The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-02-25

united states m Wnlcn LIT. keI- lersberger is presenting the story of the Mission and its world wide work for lepers in nearly 200 col onies in 48 countries. Dr. Kellers- berger, a world-renowned special ist in leprosy, served as medical missionary in Africa from 1916 un- til 1940, when he returned to the United States to assume the post of general secretary to the Amer ican Mission to Lepers.
 pr. Kellersberger's initial ssrGlcc In Africa began during the First World War when he travelled to his first assignment there on q troop ship with all lights blacked out. When he returned to Amer ica in 1940, the Second World War had just begun. On his return journey e. 17,000 miles through the Pacific ocean, he once again trav- eled on a b,acked-out ship, men, aced by submarines and bombers.
 Dr. Kellersberger was originally sent to Africa by the Presbyterian Church South. He was stationed at the Belgian Congo Mission at Bibanga, and in 1881 he founded the Bioanga Medical Service and Hospital and the Bibanga Agri- cultural Leper Colony.
 From very humble beginnings, the colony has now grown to a good sized station with 180 two-roon houses, adequate streets, a school and church seating 800 persons There is also brick dSpensary and hospital ward where relief is given to leprosy victims. All this, with Dr. Kellersberger as the leader, has been provided large ly through contributions of the American Mission to Lepers.
 Dr. Kellersberger is Texas born August 8, 1888, and graduated from Whitis Academy, Austin, Texas and the University of Texas. His first medical training was at Wash ington University Medical School St. Louis, Mo, from which he grad uated in 1915. He served as sec- retary e the Medical School Y M. M. A., and his interne ser vice at Kansas City General hos pital. After working for five years in Africa with the Belgian Congo Mission he took graduate study at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the next year received a diploma from Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, University of London. In 1928 Dr. Kellersberger was ordained to the Gospel ministry as member of the Upper Missouri Presbytery Of the Presbyterian Church South.
 In 1880 Dr. Kellersberger mar ried Julia Lake Skinner of Fauns- dale, Alabama, who accompanied him to the Congo and worked side by side with him in the colony and hospital until their return to Amer ica last year. Mrs. Kellersberger, author of the recently published book, Gods Ravens" is now mak- ing tour of American cities sim liar to that of her husband. Dr. Kellersberger was medical secre- tary for the Congo Protestant SOullS4l, SOllSO oSlSC, dllu o 1lACIi- Der of the Royal Commission for Protection of Natives for the Bel gian government from 1886 to last year. He was a delegate to the first World Leper Congress at Cairo, Egypt.
 For his outstanding work for the lepers of Bibanga ano other ser vices for the advancement of the natives of the Congo, the Belgian government conferred upon him the recorations of the Chevalier of Royal Order of the Lion and Chevalier of Royal Order of the Crown. He was also member of the Pere Damion Leper Founda- tion, founded by King Leopold in 1889. In his profession he is a member of the Southern Medical Association, American Society of Tropical Medicine, Belgian Society of Tropical Medicine, Royal So- ciety of Tropical Medicine, and the International Leprosy Associa- ton.