Presbyterian Missionaries at Work Among the Lepers of the World BY W. M. DANNER Presbyterian Missionaries at Work Among the Lepers of the World BY W. M. DANNER CULION LEPER COLONY—PHILIPPINE ISLANDS PRESBYTERIAN MISSIONARIES AT WORK AMONG THE LEPERS OF THE WORLD W. M. DANNER, Secretary U. S. A. Committee The Mission To Lepers, Cambridge, Mass. Before the organization of the Mission to Lepers, the needs and sorrows of these sufferers, the lepers, had indeed appealed to a few humane hearts, and a limited number of local attempts had been made to relieve them. At Sabathu, twenty miles from Simla and at a height of nearly five thousand feet above the sea level, is an Asylum for Lepers, which may be said to date from 1868. This Asylum is well known all over India, and must ever be asso¬ ciated with the name of Dr. John Newton, of the American Presbyterian Mission. When Dr. Newton reached India in 1868, he found a few lepers in a very poor house, and to these his instincts as a medical missionary permitted him to give special attention. In one of his letters, written at this time, Dr. Newton says, “There is no class of the people in India who have so moved my pity as the lepers in these hills. They are very numerous in this region. I think I might say that at least one-half of the families in the vil¬ lages have one or more members infected with this dreadful disease.” The appeal of Dr. Newton met with a generous response. His and other individual efforts illustrated the value of help¬ ing the unfortunate leper people, the horrors of whose homeless, diseased, and destitute condition imagination it¬ self could scarcely exaggerate. That it was high time for the cry of these neglected ones to reach the ear of the Church, no one can question. It is of interest to Christians everywhere, and especially to members of the Presbyterian Church, to know that it fell to the lot of Mr. Wellesley C. Bailey, a representative of 3 the American Presbyterian Mission, together with his good wife as constant counsellor and colleague, to plead the cause of the lepers, not only in the United Kingdom, but in various parts of the world on the many missionary journeys they have taken together. It was at Ambala, in the Punjab, in 1869 that Dr. J. H. Morrison, another well known Presbyterian missionary, in¬ troduced Mr. Bailey to the conditions confronting the lepers, and from his first introduction, he was fascinated with the opportunity to go among these sufferers and give them the consolation of the Gospel. Mr. Bailey was then a young man, and had just joined the American Presbyterian Mission. Dr. Morrison wit¬ nessed his special interest and attraction for the work, and delegated him to take special charge at Ambala. Realizing how much the lepers were aided in spirit, mind and body, as well as appreciating the relief to the public generally by removing from their sight such pitiable objects, he was fur¬ ther impressed with the value of segregation as a means of checking the spread of the disease from contagion. During Mr. Bailey’s furlough in 1874 the Mission to lepers was founded. His description of the pitiful condi¬ tion of these sufferers as he had seen them at Ambala and elsewhere stirred the sympathy of those to whom, in a quite informal way, he had spoken of his desire to help them on his return. The modest ambition of Mr. Bailey and his friends was at first to raise a small sum annually to enable him on his return to India to relieve a few sufferers at his own Station, in addition to his ordinary work. Thirty pounds was considered a fair objective, but from the very outset, a general response was made, and before the end of his furlough year, not only thirty pounds, but twenty times thirty had been received. In deciding how to use to the best advantage the funds entrusted to Mr. Bailey, he consulted Dr. Newton, propos¬ ing that additional inmates be admitted to the Sabathu Asylum. Immediately came the response, “If you can help me with funds, the number of lepers in the Sabathu poor- 4 house will certainly be trebled or quadrupled within the first two or three months after it has become known that it is possible to secure admission.” The reply to this letter from Dr. Newton was to authorize the immediate reception of these urgent cases; and this was the first definite result of the new Mission instituted by a representative of the American Presbyterian Mission, in co-operation with Dr. John Newton, the veteran representative of the same Mis¬ sion. It is typical of the Christ-like work, the beginning of which it represents, that the first leper woman to be defi¬ nitely supported by the Mission should have begged her way for ninety miles from the Himalayas with her two little chil¬ dren. It is also noteworthy that of the first five patients to be supported by the Mission, two were untainted children of lepers. From this it will be noticed that at the very be¬ ginning the work embraced, not only the lepers, but their healthy offspring. This was only the first installment of much needed help for the Sabathu Station. By 1878 ten more houses had been constructed by the Mission. That this work was as much needed as it was appreciated, we learn from a letter of Dr. Newton in 1878, in which he tells of lepers coming from all quarters, craving admission to the Asylum. The substantial help, both in building and maintenance, which contributed so largely to the success of the Sabathu Asylum, has been continued ever since. And now, in 1915, the Mission to Lepers, organized in 1874, under the direct leading of representatives of the American Presbyterian Church, has extended its operations for lepers and their untainted children until the work includes ninety stations scattered throughout the earth in which missionaries of all the Protestant churches are directly interested. The work is still under the supervision of the founder, and the interest of the Presbyterian Church is evident by the number of stations organized and supervised by the representatives or missionaries of this branch of the Protest¬ ant Church. 5 The basis of operation of the Mission to Lepers is al¬ ways to work through denominational missionaries of what¬ ever Church. The plan of work includes finding food, clothing and shelter and Christian teaching and sympathy for the lepers. That there are now thousands of baptized Christians in these Stations brings clear evidence of the fact that missionaries are really preaching the Gospel to the whole congregation. And not only are the Orientals in large numbers being encouraged to look with favor on the “Jesus Religion” that provides for the leper, but people in the home¬ land, who have hitherto doubted the utility of Foreign Missions, are coming to the conclusion that any religion that makes provision for suffering outcast humanity must be a religion that is worth while. Presbyterian representatives have led in organizing and directing the work of the Mission to Lepers from its foun¬ dation. Representatives of this Church are justly delighted by the reports of work accomplished in more than a dozen special Stations. To speak in detail of each of these would be to duplicate somewhat the story. We will, however, set out the work of some well known stations as samples of what Presbyterian missionaries are gladly and joyously do¬ ing in behalf of the lepers. INDIA. Lepers were first cared for at Allahabad NAINl ASYLUM by Presbyterian missionaries at their own expense. Later, a local charitable association assumed their support and built an asylum at Naini, two miles from the city, across the river Jumna. For fifteen years the Mission to Lepers helped to support this work, and in 1895 took it entirely in charge. The old, dilapidated mud huts, which harbored vermin and whose thatched roofs often concealed scorpions, centipedes, and even cobra snakes, were all superseded by sanitary buildings of brick and iron. The Government also built an Asylum next to the Mission Asylum, later giving it to the Mission, 6 and now the two are managed as one. The addition of the Government Asylum makes segregation of the sexes possible. The first new building erected was the hospital, which has three wards, with accommodations for twenty. None but the most helpless are placed there. The last building to go up in the Asylum was the Church, a beautiful struc¬ ture, which has great wire screens instead of doors and win¬ dows, and here the people come for their daily services, and for the preaching and Sunday School on the Lord’s Day. UNTAINTED CHILDREN OF LEPERS—INDIA Both Hindoo and Mohammedan in India regard leprosy as an affliction for committing some unpardonable sin against a God, whose wrath will not be appeased. The leper, therefore, is an enemy of God, and it is dangerous to aid those under the divine ban. Mr. Higginbottom of Naini says: “As I got to know the leper, I found he was altogether such as I am. My likes and dislikes were his. His loves and hatreds were mine. I found the idle leper to be a mis- 7 chief-brewing individual. My problem then was to get something for him to do and, after much study, gardening was selected. This has proved of inestimable value in giv¬ ing him occupation and something to show for what he does.” Let Mr. Higginbottom tell in his own language of the fun of gardening and money spending: “I take good care that the little plot of ground is well watered, and always have seed to give out. I have tried to give to each a plot of ground with a fruit tree. Imagine a fellow with a banana shoot. He plants it, waters it, cares for it. It is not long till it is up ten or twelve feet and the beautiful purple flower appears; as each petal drops off, out comes a little green-fingered banana. Soon after a large beautiful bunch of bananas is formed. “About that time the owner brings his bed and camps out by it, for his friends and neighbors are evincing so much interest in that bunch of bananas that if he wishes any for himself he must stay by it. This he does in spite of the fact that the leper is the greatest traveler in India. From one shrine to another, from one holy man to another he goes in an unceasing quest for healing. But it does not much matter what a priest a thousand miles away says about lep¬ rosy. This chap says, ‘I planted that banana and cared for it, and before I leave I want to taste the fruit thereof.’ “I found also that the leper liked to spend money. Under the Mission to Lepers, I am allowed twenty-five dollars a year for each leper. All their wants must be supplied out of this. I built a little store, where they could buy all the necessities and luxuries; the pulses and spices, red pep¬ pers and chilies, that are to be found in any North India village store. A great many of the men cannot do their own cooking—no hands left to knead their bread—and for such 1 employ other lepers. The cook’s pay is seven cents per month for cooking for another leper. Then I found that I could give each man eight cents a week, and he goes to the little store and buys whatever his fancy craves—and that can be bought at the rate of a cent a day!” In the Naini Asylum there is an orchestra of native in- 8 struments for the church service, and while the music may be weird to American ears, it is very sweet to the Indian. On Communion Sundays, the wine is passed by the pastor, who is not a leper. He takes it from the cup with a tea¬ spoon, and where the leper has sufficient hand left to hold the wine, it is poured into his palm and he drinks it; but if he has not sufficient hand left, he opens his mouth and a teaspoonful of wine is given. Every Sunday in the Naini Leper Church a collection is taken to spread Christ’s Kingdom. When the Church was finished they said, “We have been praying for this Church and saving for it, so that now we want to have a part in it.” They bought the Bible, and a clock, because they did not like to be late for services. The Church is now the center of the life of the Asylum, with quite three hundred members. When we consider that these gifts come out of those eight cents a week, we see what real sacrifice is involved on the part of these poor people. Can any gift be more precious in the sight of God than the expression of love from these afflicted people, who think so much of the Gospel of Christ that they are happy to contribute from their little for its spread ? AMBALA ASYLUM. The Asylum at Ambala, where the Mis¬ sion to Lepers was really started, is man¬ aged by the American Presbyterian Mis¬ sion. There is a chapel called the Wellesley Bailey Chapel. The steady work maintained here has given many indications showing that the cheerfulness and submission and patience of the lepers is really wonderful. In Mr. Jackson’s book, “Lepers,” we read of the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit in the case of Illahi Bakhsh, an old man, whose sight had been destroyed by leprosy, and who for many years bore his heavy burden with marvelous patience. He was one of the first to embrace Christianity, and he became a leader and teacher in this Asylum. His faith was always bright and strong, and by his faith and his realization of the Saviour’s presence, he was lifted from the plane of suffering and sad¬ ness to an experience of hope and peace that many people 9 with health and eyesight might envy. When a visitor once condoled with him on his condition, he replied, “Since I trusted Christ, nineteen years ago, I have known neither pain of body nor of mind.” For some years, Illahi Bakhsh was the leader of the singing at the Asylum, and was in ad¬ dition the composer of many of the most beautiful of the hymns used. Nor was it only by his songs that this good man helped his fellow sufferers. Although they received in¬ struction regularly from an appointed teacher, an Annual Report closes with these words, “Whatever the Ambala lepers seem to know and understand best, they say they have learned from Illahi Bakhsh, who goes over and over with them the many Bible truths he has stored away in his memory.” BABA LAKAN ASYLUM. The Baba Lakhan Asylum was taken over by the Mission to Lepers in 1891, and has been managed ever since by the missionaries of the American United Presbyterian Mission. It began under the supervision of the district authorities. When Rev. J. W. Ballantyne was leaving the Baba Lak¬ han Asylum, he gave this testimony: “I must say that I have enjoyed the work among the lepers, and am pleased to note the decided change for the better which has come over them. In place of the original complaining, quarrel¬ ing spirit manifested, they are now usually friendly and contented.” Dehra is really a local charity, but under DEHRA ASYLUM. Government supervision, and the Chris¬ tian teaching is provided on behalf of the Mission to Lepers by the Reformed Presbyterian Mis¬ sion. In his plea for help for the Dehra work, Rev. David Herron reported that he had spiritual charge of seventy inmates. It was in this Asylum that Padiya was converted and be¬ came one of the early responsible native Christian teachers in the Mission. Although under Government supervision, this Asylum received gifts from the Mission to Lepers and 10 its largest blessing was in the personal touch of the Presby¬ terian missionary, Rev. David Herron. The Asylum at Miraj is the property of Ml RAJ ASYLUM, the Mission to Lepers, and is managed by the American Presbyterian Mission. There is a small church. Dr. W. J. Wanless, the Presby¬ terian Medical Missionary, presented the lepers’ plea in 1896, showing how nothing had been done for them, how a small Government asylum had been planned and the foundation stone laid, but the building never undertaken, while the lepers were left to perish, until practical Christianity applied its remedy to their sad case. In 1900 upwards of 100 famine workers found employment in quarrying the stone and preparing the site for the new asylum. The asylum has demonstrated its right to be regarded as a useful ad¬ junct to the splendid hospital under Dr. Wanless’ care, which has done so much to commend Christian faith in the Miraj district. The regular diet, medicines, and good housing and cleanliness, all combine to check the disease. Many take a deep interest in Bible study, and some take the Sunday School Scripture examinations with good results. They take pride in their gardens and their trees about the place, keeping them well watered and tended. They are very grateful for anything done for them, and thank the good people at home whose contributions make their Asy¬ lum possible. Dr. Wanless and Mr. Richardson write that some of the inmates have come to realize that it is the love of the true and living God which prompts the people to pro¬ vide such homes for the outcast. Many have realized more than this, and have come to know Jesus Christ, the friend of lepers, as their Saviour from sin. SAHARAN PUR Two asylums at Saharanpur give needed ASYLUM segregation of the sexes. The manage¬ ment is by the American Presbyterian Mission on behalf of the Mission to Lepers. The place lacked the touch of Christian kindness until it was brought under the care of the Mission through the efforts of the 11 Rev. David Herron. In 1892 two native Christian teachers for the men’s and two for the women’s asylum were ap¬ pointed, and in 1893 further help was given in the form of a special grant for enlargements and improvements in both the asylums. The funds for these enlargements were pro¬ vided by the Pittsburgh and Allegheny Auxiliary of the Mission to Lepers. The Asylum is located north of the city, and is surrounded by thick mango groves. Both the men and the women here, as in the other asylums, are deeply interested in the celebration of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, and they are extremely thorough in their preparation for an examination before the Session of the Church. SABATHU ASYLUM. The Sabathu (Punjab) Asylum, already mentioned in this paper, is located on a site provided by the Punjab Government in co-operation with the Mission to Lepers. It is managed by the American Presbyterian Mission. There is a small home for European lepers, and a home for untainted chil¬ dren. This work has somewhat recently been taken in charge by the New Zealand Presbyterian church. RAWAL PINDI ASYLUM. Rawal Pindi Asylum was originally owned and operated by the Government. It has been turned over to the care of the Mission to Lepers by the Punjab Government, and is now managed on behalf of The Mission by the American United Presbyterian missionaries. The buildings are fine. When Rev. David Herron first began his visits to the lepers in this station, he found them in a dreadfully neglected and unsanitary condition. Through his urgent appeal, a na¬ tive doctor was provided, a new dispensary erected, and a complete change effected. Separate wards were erected for men and women, and the co-operation of the Punjab Gov¬ ernment and the unflagging energy of the superintendent of the Asylum, Mr. Nichol of the American United Presby¬ terian Mission, made a remarkable transformation. 