_——s avM ars & La European Lepers in India Sree BRT shri Raise IA PWV A TT, BB. A, Miss MARY REED WHO HAS CHARGE OF THE CHANDAG LEPER ASYLUM PAGE 6 Kuropean lepers ANY people may not be aware that besides the natives who are suffering in India and other Eastern countries from leprosy, there are in these countries many Europeans afflicted with this disease. The disease is the same as that described in the Bible, and in both natives and Europeans takes the same steps in its repulsive course. ‘The details of this course are too distressing to be mentioned here. We quote only this sentence from an eye witness. ‘ The disease gradually robs its victims of sight, hearing, taste, smell, speech, and makes them the most awful look- ing "ereatures’ one can” conceive iol.” Another says, “Nothing you could ever have read of leprosy could be too bad to describe it.” Mr. Wellesley C. Bailey, Superintendent of the ‘“Mis- sion to Lepers in India and the East,” when on his visits of inspection in India met with many European lepers. He says, ‘There are many European lepers in India; some living in the large leper asylums for natives in the Presidency towns, others hiding away in the back streets of the great cities, while others again are to be found in the Mofussil or up-county stations. Some of these Euro- pean Lepers leave the country and settle down unobserved to become a source of danger in some of our crowded cities at home, owing to the want of a proper home for them in India.” ; | We feel that the reader will have a better understand- ing of the real condition of affairs if we insert some ex- tracts from letters from European lepers themselves, and 4 EUROPEAN LEPERS IN INDIA those who work among them, than from any descrip- tion of ours. Mr. Bailey received the following letter from a European leper in Calcutta: Letter from a European Leper in Calcutta DEAR Srr,—I am driven by sheer want to appeal to you, and was advised by Mr. Stark, the minister who at- tends the leper asylum, to lay my sad case before you. I am a European and a soldier’s son, and to be housed with natives and given the same diet is very hard for me to bear. I am an engineer by trade, and hold a Board of Trade certificate of the second class, which enabled me to live very comfortably when | was an engineer in charge of the cotton mills, etc., but the last four years I have not been well, and thr ough my sickly appearance cannot obtain employment, although my hands and feet are quite well. Dear Sir, there are many European lepers in India, but they are kept at home by their relatives. Unfortun- ately for me my people are all dead, so | have to put up in this miserable place (the Government Leper Asylum.) Dear Sir, will you kindly show this letter to some of your friends who feel for the lepers; they will, | am sure, help and comfort a poor brother who is in dire need of their help and sympathy.” Letter from a Lady in Calcutta A. lady, well known in Calcutta, writes telling of several cases of Europeans in that city who greatly need to have something done for them. She says, ‘ Nearly always abandoned by their relatives, they have the saddest of lives, their feet often so sore that they cannot walk, their fingers gone altogether, with. only the palms left of their hands, they can do no work, their eyes often so sore that they cannot bear the light. I should like to seea place where Europeans and Eurasians could be entertained. EUROPEAN LEPERS IN INDIA 5 At present the only place for European lepers in Calcutta is the large government asylum for natives, and there there are some Europeans in the same ward with natives, some of the latter suffering from the most loath- some form of the disease. There are European lepers who would die of starvation rather than occupy an asylum with natives. For instance, “K.B.” tried the leper asylum but could not stand it. She lives by herself in a small house in a narrow lane. She was apparently cured by Count Matthei’s remedies ; she had not a sore last Sep- tember, and now she is in aterrible state. Her fingers and toes are all distorted, and she wants to begin the medicines again, but they are very expensive, and I am not sure that they do any real good. Her relatives never see her, but a brother-in-law pays her rent, and she re- ceives erat rupees a month froma lady in England. There are two or three men who tried the leper asylum, could not stand it, and are living somewhere, but where I do not know.” Letter from Rey. A. Stark, Calcutta The Rev. A. Stark, of the Church Missionary Society, who visits the government asylum in Calcutta, writes of the Europeans there: “I consider my work among the lepers about the most cheering of all I have in this city. A sad case that I must bring to your notice is that of Will Russell, a European lad of about zzze years of age, who was brought about a year ago from a Roman Catholic school and left in the asylum. He has just a little swelling in the ear, otherwise his body is quite clean. Poor boy, something ought to be done for him. It is sad to see him in the asylum.” Again he writes: “As to the European and Eurasian lepers, what I would think absolutely necessary for their comfort is that they get some help to provide themselves with better food and clothes. Their clothes are ragged 6 EUROPEAN LEPERS IN INDIA and filthy, their bed linen is simply foul. It is only the perfectly helpless and poverty-stricken lepers that take up their abode in the asylum. There is a large number of lepers in the city who will not come to the asylum as they have friends and some little means. A short time agoa decent woman, a European, was admitted, but she left very soon owing to the discomforts of the place and see- ing that nothing was done to alleviate her malady, I can assure you it is very trying work visiting the asylum. The peculiar smell of their sores and from their foul clothes and beds is very trying. I am thankful to say several are growing in grace and rejoicing in the Lord and his salva- tion. . . . Iam just back from the asylum after my service. Poor lepers, they listen with rapt attention. Poor Mrs. N. was there, poor young woman ! How fast she is going! Her face is frightful now. Her disease began about two years ago.” Again he writes: ‘I thank you for the gift of R’s. 100 to help these poor afflicted lepers to get some clothing and necessary comfort for our winter which has just begun. Their blood being impoverished, they feel the cold very much. To-day I gave little Russell (mentioned before) and N. a warm suit and two shirts each. _‘To-mor- row I shall supply L. and some others. Jam sorry to say the disease is making rapid advances on poor Willie Rus- sell; he has AOst a joint of one of his toes already. Poor child! hé does not realize his dreadful disease.” i An American Lady who has Leprosy / One case which appeals especially to us is that of Miss Reed, for some time an American missionary of the / Methodist Episcopal Church in India, who in some way which she cannot account for contracted the disease. No clue as to the cause of it in her case has yet been given, as she was not even working among lepers. Without any idea of the nature of her illness, she felt her health EUROPEAN LEPERS IN INDIA giving way in India, and decided to come home to the United States in the hope that the sea-voyage might do her good. She was.benefitted for a time, and for a year after arriving in America did not suspect what her ill- ness was. But after a while she felt that there was no real improvement, and her symptons baffled her medical advisers. One night when in prayer the idea came to her like a flash, that it was leprosy from which she was suffer- ing. The agony of that thought seemed too great to bear. She wrestled in prayer the whole of that night and. to- wards morning felt peace and submission. The Heavenly Father Himself had revealed to her the nature of her dis- ease and also His purpose concerning her, He brought to her remembrance a beautiful place in the mountains of India where a company of sufferers lived, and made plain to her that He wished her to “glorify the Lord in the fires” by being their minister and comforter in His name. In the morning she told her physician what she thought her disease was. Her doctor said, “I cannot tell you, you must see a specialist in New York.” Between the time that the thought first came to her, and the time when ' she saw the specialist she suffered much. The fear that her disease was leprosy and the hope that it was not, combined to keep her in great mental agony. So that when at last the specialist pronounced on her case and declared it leprosy, she actually felt relief. She belonged to a large family, father, mother, brothers, sisters all living. She said goodbye to them all without revealing her secret, except to one sister, and returned to India. On her way she saw a number of specialists, who agreed that there was no doubt about the matter. She wrote then to her friends at home acquainting them with the fact. She went on to Pithora in the Himalayas. A missionary friend writes of her to Mr. Bailey in this way: “You who have such untiring sympathy for Hindus- tani lepers would be shocked indeed to see a refined Jady and intelligent Christian American woman suffering thus’ 8 EUROPEAN LEPERS IN INDIA You know there are more than 500 lepers in the Shor Pargannah alone and we need further assistance very much. At present we are reducing rather than increasing as we do not fill up vacancies caused by death; but Oh dear! such piteous cases as have to be refused! More than once I have had them kept and promised to pay costs. if necessary, but of course with such a needy institution as my own to provide for, I cannot do that for long or often. After hearing Miss Reed’s account of the wonderful way in which the Lord revealed His will to her about herself it seemed that the day for ampler help to these poor creatures had dawned, and I still believe it has. He who has led FMts servant by such an awful valley of the shadow of death to come here to serve Him thus will surely touch your hearts also to supply the pecuniary assistance neces- sary to carry out His plans. * * " = *% She suffers constantly and most patiently. We are wondering whether the Lord