The San Francisco call., 1910-04-17

Catholics of all nations, to meet sue
cessfully the worldwide Vaccinations
of this Masonic organization against
the independence Of the holy see. The
approaching international Masonic con-
sress, to be held in the United States,
for which preparations have long been
In progress, Will once more emphasize
the solidarity of Masonry all over the
world.
Recent events in Rome should serve,
to the mission of Rev. Henry w. CIeary,
who, with the approval of the Austria
lian hierarchy, is making az trip
through South. Central and North
America and Europe to interest the
Catholic truth societies and represen-
tative Catholics in all these countries
in the formation of an international
organization for the prompt refutation
OF calumnies published against Cath
Ollie teaching or the Catholic church.
Doctor Cleary, who is the editor of
the New Zealand Tablet has just com
Pitltu tlt6 lOuE Vi oOulH +aiItAiIcN oiiN
Central America. one of the objects of
the Australian Catholic Truth society
being to nail on the head, as it were,
every slander concerning the church,
the bishops and clergy in the Latin
American countries.
He has unearthed many false and
libelous statement against the. church
ola, too 10 sol
emnly declares that he has seen for
himself. and proclaims to the world,
that the hierarchy and clergy of the
Latin American countries are as grand
and noble a set of men as are to be
found anywhere. He established
agencies in many of the principal cities
of South America
1t is proposed to make Rome, the
city of the pope, the center of this
work, which will reach into every
cline, even the most remote, and by the
free use of the cable, for which ample
means will be supplied, make ii possi-
BILE to refute promptly and with en-
ergy all lies and calumnies about the
church and to show in their true col
ors all those who seek to use what
should be sacred calling for the pur-
pose of propagating calumnies and
vicious lies against the great church of
God. From such a campaign in the
cause of truth only the happiest results
will ensue.
The news, recently received by
cable, that Rev. Father Louis l.. Con-
rardy, well known particularly along
the Pacific coast, missionary to the
lepers of Canton, China, is dying of
the horrible disease, has deeply affect
ed those who read it, When Father
Conrardy resolved to devote himself to
~ loo olcN lafa n nd fo
prepare for the work by taking a COM
plete course in medicine, although he
was then nearly 90 years old.
While he was attending the medical
college at Portland, Ore, an old cattle
man, who had known him when a mis-
sionary in eastern Oregon, told, among
other stories, how, during a typical
Indian fight in the Chief Joseph cam
paign, when Indians and troops were
hiding behind rocks to escape the ter
rible fusillade, without water and
with the sun blazing down on them,
Father Conrardy crawled over the
rocks for half mile, under the fire of
the Indians. and brought water to the
soldiers from a water hole. These and
other tales made the aged priest the
hero of the class, and the graduating
exercises were almost altogether in
honor of him.
But, having completed his medical
course, he was still without funds to
carry out his proposed mission to the
lepers. By visit to Belgium and a
two years collecting tour in this coun-
try. he managed to scrape together
$50, 900. With this he has accomplished
much; though not all that he had
planned
First, an island was bought and sew
eral hundred lepers were brought to
it Shelters were built and provisions
q NH
took $4,000 of his money and he had
to keep his mission going on the inter
est of the remaining $4,000.
In 1888 Father Conrardy had gone to
the assistance of Father Damien, then
passing his last days at Molokai. He
assisted him in his labors and was
present at his death. Then the Amer
lean government took charge, and he
travelled in Japan, China, Siam, India
and Afghanistan and learned to talk the
languages of nearly all these countries.
After years of travel in the orient he
came to the conclusion that the most
horrible thing on earth was the con-
dition of the lepers at Canton. There
he made the heroic determination that
he would die in the service of these
creatures Stunned by every human be-
ing
Leprosy is infectious, but not con-
ia gfous; and Father Conrardy told his
friends that he thought he could avoid
infection by exercising extraordinary
care. But he always said that, whether
he contracted leprosy or not, he would
die among his chosen people.
His care has been unavailing; and
now word comes that he, too, Is dying,
as Father Damien died, a martyr,
through one of the most horrible forms
of death that man knows.
The process of canonization of
Mother Theodore Guerin, who founded
the American branch of the Sisters of
Providence, in Indiana, in October, 1910,
has begun. She died so years ago.