12 SIAM. CHI ENG MAI ASYLUM. In all centuries the leper in Siam has been an outcast, hated, feared, and be¬ yond the sound of the Gospel. Tragic, indeed are these figures, dragging their weary bodies from place to place, begging for food and clothing. Owing to deformities of various kinds, they are unable to earn a com¬ plete livelihood even were they not outcasts. According to the Buddhist belief, they are suffering for BETHESDA COTTAGE FOR LEPER WOMEN—CHIENG MAI, SIAM sins in a previous existence and have no hope or “merit” for the future. Dr. McKean says : “On more than one occa¬ sion have I found these poor outcasts lying dead in the pub¬ lic rest houses where they had gone for the night. Their needs touched me greatly. No helping hand was stretched out to them until some six years ago when a way was opened providentially for bringing relief to this unfortunate class. “Half an island in the river, five miles south of Chieng Mai, was the overgrown jungle used as a playground for 13 the Governor’s pet elephant. His father, the late Laos king, had presented him with this ‘Good Luck’ elephant when he came of age. In spite of the fact that he was a pet, he was a wilful, vicious creature. If hungry for rice, he would tear down a granary and help himself. He even demolished na¬ tive houses to get baskets of rice he knew were there. Un¬ able to endure his raids, the people fled, leaving the elephant ‘monarch of all he surveyed.’ ” Of course, no one could kill a “Good Luck” elephant. But when the elephant died, Dr. J. W. McKean hastened to ask the late Governor to devote this island to a higher use; and as a result, half the island, 160 acres of land, were do¬ nated, on which to establish the first Leper Asylum in the kingdom; and the gift was confirmed by royal authority in Bangkok. Even the Siamese began to be interested. One Trading Company made a generous donation of teak logs; another merchant furnished the use of his elephants for hauling; a friend contributed office and photographic help; a girls’ school in Chieng Mai made fifty garments for the use of the first patients. Through the aid given by The Mission to Lepers and good personal friends in the U. S. A., Dr. Mc¬ Kean joyfully wrote: “On June 11, 1913, we were rejoiced to formally open the Chieng Mai Leper Asylum, with one hundred patients.” Over one thousand guests were present at the dedication, including many Siamese officials, native princes, commis¬ sioners, governors, generals and foreign ministers. Touched by what they saw, these gentlemen each made a contribution, and the military band present gave their day’s compensation to the Asylum. The buildings comprise seven brick cottages, each costing nearly two thousand dollars and built to accommodate twen¬ ty persons, with fireplace and sleeping and cooking accom¬ modations, and all sanitary, so that by hose and concrete drain the house can be thoroughly cleansed. In addition, there is a Superintendent’s house, a brick water tower, with pumping engine, and a temporary thatched chapel. 14 Of the one hundred patients in the Asylum on opening day, sixty-five were men. The ages vary from 20 to 40 years. There are five untainted children of leper parents. The dread of the disease renders it difficult to place the chil¬ dren in the homes of the people, and a home for untainted children has been established on the island, where they are kept free from contagion, and are yet near enough to their parents for occasional visits. The keeper, Loong Peang, and wife, Pa Kam, who are not lepers, have two leper children in the Asylum. (Loong means uncle and Pa means aunt.) Receiving about forty cents each per week to buy rice, fish and other food, they make a weekly gift to the Lord. Their first gift was six dollars for evangelistic work in the plains, and as a result ten families, totaling forty persons, be¬ came Christians, to the joy of the lepers. The second gift was four dollars to purchase three thousand Scripture por¬ tions, to be distributed in country districts; the third gift of nine dollars, “to help suffering fellow-lepers in other lands.” One little girl offered a very significant prayer: “Oh, God, do bless Dr. McKean and help him to find a good medicine that will cure all of the lepers.” It is known to all that material benefits have come to Siam with the advent of the missionary, and they have very greatly commended Christianity to the nation. And we have a right to hope that once the practical benefits of an Asylum are seen by the Siamese, the Government will take up segre¬ gation of the leper on its own