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Monday 17 June 1889
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THE LAST DAYS OF FATHER]
DAMIEN, THE HERO MARTYR'..
In reforenoo to tho doath of Father Damien, tho .Hawaiian Gazette of 23rd April says :-By tbo^steamor Mocolii that arrived fromMolokai on Saturday morning, news was brought of the deoth of Father Joseph Devoustor Damien, the ?Roman Catholic priost, who had gained world- wide fame for devoting his lifo to ministrations among tho inmates of the Molokai leper settle- ment. He died on Monday morning, loth April. Fathor Damion had been sixteen years iu that living tomb, and throo years ago con-
tracted the terrible disease that has endod his days. Upon his death ho war dressed in priest's vestments, and the following day the body was laid in a collin that tho Sistors had lined with white silk. A roquiom high mass was said on Tuesday by Father Wondolin, who proaohed to a orowded ohurch from ¿io words, "ThoG-ood Shepherd layeth down his lifo for the sheep." The body was borne to the tomb by white lepers. There had been a vault prepared under tho lauhala treo, honoath whioh tho dopartod Fathor was wont to sleep when he first arrivod at the settlement. This last resting-place had been ohoson by himsolf.
The following skotoh of Father Damien's early life and instalment at the settlement was written by Charles Wan-en Stoddard, after getting tho story from tho priest's own lips at Kalawao. It is reprinted from a little work, " Tho Lepors of Molokai," by that woll-known author, and the copy used for this purpo30 was mailed by the lato priest to the looal editor of this paper only a fow wooka ago, for uso iu writing a sketoh of Fathor Damien and the leper settlement to the order of an Australian nowspapor oditor. An autograph letter from tho tuon dying Father, pathotio in ita statement of the writer's weak condition, was romailed to the gontloman soliciting tho article. Mr. Stoddard, who wrote the book four or five years ago, said:-"Bom in Louvain, Bolgium, 3rd January, 18-10. When ho was hut four-and twonty, his brother, who had just ontorod the priesthood, was ordorod to embark for Hono- lulu, but at tho moment foil sick with typhoid fovor. Young Damien, who was a theological studont at the university, having roooivod minor orders, and belonging to the samo ordor-the Sooioty of the Sacred Hearts of Josus and Mary (commonly called Sooiety of Piopus)-at ouoo wrote to his superior, and boggod that ho mighty be sent upon the mission in his brother's stead. In one week ho was on hiB way to that far oouutry. Ho was ordained upon his arrival in Honolulu, and for a few yoara led tho lifo of toil and privatiou whioh invariably falls to the lot of tho Catholic missionary.
" In 1873 ho, in oommon with othors of the clergy, was invited to bo prosent at the dedica- tion of a beautiful ohapel, just oomplotod by Fathor Loonor, at Wailuku, on the island of Mam. Thoro ho mot tho Bishop, who oxprossed rogrot that ho was still unablo to Bond a priost to Molokai, for tho domand was far in oxcess of the supply. Fathor Damion at once said : ' My Lord, i hoar that a small vossol will noxt woek take oattle from Kawaihae to Kalaupapa ; if you will permit mo I will go thoro to holp the lopors maleo thoir Easter duties.'
" His roquost was granted, and, in oompany with the Bishop and tho French Consul, ho landod at tho settlement, whore ho found a colony of 800 lepors, of whom botwoon 400 and 500 woro Catholios. A public mooting was immediately oallcd, at which the Bishop and tho consul prosidod. His Graoo arose to ad dross tho singular gathering, and said : ' Since you havo written jho'fcq oftou that you havo no priost, I loavo'yoil"ône for a littlo time ¡' and, imparting the bonejdiotion, he re- turned iuimodiatoly to the vossol, whioh was to sail that vory hour.i,vFathor Damion added.:
'AB thoro is much to bo dono hero, by your loavo I will not oven aooom pany you to tho shoro.' Thus tho good work was at onoo bogun. It waB high timo ; tho lepera wore dying at the rato of from eight to twelve por wook. Tho priest had not time to
build himsolf a hut-ho had not even tho material with which to build it-and for a Boasou ho slept in tho opon air, under a tree, exposed to the wind and the rain.