will not heal her, but healed or not, she feels that she has had her life call to work amongst these poor creatures, and I believe will end her days among them. She is highly sensitive, and of all my acquaintance I know of no one who would by nature more loathe this complaint, and yet to her it has been given. It is very, very wonderful and so is His grace that enables her to bear it without a murmur though often with scalding hot tears and a breaking heart.” It is pitiful to hear of the way in which Miss Reed went in among the lepers, and with hot tears though in cheerful tones and without a word of complaint said, “ I am one of you now.” And in the letters since, though full of anxiety for those over whom she has charge there is never a word of anxiety or want of submission about herself. She was given the superintence of an asylum belonging to the Mission at Chandag, Pithoragarh, where she has been very successful in winning souls for Christ. She writes, ‘“‘ Individual care for each one, together with the sweet power of the Gospel, adds so much to the bright- EUROPEAN LEPERS IN INDIA ¢ _— oR et aess and hope it brings into their lives; human kindness and iove seem to make them realize so much more clearly our Father’s love; and my heart is often filled wzth ztxex- pressible joy because of the comfort He gives me and tender mercy He has shown in permitting me in Jesus” name to minister to these my fellow sufferers. He owns and blesses the lessons taught, and I have some precious meetings in which earnest prayers and intelligent testi- monies are given.” Miss Reed’s health has since been wonderfully re- stored in answer to prayer, we believe. The following extract is from the letter of a friend who has lately visited her: “One of the most pleasant and profitable experiences we have had lately has been our visit to dear Miss Reed at the Chandag Leper Asylum. On Tuesday, at the afternoon service in the church among the lepers I mentioned that I hoped to spend the following Sunday amongst their fellow sufferers at Chandag, when at once one of the women, and then one of the men spoke up from where they were sitting on the floor of the church, and asked me to convey to the brethren and sisters at Chandag their messages of love and Christian greeting and to inform them that they were praying for them and thanking God for their faith and for His goodness to them. They also asked me to remember that they would be praying for my wife and myself during our journey, and that God would make us a blessing and a comfort during our visit to the church among the lepers at Chan- dag. This was a good sending off for us, was it not? I need not tell you of the grandeur of the scenery on the way, indeed, as you know, it defies description. We reached Chandag heights early on Friday morn- ing, and found dear Miss Reed busy in the hospital at- tending three patients in a much advanced stage of suffer- ing. There she was binding up with her own hands the terrible wounds, and speaking soothing words of comfort Bae) EUROPEAN LEPERS IN INDIA to these poor distressed ones. She told me afterwards during the day, that she found it a trying ordeal, and had been somewhat upset by the sight of the terrible suffering through which they were passing. It has always been a trial to her to witness suffering in others, yet she is most devoted in her attentions, and so gentle and kind. We were very much surprised and pleased to find Miss Reed so active and cheerful, and looking so well. Without careful observations no one would suspect for a moment, that she had ever suffered from leprosy, and indeed the signs of the disease that once existed have in some respects disappeared. She told us that she had never felt in better health, more cheerful in spirits, or happier in ser- vice than she does now. Her home at Chandag is a sweet little home, standing on the crest of the hill, which by the way, is over 6,000 feet above sea-level. The views of the eternal snows she has here are most exquisite. The home, though small, is comfortable. In it are scattered in a most tasteful manner the loving giftsof many friends who are deeply interested in her welfare, and who, I am sure, if they could but meet Miss Reed would be inspired by her wonderful bravery and Christ-like devotion. Itisa great source of encouragement to her to know that so many of the Lord’s people are so interested in her and the work she is trying to do for the Lord Jesus among the lepers at Chandag. There were 73 inmates in the asylum when I visited it. Within a radius of about 10 miles there are probably not fewer than 500 persons suffering from leprosy, and it is Miss Reed’s atm to get all these under the shelter of the asylum. : * On Friday morning we went to a special service held in the chapel, when there were 60 lepers present. After conveying to them the greetings from their friends in Britain, and their fellow-sufferers, I gave them a short address, then asked any of them to say what they wished regarding their own experiences. It was most pathetic to EUROPEAN LEPERS IN INDIA II listen to one after another relating how they had been