account, and Siam may be the first of Oriental nations to rid herself of the scourge. It has been said that leprosy begets selfishness and discon¬ tent. It, therefore, is gratifying to note a spirit of helpful¬ ness among these lepers. A woman—a former slave—has often been found ministering to the more needy women and praying for them in their extremity. The head teacher, himself a leper, takes a special interest in visiting and car¬ ing for the helpless men. The more one knows these poor sufferers the more he appreciates that behind their repul- 15 sive appearance there lie the good qualities of heart that attract and win one’s interest and sympathy. Their ages range from five to seventy years. The great majority are between twenty and forty. In December of last year in the Asylum there came at one time a family of eight lepers. Had the first victim been placed apart, there is every reason to believe that none of the others would have become afflicted. In the Asylum family there are lepers from Yunnan and from the British Shan States. It is now possible to supply them with medicines and an abundance of good food and clothing, so that in spite of their terrible sufferings and their hopeless prospects for the future, they are measurably happy. The death rate is approximately ten per cent each year. All bodies of patients dying with leprosy are cre¬ mated. Nine lepers came over the mountains not long ago, travel¬ ing through uninhabited jungles for thirteen days, destitute of money and almost destitute of food. They were a sad and weary company when they came to the Asylum gate in the evening, so glad to find a place of refuge. Within an¬ other month, eight more came from the same province, hav¬ ing traveled 12 days. A grandmother brought three leper grandchildren a journey of ten nights. The fiftieth leper came to the Asylum from a village thirteen days distant. It took him a month of travel. There is one family of five in the Asylum. Two of this family died as lepers before the coming of the rest to Chieng Mai. There have been in this Asylum other families consisting of four persons each, and several cases where two members of the same family are lepers. When the work began at Chieng Mai, Dr. and Mrs. Mc¬ Kean committed to God the future of the Asylum and asked all contributors to its support and all Christian friends everywhere to pray that every leper who should ever come to this Asylum might become a true child of God. These prayers have been answered in a most wonderful manner, for of the 274 lepers who have found refuge there all have 16 become Christians except one, who came in a dying con¬ dition. On the 22nd of June, 1913, a committee of Presbytery organized the Christian lepers into a church. This church holds services not only on the Sabbath, but practically every day of the year, except when hindered by storms or over¬ powering heat. Out of their scant weekly allowance, they make willing offerings toward the work, their special de¬ light knowing no bounds in what they are trying to do for evangelistic work and for Scripture distribution. It was while they were in the Asylum, all living in bamboo huts and waiting for the permanent buildings, that they first asked to have a chapel. This was built of bamboo, better and finer than their huts, but was by no means a comfortable place. From that day until the close of 1914, the bamboo chapel was the center of life—religious and social— in the com¬ munity. Religion is the most talked-of subject in the Asy¬ lum, and the daily hour for study and worship is the pleasantest of the whole day. It is no wonder, therefore, that in praying for the chapel the lepers were acting on the prompting of their fervent hearts’ desire. At one time, the Chieng Mai lepers, hearing of their needy brothers in Per¬ sia, made a generous contribution and were delighted to re¬ ceive an acknowledgment of their gifts. In 1914 there was a voluntary contribution by the Chieng Mai lepers to the American Bible Society. This gift was forwarded to the Bible Society with a letter in the following language: “We, the elders and members of the Leper Church at Chieng Mai, with one heart and mind, have great gladness in sending our small offering to the Ameri¬ can Bible Society, and we beg that our gift of twenty-five rupees ($8.09) may be graciously received by you and used for the distribution of the holy Scriptures. To have a share in this good work will give us very great happiness. “(Signed) Elders—Peang, Toon, Gnok.” Dr. Robert E. Speer says: “The morning that we were at the Chieng Mai, Siam, Leper Asylum, twenty lepers were baptized and wel- 17 corned to the Lord’s table. I think the highest honor I have ever had in my life was to be