The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-04-23
A L|FE'S WORK
Father Conrardy Will
Serve Lepers.
Priest Who Was Formerly on MoIo-
kai to Take Charge of a
China Colony.

Father l.. l.. Conrardy, one of the
graduating class of the University of
Oregon medical department. Eight long
years on Molokai, where Father Da-
mien fell victim to his sacrificing
spirit, did not quench Father Con-
rardy's hope to serve the wretched out
casts of all ages. He was relieved at
Molokai by the noble Damien's brother,
and now is about to plunge into the
greatest leper colony of the world. His
studies at the medical department of
the university have been solely for the
purpose Of better equipping himself to
alleviate the sufferings of lepers. and.
although so years of age, and worn by
life among semi-barbarians, savage
and semi-civilized people, he will be the
pioneer white man in China's largest
leper colony. situated in the province
of Canton.
This devout laborer for mankind is
not stranger in Oregon. He was on
the Umatilla reservation from 1874 to
1888, being engaged with the Indian
tribes so well known to this state. In
1888 Father Conraroy went to Molokai,
in the Hawaiian group, where there are
arrived there Father Damien, the we'll
known spirit that devoted life to this
loathsome work. succumbed to leprosy,
leaving Father Conrardy in full charge
For eight years this dauntless priest
challenged the fate his heroic predeces-
sor had met, but was guarded by some
influence more potent. Father Con-
rardy proved practically immune. and
although daily coming In contact with
the disease that terrifies the world
never became infected. There was not
an hour, except when he was sleeping.
that the priest was not exposed TO con-
ditions popularity regarded as fatal.
AS a result of his experience. Father
Conrardy believes leprosy infectious
rather than contagious.
In 1896 he took a trip TO japan and
China, after being relieved at Molokai
by Father Damien's brother. to study
the leprosy colonies of those countries.
and through the influence of the Ameri-
can Consul at Canton was permitted
TO enter the great leper colony of the
province of Canton. where no other
white man had ever been. There are
between $4,000 and $4,000 lepers in this
colony, which is noted for being the
most loathsome on earth. Canton's
breeds this dread disease at a startling
rate. In the city of Canton alone there
are 100000 people, and the streets are
never more than six feet wide: oftener
only three feet wide.
Each leper is allowed by the gov
eminent only 1 cent a day for susten-
ance. Father Conrardy says the lepers
OF the colony are inclined to be indus
u-if hn xNf-+
government he hopes to enable them 70
provide for themselves quite plentiful
ly, compared with the wretched state
they are now reduced TO as a result ot
| misguided efforts or lack of co-opera-
| ton
| Before going to his work. Father
Conrardy expects to canvass the East
for assistance to place the leper colony
in fair condition. II he secures enough
money he will buy tract of land, builC
houses on it, which are no more thar
yerandas, and commence systematic
work to organize and develop the col
ony's producing capacity. In theil
| present habitations the Cantonese have
no soap. bandages, salve or chemical!
OF any kind to treat their affection
which makes the pain much more in
tense than it otherwise would be. Al
OF these articles the good priest hope.
to provide, that the unending sufferinl
of such large part of humanity MAJ
be mitigated as far as possible.
| There is a Cantonese Chinaman her,
L in Portland who wants to return II
his native province with Father Con
rardy, to lend whatever aid he may Il
the work. He has the confidence O
the people there, and will be quite use
full. Father Conrardy does not go L
this gloomy work in the capacity o
missionary, but as a Good Samaritan
in the interests of humanity. Thes,
unfortuhates. in his eyes, are men AM
women whose welfare justifies sacri
flee of those more favorably born
Should he find those desiring to EN-
brace Christianity, he will adminiSte
to them spiritually But his crown
ing ambition is to illustrate practica
| Christianity.
The aged priests mission Is one s.
forbiddfng to the ordinary mind tha
II seems difficult to grasp the dept
of its sacrifice. A much younger an
more vigorous mind might stand ap
| palled before even the preliminar
work OF this undertaking. White me-
have had nothing to do there. All tn
difficulties of racial isolation an,
Chinese stubbornness must be met
But to Father Conrardy, whose 1if
has been struggle with strange. will
people. these impediments are no
needed. He feels confident that as 500
as his work is indicated by first re
suits there will be abundance of OF
fetal aid to promote and further hi
plans. His age he thinks but a sma
handicap. Health is yet good, and h
has no fears of leprosy. The simpl
element of climate is what causes hir
most apprehension, IS the colony is /
a damp. hot zone. Father Conrard
thinks that by the time he has spen
five years in the colony it will be (
such a condition OF progress that tn
eyes OF men will be drawn, until
qualified successor may be found {
take up the burden and relieve the pic
neer that he may spend his few re
naming feeble years in rest.
Since commencing his medical cours
in Portland Father Conrardy has nc
been idle in other respects. var.ou