The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-06-29

NiCH are 'uucdtcu III inc OK ApcnHc OF
the Government. Thus, after thirty
years, the Government has the salts
faction Of believing that ciicctual
means have been devised Of caring for
the unfortunate lcpcrs in the most
humane manner, while attempting to
suppress the disease which was 50
threatening to the population and fair
name of the Hawaiian Islands. How
cv' as is to be supposed. attempts
are made to escape this fc-long
quarantine.
King kalakaua, in his royal pro-
grcss throughout the group Of the
Hawaiian Islands, did not fail to visit
Molokai, where he made speech to
his unfortunate subjects, who we're in
exile because they we're lcpers, and
assured them of his deep interest in
their welfare. His words called forth
the grateful sobs Of the lcper colonists,
who were much moved by the smy-
pathy OF their sovereign, whom they
were permitted to hear without. ap-
preaching him. So when the Board
OF Health make their annual tour of
inspection hundreds Of lepcrs gather
about the house where visitors are
entertained, but no lcpcr is ever
allowed to enter Thus every prccau-
tion is taken to prevent the spread Of
the disease, while efficient supervision
is had Of the hospitals, schools and
other agencies which belong to this
leper asylum.
The death Of Father Damien, the
Belgian priest who died on Molokai
few years ago, attracted the attention
Of the Christian world to the religious
needs of the lepers. Joseph Damien
went there young priest Of thirty
three years Of age and labored among
the unfortunate exiles for some twen-
ty years. After sixteen years Ieprosy
appeared, and he suffered loss of
smell, then of touch and of sight,
until finally, after losing fingers and
toes, tuberculosis attacked his lungs
and throat, and then came his heroic
death. Nor did he have to wait long
for successor. His brother, Pam
philc Damien, accompanied by four
priests and as many nuns, have gone
to take up his work.
His comradc, Brother Joseph Dut-
ton, has been on Molokai for sixteen
years. The reports Of the Propaganda
show that priests and lay brothers
and nuns have long ministercd there
in the hospitals and schools devoted
to tho lepers and their children.
Nor is the word being done among
the lepers on Molokai limited to the
labors Of these praiseworthy priests
and their associates After the noble
work which has been done on each of
the other islands by the American
Board, one is prepared to learn Of
Congregational Church, with its faith
full pastor, on Molokai. Here also
are TO be found Young Mems Chris
tian Association, Sunday school,
Bible class, singing school, a gym
nasium and reading room. One who
has observed the Hawaiian love of
sweet melodies is glad to know also Of
band of sixteen lepcr musicians on
Molokai.
While visitors are permitted to ao-
company the health officers on their
scmiannual visits Of inspection, every
prccaution is taken to avoid unpleas-
ant scenes between the leper colonists
and their relatives, us we'll as to pre-
vent any spread Of the disease through
the inadvcrtence Of visitors in being
brought into immediate contact with
the lepers. who go freely on foot or
horseback over all that part of the
island. Molokai is literally "without
the camp and no one can visit the
Hawaiian Islands, where leprosy, some
thirty years since, promised such de-
cimation of the Inhabitants, and not
be impressed with the wisdom of the
legislation which was based upon tho
example of the laws Of Moses for the
segregation of lepers, and upon it's
effectiveness In fact, the visitor to
the Paradise of the Pacific now
needs to go to Molokai to fnd lcpcr,
unless by. accident he encounters one
who is about being removed thither,
while the traveller in Palestine is
liable, as occurred to the writer OF
this article at Sheechem, to have the
Gngeriess hands OF poor lepers stretch
ed out for aims as the curtain Of his
tent is being taken down at the con-