allowed to hold the baptismal bowl out of which these lepers were baptized. I am taking it home as a priceless memorial. Of their own accord, the lepers brought to this communion service a gift of 36 rupees, given out of their poverty and meager earnings to help lepers in other lands who might be more unfortunate than they. “We came away from Chieng Mai with grateful and re¬ joicing hearts. A mighty work of God has been done here by men of God and the noble succession of the past has not failed. We can only transmit to the church at home the closing words of a letter which the three ordained Lao ministers gave us as we came away: ‘The fields are very broad and the grain is yellow. We beg that the Christians of America may work together with us in order that the grain may be garnered quickly. Please do not forget us. We beg that the members of the great Foreign Board will carry this message to you Christians in America. May the love of Jehovah dwell in your hearts unceasingly.’ ” (From the Continent.) A recent letter from Dr. McKean tells how a Buddhist friend voluntarily contributes fifty baskets of rice for the lepers every year; and the Governor of Siam is very friendly to the work and has fallen in with the idea of asking native friends throughout the country to contribute rice for their support. The Governor will not only acquiesce in this plan, but will do everything he can to encourage generosity toward the lepers. CHOSEN (KOREA) k w a no 111 The Kwangju, Chosen, Leper Home, ASYLUM over which Dr - R - M - Wilson of the Southern Presbyterian Mission presides, was the unexpected outgrowth of a rather novel experience. Dr. W. H. Forsythe, a Presbyterian missionary, was rid¬ ing one day toward Kwangju, when he heard a strange noise by the roadside. Dismounting, he found in the bushes a poor leper woman almost dead. Knowing she would die 18 if he left her, he put her on his own horse and took her to Kwangju. Then this modern Good Samaritan realized that no inn would receive her, neither could any home. With other missionaries, he arranged an unused tile kiln suitably, and fed and taught this poor creature. She welcomed the comfort of the Gospel and accepted the Saviour. In the meantime, the missionaries among themselves gave funds to build a small three-room house, and here five or six other patients who had heard of the Christian treatment of a leper, were cared for. It was now imperative that larger provision be made, and through The Mission to Lepers and the prayers of friends, this Macedonian call was answered, and the present Asylum was created. Dr. Wilson, the missionary in charge, says: “Donors can never regret their gifts, if they stop to think what a Home like ours means to the lepers. A welcome (the first shock), a warm bath (the second shock), clean clothes, a nice Korean room, plenty of bedding, food for each meal, the best medical treatment for their disease, work to do if able, books to read, teaching, the Gospel Story lovingly told, and finally, a Christian burial. “November 15, 1912, was a happy day when we dedicated the Kwangju Leper Home to the Lord. On opening day, twenty-one half-clad, shivering lepers gathered at our dis¬ pensary, and when welcomed to this new home, their worn, haggard faces actually changed to happy-looking coun¬ tenances. At 3 P. M. all the missionaries and many native Christians gathered, and with songs of praise, prayers of thanksgiving, Scripture readings, and addresses, the Kwang¬ ju Leper Home was opened in the name of Him who said ‘Cleanse the lepers.’ “The main building has a dispensary and church in the center, and two wings, one for men and one for women. There is also a superintendent’s house, a well, a wash house, and the ‘Soul Rooms,’ which is the name the lepers them¬ selves give to the small houses for those about to die. The 19 location is the southern side of a beautiful hill about a mile from town, where we are planting trees, grapevines, berries and flowers.” The native superintendent, Mr. Chloe, is well fitted for the work. He was assistant in the regular hospital for four years, and is an elder in the Presbyterian Church. He can care for other diseases the lepers may develop, while he carries on his research work in the leper field. He also seeks to make the farm self-supporting. One year after dedication, Mr. and Mrs. Wellesley C. Bailey visited the Kwangju Asylum. The lepers had been given a calf which they raised as a pet. They decided to kill this “fatted calf” in honor of the expected guests; and so they did, the day before their arrival. As the Baileys did not even see it, it is difficult to see what part they had in the calf! They have a daily program of medicine, prayers, meals, study, work, singing, gardening