The Hawaiian gazette., 1895-11-19
Father Damien's Brother Goes
to MoIokai.
PROFESSOR AT LOUvAIN.
Age Nor Ill Health Can Deter Him.
To succeed Father Conrady - 4
Learned Man Responds to the Call

Father Damien's brother is in San
Francisco. Like the heroic apostle of
the lepers, Father Pamphile is a
priest, and, like him, he goes to Ha-
wall to labor among the outcasts of
Molokai; perhaps, too, like him, de-
voted to death, says the S. F. Chroni-
Gle of November 5th.
Father Pamphlets coming was un
announced, and his departure by the
steamer on Saturday will be equally
transformations. His is not the ardor
of youth, for he is a man close on to
three score years. He enters upon his
work humbly aud submissively, in
obedience TO the voice of duty. Twice
before the call came, but in neither
instance would his health permit the
journey. The third came, and, not.
withstanding his age, he obeyed
Like Bishop Ropert, the Vicar
General of Honolulu, and lifelong
friend and co-worker of Father Da-
mien, the new missionary is menu
Der of the order of the Sacred Heart.
When, therefore, he was asked to take
the burden of which death released
his brother, Father Pamphile hesit-
ated not. He laid aside his cherished
books and left the famous college in
which the best years of his life had
been spent in study and teaching to
go forth to the succor of the miserable
denizens of MolOkai.
The new apostle of the lepers is
Belgian, IS years of age He is small
in stature, his hair is white, and his
face is combination of force and
benevolence. In him the priest and
the professor are happily blended.
He cares not to speak of himself, and
when asked OF his mission, simply
responded that he had been asked to
undertake it, that it was his duty to
obey, and that he goes with the de-
sire of doing whatever good may lie
in his power. The family name of
Father Pamphile is Venster. He is
graduate of the University OF Lou
vain, aud has served there as pro-
lessor of theology all of his life, ex-
cept two years, during which time he
occupied a similar position in the
Seminary of Versailles. In addi-
ton to being Hebrew, Greek and
Latin scholar he possesses a good
conversational power of the English
tongue, so that he will be able to de-
vote himself to his work from the
start The Catholic lepers OF Molokai,
among whom he goes To labor, mum.
Der about 200, and at present are cared
for by Father Vanderlin Muller and
Father Louis Conrardy, as well rs by
number Of self sacrificing sisters.
Father Pamphile will take the place
OF Father COnrardy. He is one of a
number Of priests. brothers and sisters
who are on their way from Europe to
the Hawaiian islands, some to engage
in educational work and others To care
for the temporal and spiritual needs of
the lepers. Their mission comes about
in this way: six months ago w. o.
Smith, the President of the Homo
lulu Board of Health, requested
Bishop Ropert 10 Obtain additional
members OF his order, promising that
the Government would pay the cost
of their travelling expenses. He &C
COIuluSly went W EuTOpt, duu Is now
on his way home with the party. In
it are Father Pamphile and Brothers
Dominique, SEVERN, Sylvan and
SeraphiOn, who are all destined for
leper service; Father Sylvester Step
pers aud the sub-deacon, Alois, who
are to be stationed at Honolulu, and
Sisters Alexandrine, Leocardia, ] eanne
aud COnstantienne. The majority are
French, but among them are Belgisns,
Germans aud Dutch.
While in Europe Bishop Ropert, or
the Bishop of Panoplis, as he il known
in Honolulu, had an audience of
twenty minutes with the Pope. He
says that while Leo XIII's frame is
fragile, he shows no sign of illness,
and that his intelligence is keen aud
his memory az perfect as that of men
many years his Junior.