Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-17

Rev. l., L. Conrardy. NJ D.. Roman
Catholic missionary, who Is travelling
about the United States collecting FUNDS
for the establishment of leper- mission
near Canton, China. has created great
deal of interest in the work among these
unfortunates They are, says Father Con-
rardy. the outcasts of the human FAMILY
The condition of the Chinese leper Is hity
times worse than that of the ieper OF Moio-
kai island who Is provided for by MS local
government This latest leper hero had a
nurober of stories to tell of the terrible in
roads made by the disease in the celestial
empire declaring that in the city Oh IAN
ton alone there are 10000 lepers. while
throughout the province there are as many
as 10000.
According to DR.. Conrardy, many OF the
most barbarous practices are sun haih-
tanned. Only recently he received letter
from the bishop of Canton stating that III
nnnSormitv with a superstitious custom
human being was lately offered as Sdcii-
fee to the dread disease A young siri, ene
first OF her family to be amlctea, was ao-
vised that should she offer herseif as a sac
,iace the disease would be stamped OUT.
She consented, but no sooner mao the
flames licked about the casket-hhe con-
traption on which she had been piaceo
after a drug had been administered tnah
sbe .scame to" and became sorry 1or her
bargain Escape was Impossible ana Ihe
girl was then nailed IN the casAee anu tue
work of destruction completed.
DR. Conrardy is well fitted 10 carry On ms
r,ork having been associated with Fatner
ia mien In his labors on Molokal lsiano. AZ
that time Father Damien was suHerlhs
from leprosy and could MOI con.n .her u Eon-
sisted in his arduous labors. faener Soh-
rardy remained in Molokai until the year
1896. In that year he was succeeoeo oy "a
Their Pamphile, member or the cohsresa-
hrn
noniar rather Conrardy went then TO
China to establish colony for the thou
sands of lepers who were hVins there III
the most appalling condition. owing prin-
cinaily to the lack Of money he was I'M
successful in his efforts and returned to
Oregon. ~, :. ra,to, the
successor Of Bishop Chausse. wnom fatner
Sonrardy had met his visit to China,
invited him to make another effort TO
found a colony for the lepers on his vicari-
ate.
So
Rut this great work Is not confined to
anv one sect or denomination. 1t Is verify
the worlds work." and the world at large
ia taking it in hand in truly Christian
sn,rit Visitors to the orient often nave
interesting stories to tell anent ieprosy, ana
one of the most interesting Of these was
given to q Star reporter the otner evening
Nv Mrs Wilbur +. Crafts OF TINS CITY, VINO
last summer made tour OK the ofien'' one
said:
..In India l met q Miss Mary Reeo. once
a leper. but healed and now missionary 10
the lepers of India. Born In Loweii, ONO
she has lived In India for twenty years.
For nearly six years she was missionary
Of the Woman's Society OF the church.
Failure Of health compelled ner TO return
to America, where her trouble banned the
skiu of physicians. It was not until she
Consulted physician that the terrible TACT
heca ma known to her-she was leper. She
accepted the circumstances as an opportu-
nifty and q call. and not Judgment.
"Durins her six years in India she had
been located for time at Pithoragark. near
which was settlement OF 600 iepers. TO
them her heart went out In ner great amic
ton and she dedicated her manned NE 20
their service In Christ's name Sne olo not
remain for farewells. but confding the ter
rible secret only to her sister. hastened
back to India. Only then did she write OF
her affection and her purpose 10 ner moeheT.
TN the spirit Of willing conservation she
entered the leper colony and Tor fourteen
years has given herself to the service OF its
members For six months the disease made
continuous pain During this time. in a
letter to a friend, she quoted q 1avorite
hymn:
s chance . b.. s sssrsss is e. !. !:
He seeth what cannot see,
There Is need for every pain.
That earthly loss i hsaYsnH sain.'
sshs found the lepers ready to receive the
word, and has led moro than 40 people to
accept Christianity. She has acquired ex-
tensiye grounds and has enc OF the finest
lsper asyiums In the world. In her devo-
ton to others the plague in her own body
was stayed and disappeared, leaving only
the faintest traces."
Previous to the year 1850 but little effort
had been made to ameiiorate the condition
Of the lepsrs or TO take the gospel 70 them
In their ISOLATION. A. esriy y 16d2 Dr.
burning Qf . iepes. and was 70 in1presDod
with the helpleseness Of these outca1ts that
he established q hospital for tham "a Cal-: