Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-12-09
FINE TRIBUTE tn FATHER DAMIEN IS PAID BY BROTHER JOSEPH
BUTTON IN AUTHORfTAT ARTICLE Describing LIFE AT MOLOkA

F, honor. All of this. with the increase
of ieprosy in several countries. has
< caused the subject TO be well known
and much discussed. Many beneficial
measures have followed.
/ Besides the laudation in print and
in speech Q monument was offered by
I the people OF England and accepted
by the Hawaiian board OF health. II
was given place at Kalaupapa not
/ far from the steamer landing. near the
public road called Damien road" adj.
joining the sisters place at Bishop
Hcme The monument in itself is in
teresting. being an antique cross, fash
icned and adapted from stone cut
ting or about the sixth century. such
as found in the ruins of the seven
churches OF Clonmacnoise on the river
Shannon, ireiand.E}It was transferred
by the board Of health TO the Catholic
/. Mission on Sept IL 1893. the bishop
coming 10 receive and bless il. Two
miles away, At the other end OF Damien
road. in Kalawao, the body OF Father
Damien lies close by the church, where
the pandanus tree stood that shelter
ed him on arrival in 1873, and over
the grave stands I simple cross with
inscription side-"Father Dam
ien,' the other Damien Deveuster"
The strong wooden coffin was placed
in an excavation and embedded in
solid block of concrete about 5x5x1Q
feet in size IL. ..--. ~ ....>@..
Two Priests Usually On Duty -: "A
Since Father Damien'S time. two
priests have usually been on duty at
the settlement, one at Kalawao, one
at Kalaupapa Except Father Pam
phile, they are still living so far as
known. The names of those living are
not mentioned in this. Father Pam
phile Deveuster, Father Damiens
brother. was here 1851 He return
ed to Belgium and died there July
80 1909. ...:~.=.. ~. .:==
Public sentiment over the islands
has always supported the government
in carrying out the law concerning
lepers Official activity, although some
what varying, has on the whole made
fair progress. At times, political in
terests have not beeA~entirely favor
able. ...... ..==..=
phan boys and helpless men was be-
gun in 1886 under Father Damien
with a few old cabins at first, then two
large buildings were added in 1878,
all irregular and experimental. The
government, however, recognized it as
a home January /, 1889. Three Fran
eiscan sisters came to this Kalawao
Home May 10, 1890, and the mother
visited occasionally.
Baldwin Home Built ~. ....>.~
In 1924 the present Baldwin
Home was constructed. Put into use
in May and June, 1894. The sisters
were replaced Dec. /, 1895, by four
brothers of the Picpus Order: same as
the fathers Up to the present time
(1910) the home has had go inmates,
including those still living.
The board of Meath has always kept
an experienced physician and other of
ficials employed for the settlement. |
For many years the Hawaiians had |
strange ideas about regular physicians. |
very few would call for one. 1t was
so at the settlement up to about 1902: |
with that year confidence set in and |
has continued. They would always |
take medicine from the brothers or |
sisters anu have had friendly feeling |
for the Japanese treatment 1t has
been put in use, dropped and revived /
many times. The elder Dr. Cote in
troduced it at Kakaako in 1886.