led to see their sinfulness and to find in Jesus Christ a Saviour from sin; through coming under the shelter of the asy- lum. Very true and deep were their expressions of gra- titude for all the blessing they had received. Not a word of complaint as to their hard and inscrutable lot as com- pared with multitudes of their fellows, escaped the lips of any one of them. We were much affected by the glad- someness of their hymn-singing. It led us to feel that if they were thus glad and could make melody in their hearts unto the Lord how much more should we rejoice and be glad and praise the Lord for all His goodness to us.” A European Leper who Thanks God for his Disease Mr. Bailey writes of one European leper whom he met in India:—‘“ A few days since I was told of a Euro- pean in India who had contracted the terrible disease of leprosy, and was requested by a physician to visit him in a certain hospital. I gladly did so, and found him in a small room of the ward for incurables, which ward is oc- cupied by native lepers, of whom there are many. As I passed through the ward, looking from one to another of the sad faces on either side of me, I saw S. at the door of his little room, and as I advanced he came towards me. It did not take long to discover that he was the man whom I sought, there was no mistaking his peculiar walk, to- gether with the appearance of his face, in which leprosy was stamped. Withal there was a peculiarly contented look on that face, while a pleasant smile played about his mouth. Poor fellow, I thought, as I looked upon a fel- low-countryman, but a leper! He seemed very pleased that I had come to see him, and took me into his little room, where we sat down together. For a little 1 ques- tioned him very closely ‘about his disease, as to how long he had had it, how it first became known to him, how he thought he had contracted it, etc. My questioning him 12 EUROPEAN LEPERS IN INDIA in that way made him think I was a doctor; and for a moment, as a sudden hope seemed to spring up in _ his breast, with an eager look on his face he said, “ Do you think I shall get better?” It was but for a moment; for as he saw my countenance fall, his too fell, and that one ray of hope, which must have sprung up in_ his heart so many times before, once more died out. Ina moment more his face assumed its former cheerful, con- tented appearance, and he went on talking with me as before; and then came out the secret of that look of con-, tentment which struck meso much. He told me that a few years before a missionary had paid him a visit, and had given him a copy of the “Herald of Mercy,” and that in it he had found the way to everlasting life; he had found Ilim who loves the lepers. “ Azd now,” he said, “7 can thank God for this terrible disease, for it has been © the means of bringing me to Bohs LI see init the hand of a loving Father.” : Shortly after writing he above I received the fol- lowing letter from S.:—I am sorry to inform you that, since you were here, another has been added to the num- ber already suffering with leprosy, a young European lad —lIrish—; he seems to have contracted the disease in this city. The young fad is only thirteen years of age. He was in school when the disease made its appearance, and the doctor had the boy removed. The young lad is a Roman Catholic and is in no way acquainted with the means of salvation as it is in Christ—free; he only under- stands it according to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. I try by the blessing of God and by the help of my Saviour, to show him the true road. It seems to me that my efforts have not been in vain, for he who used to tell the beads has giv en it up, and joins me every day in prayer to the Captain of our salvation, instead of to his patron saint and the Virgin Mary. This has been an- other great blessing to me, to see that God my Heavenly EVROPFAN LEPERS IN INDIA 13 Father has not forgotten me, but has.in His own way made use of me to my fellow-sufferers, and made me the instrument in His hand of proclaiming the message unto all. Yes, Str, as I said to you when you were here, I do glory in my affiction and am full of joy and gladness to think that God did not cut me off in my head-long journey through the world, in drinking deep of the plea- sures that are soon to pass away; my only desire is that my Lord Jesus should reign supreme in my heart, and that I shall always be ready to answer to the roll-call whenever it should come. Believe me, Dear Sir, Yours very truly in the blessed hope, (Signed ) Wises This man soon after passed away. Of another European leper whom he met in India, in Dec., ’90, Mr. Bailey writes, “ Mr. J.,a European leper is now in his forty-sixth year and was at one time in a good situation in a Government office, but about nineteen years ago he developed leprosy. After visiting London to consult the best physicians, he has now given up hope of being cured, and having wandered from place to place, has found at last a place of rest here and a kind friend in Dr. MacLaren. The good doctor has had a little house put up for him and has placed him in charge of the asy- lum as overseer; and so he has not only found rest, but also occupation, and something to give him an interest in life—the life he has still to live. Mr. J. having been in Government employ, has a small pension, enough for his wants—his house being provided for him—and so requires no pay for his services. Poor fellow! it is pitiful to see him go about on his crutches, looking so sad and lonely. I sat with him for some time and spoke of rest in Christ.” The report of the Mission to Lepers for ’93 says in speaking of the Dehra Dun Asylum, “Mr. J. has the arrangement and management of the whole, and 14 EUROPEAN LEPERS IN INDIA eee he is the right man in the right place. He, with Dr. Rutledge, manages the whole most capitally. Mr. J. is now building a small church outside of but coke to the compound and he is doing that work as all his work, very well.” The report goes on to say, “ Mr. J. has much at heart the erection of an asylum for Euro- pean lepers.” In his report for ’94, he says, “God grant that we may be as successful during the year just entered, as last year, and that next year I may be able to report that we have won all over to Christ.” A Home for European Lepers The Mission to Lepers has felt for some time exceed- ingly anxious to do something in the way of providing a Home for European Lepers. One of them writes:—“God grant your Mission may see their way to opening up such an institution for the benefit of their own countrymen; for up to this it is only the natives who have been pro- vided for, to the exclusion of Europeans who have been left out of all calculation.” Dr. M. B. Carleton, Medical Missionary at Subathu, in the Punjab, writing in Feb., ’95, says, “ What I wish especially to write about is, the plan of opening here at Subathu a Home for European lepers. For some months I have intended to write you on this subject. During the summer I received a letter from a Gov- ernment Official at Lahore, asking if I would take a Euro- pean leper, and saying that Lahore would pay for his care, etc. Since that time I received a letter from Calcutta, asking if I could take a European leper, son of some lady there, name not given. Again in asking for contributions from gentlemen about the country, I have several times received the an- swer that.if I had a European ward, and would take in European lepers, they would gladly send some help, but 15 EUROPEAN LEPERS IN INDI.\ not otherwise. Thinking of all these matters I have felt more and more that perhaps it would be well to open such a ward here as being as good a place as any in India.” The plan of the committee is at present to begin in a small way by opening wards for perhaps half a dozen patients at two or three different centres where there seems to be special need. A beginning has now been made at Subathu and also at Almora in the Himalayas. We give the following extract from Subathu. July 3rd, 1895. “Our ward for European lepers is ready and we are looking for Willie Russel to-day. Our ward is one of the old ones ‘fixed up” a little, white-wash, matting, pictures, chicks (blinds) and furniture have made it quite habitable. The view of the asylum ground is entirely cut off, and the lovely mountains and a fine view of Simla make it far from a bad place for our humble beginning. The plan is simple, three rooms and a verandah; the centre room is a sitting and dining-room, and the two end rooms bed-rooms. We can manage till the cottage is made I think. We have about settled on the site and will make a plan now.. Other applications have been made; we shall have many and it will be hard to refuse any. The soldiers are widely interested in Willie, and on a suggestion, promise very heartily to supply him from their rations everything he is likely to need. This will help just now, but it is not likely to be permanent. We shall make it Jast as long as possible.” Mr. Bulloch writes from Almora: “I have finished the cottage I told you about, and it is quite a pleasant little home with a nice verandah looking west. I am keeping my eyes and ears open, and now that we have one suitable cottage ready we can take in an applicant at once: EUROPEAN ELEPERS AN LN DIN 16 At a convention of the six Ontario Associations of _ the Mission to Lepers held in September, ’94, it was de- cided that the funds of these Associations should in the future go towards the erection of wards or cottages for European lepers. They are now directing all their efforts toward this object, and would gladly give information about this work or receive contributions towards it. Mr. Bailey left on the 9th October to make his usual visit of inspection in India, and on his return will give more exact information as to the amounts required, the places where wards are to be opened, etc. bh BS, Ca per NS Sunny Acres, Guelph, 1895. The following may be applied to for information— » Toronto—Rev. John Neil, B.A., 577 Sherbourne St. Hamilton—Mrs. Isaac Buchanan, 153 James St. S. London—Miss Bella Boon, 447 Dundas St. Guelph— Mrs. James Watt, “Sunny Acres.” Georgetown—Mrs. Sutherland, care Dr. Sutherland. W oodstock—Mrs. Carlyle, “* Englewood.”