" Soon after ho reooivod a letter of congratu- lation from the while residents of Honolulu chiefly Protestants-togothor with somo lumbor nnd a purso of $120. Then he put up his littlo house, and began to fool at homo. After re- maining some wooka at Kalawao, he was obliged to go to Honolulu, thoro being no moro convoniont priest to whom ho could make his confossion.'''
Tho skotoh proceeds to relate the cool recop>
tion Fathor Damion roooived from the President of the Board of Health, who in tho course of an intorviow said ,thç priost might go to Molokai, but, if so.no must romain there for good. It was in vain that the fathor urged the necessity of ono priest having to maleo confes- sion at stated inter,vaJfl|ifco ,anothor. "An ominont physioian," ono of the board, pleaded tho oauso of tho priest, and aided by tho French Consul, a special permit was obtained, on which Fathor Damion returned to Kalawao. Mr. Stoddard continues :- ,,
".Shortly after his return ho roooivod official notioo that ho must romain whoro ho was ; and that on any attompt to leave tho island, or ovon to visit other portions of Molokai, ho would bo immediately put under arrast. . Tho notico was sharply worded. .This roused the indignation of tho priest, and ho notified tho Board of Health that if thoy would attend strictly to thoir duties ho would attend to his. When it bocamo necessary for him to visit a priost on a neighbouring island ho did so, asking no odds of any mau. Ho also vÎBitod his scattered flock on the oirouit of Molokai, attending faith fully and foarlcsHiy to tho wantB of his people
" Often on thoso rounds ho was the welcome guost of a gentleman, tho son of a Protestant missionary ; and on ono ocoasion the host said to him playfully : ' I suppose you are aware that I havo orders to placo you under immediate arrest if you presumo to loavo your leper sottlomontï' ' And this was the Bheriif of
Molokai.
" Six montlis later a permit oamo, granting Fathor Damien loavo to como and go as he pleased; but in cloven years how seldom has ho
cared to uso it!"
"Office of the Board of Health, Honolulu, April 22, 1889.-The Very Eoy. tho Bishop of Olba, Honolulu. Sir,-It is with feelings of pain that tho board received by mail last wook from Molokai the sad intolligonoo of the doath of the lamented Father Damion, Catholic priost at Kalawao, Molokai, who passod away on Monday last, 19th April, 1889. 'On behalf of tho Board of Health, permit mo to express to you as his spiritual adviser our condolence and sincoro feeling of sympathy; with you in view of the sad event, and our high appreciation of his long and faithful service to the Board of Health and to humanity. I am, rev. sir, vory sincerely yours, N. B. EJÍBUSOIÍ, President
Boaid of Health."
"Honolulu, 23rd April, 1889.-Dr. N. B. Emerson, President ot the Board of Hoalth. Dear Sir,-Please accept for yourself and for tho other members of the Board of Health, my sinooro thanks for tho kind expression of your condolence and feeling of sympathy in view of the Rev. Fathor Damion's ,death. I highly valuo your appreciation of his long and faithful service to tho board andhumanity. Allow me to add that tho members of the Catholic
Mission will always bo happy to co-operate with the Board of Hoalth in the work of humanity and Christian oharity after the example of the late Father Damien, as far as it may bo desirable-Vbry rospeetfully, you, obedient servant, f HERMAN», Bishop of Olbar V. Ap."
This is subscription day of the City and Subur- ban Permanent Building and Investment Society, und the office will bo open is tho evening from 7
till 8 o'clock.
St. Patrick's Masonic Lodge, I.C., will hold a stated communication to-night.
From our advertising columns it will be seen that Mr. J. H. Daniell», late Engineor for Bridges, has commenced private practice as con- sulting, civil, and mochamcal engiueer, at Gordon Chambers, Queen and Eagle streets.
The members of the Brisbano Orchestal Society aro requested to meet for rehearsal at Messrs. Paling and Co.'s musical warehouse at 8 o'clock to-night.
DUTCH COCOAS AND THETB ADULTEEATIOMS. The public need to be warned against the BO; called pure Dutch Cocoas and thoir English imi- tations which contain about 4 per cent of added alkali, «te, which give a false appearance of strength to the Cocoa. Cadbury's Cocoa is abio 'uUlvpure ÍRuaranteed).-ÍADYI.)