor,
we have gathered here to honor. H
was born at Tremeloo, small vllag
near the city of Louvain, in Belgium
on January grid, 1870, When a you'll
of four and twenty, while yet thee
logical student at Belgian univel
sity, the sudden illness of brother
who had entered the priesthood AM
was on the eve of departure for thes
Islands, caused him to promptly peti
ton the church authorities that h
might be sent hither in his brother
stead. His wish was granted and h
arrived at these Islands March IG
1864, and cheerfulIy commenced tn
life of toll and privation which the sci
wants of the church ever endure. /
1873, while attending the dedication {
the church at Waikiki by the lat
Bishop Maigret, he heard him expires
regret that the few priests then in tn
mission would not allow of one {
their number being sent to Moloka
"The harvest was plenteous, the labo
ers were few" The condition of TIL
colony at that time touched Fatht
Damiens noble heart, and on h
knees he besought the venerable blsho
for permission to come here and he
the unfortunates in their Easter dutie
His prayer was granted, and from tn
time until his death his best effor
were freely given to those in exile her
The commencement Of the work c.
best be told by using his own word
taken from report written to Il
Board of Health in 1886; SPY speci
providence of Our Divine Lord, VIII
during His public life, showed parti
ular sympathy for the lepers, my WI
was traced towards Kalawao in Ma
A. d. 1873, | was then 80 years
age, enjoying robust health-Lunali
at that time being King of the lslan'
and his excellency F.. o. Hall pres
dent of the Board Of Health" Th
Al 81, 81