The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-11-21

An attendance that crowded St Francis Xavier Holy Name society rooms of St Francis Xavier parish gathered there last night to hear an address by Rev Joseph Sweeney of New Britain, for the past twelve years a Maryknoll missionary in China, now home on vacation. In addition to the parish members, delegations were present from the Blessed Sacrament parish, Charles Island retreatants and others. Father Sweeney found himself quite at home in Waterbury. He was a classnnate of Rev John Dil- lon and Robert Birt, and before and after the lecture he and Father Dillon and MT Birt talked of their school days. The principal part of the business meeting included the nomination of the present officers to act for another term. It was said that MT Harris, banner bearer, cannot spare the time to serve next year. It was understood that in case this should be so John Pheian will fill that position.
 Father Dillon talked on 1.-the Boy Scouts, stating that in a short time they will put on stage perform I ance which will interest all the I people in the parish. i
 The talk by Father Sweeney was different to anything ever heard before in the hall. For one who
 has spent so many years in China. l Father Sweeney appears in perfect
 health, and regardless of what one
 hears about the native Chinese, he
 frankly admitted that considering the impoverished condition of the
 people,. as rule they are funda- mentally good. He described the | life of the natives in south China
 where the whole family tolls from daylight to dark in the rice fields, and lives on two meals day. The speaker devoted some time to a description of conditions Tn the mountains of Manchuria, dis trict into which millions had been forced owing to the operations of the bandits in the cities and towns. This place was a dense forest, and the new corners had to clear the land and commence to till the soil. He talked of the constant dread of the tiger, the most ferocious anil mal in the district, and told how the natives manage to kill the ani- | a k with piece of wire set in such way that the animal hits and dis charges the gun, with fatal results to itself.
 But regardless of the presence of the tiger, he said he had no knowledge of 1t killing any human being. It's victims are smaller ani- mals that inhabit the forest lands. With reference to the bandits in that part of the country, Father Sweeney said they had not inter- fered with the missionaries, but this was not so in central China, where thirty priests and two bish- ops had been killed in recent years.
 Leprosy is rampant in China. the jspeaker said, those afflicted with the malady being found in groups here and there with no medical care and no means of sub sistance except what they beg from the farmers. The missionaries are aiming to secure funds sufficient to enable them to establish hospitals where these unfortunate people can be cared for. This has been acc complished in some places, and there will be no permanent relief until all lepers can be confined in in hospitals. The government gives protection to missionaries to open leper hospitals, but that Is abont all 1t does.
 Father Sweeey spent some time on his way home in the ieper coi- ony at Molokai. where Father Damien did so much to relieve the