and poultry raising. It was difficult for the women to sew with their stubs of fingers. For this reason a sewing machine sent by friends in Virginia, brought great rejoicing. When all have behaved and attended to things well through the week they are given some meat for their Sab¬ bath meal; and a Korean will do almost anything for meat. Ten men have done so well with the farm work that it has been necessary to employ but one farmer. Words of strongest commendation come from business men who have studied Korean conditions, saying that “the best investment is money spent in the Leper Home.” In addition, these outcasts have their first opportunity to hear the Gospel. Dr. Wilson says: “A very touching thing during the services on Sunday is to see how they help each other when the number of the song or reference to Scripture is read; many without fingers have the pages turned and place found 20 by those who have fingers. Every one wants the place found in his own book. “Last year when the Sunday School was organized, one of the lepers, who is a most earnest Christian, was elected superintendent, and he is very busy indeed, for it seems that this has made him general manager of everything about the place. He is so gentle and kind to them all that he is gen¬ erally known as the ‘Grace Man,’ for he rarely ever utters a sentence without saying ‘Through the grace and love of our Father.’ ” LEPER ASPLUM AT FUSAN, KOREA The Fusan Feper Asylum is the property FUSAN ASYLUM. Q f The Mission to Lepers. For many years the good work was under the skil¬ ful care of Dr. C. H. Irvin, of the American Presbyterian Church. Owing to a division of territory between the denominations, this work has now passed into the hands of representatives of the Australian Presbyterian Church. 21 When future chapters of work for lepers Taiku ASYLUM, in Korea shall be written, there will be a very attractive paragraph included, covering the work at Taiku where Dr. Fletcher of the American Presbyterian Mission is leading in the plans for providing an Asylum. The fund required to erect the first buildings came in one sum in answer to prayer and from an unknown donor. JAPAN OSAKA AND The Osaka Asylum receives regular vis- OSHIMA its on behalf of The Mission to Lepers ASYLUMS. from the American Presbyterian mis¬ sionaries, and most remarkable services were held last Christmas time. There were nine baptisms, so that the number of Christians now in this Asylum has reached forty- eight, and this is the result of work extending over a little more than a year. Visits are also made by Southern Pres¬ byterian missionaries to the Government Asylum at Oshima. CHINA The Canton Leper Settlement and Chil- CANTON. dren’s Home carried on by the American Presbyterian Mission, and aided by The Mission to Lepers for so many years has now been trans¬ ferred to the Rhenish Missionary Society. PERSIA The work for Tabriz lepers is hung up, TABRIZ LEPERS, owing to the war. Christian teaching and small allotments of food and other gifts have been provided through Dr. and Mrs. W. S. Van- neman and other representatives of the American Presby¬ terian Mission, but the war conditions have made it impos¬ sible to go ahead with projected buildings, even if the funds 22 had all been in hand. A missionary writes: “I shall take great pleasure in telling the lepers of their unknown friends. They understand it is for the love of Christ they receive from us the help, and I am sure that others will be touched to know that fellow-lepers have found Jesus Christ so pre¬ cious.” THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS MANILA ASYLUM. The Asylum at Manila is a Government Asylum, in which Christian teaching is also given by the American Presbyterian Mission on behalf of The Mission to Lepers. This, in later years, has become rather a receiving station for the large colony located at Culion. The appeal for Christian teaching for the lepers in the rich and fertile Philippine Islands first came in 1907. At first, an evangelist was supported, later, regular visits were made by the missionaries of the Ameri¬ can Presbyterian Station, the lepers always expressing heart¬ iest thanks and gratitude; but in this Station the problem has always been extremely delicate for the reason that so many are nominal Romanists, and the missionaries have carefully tried to preach a religion of Bible faith and con¬ sistent work. CULION LEPER The Culion Station is the largest leper COLONY :olony in the world. It is a beautiful island in the Philippine group and was selected by the United States Government as the place in which all the known lepers of the Philippines are now segregated and supported. In this Station all the food and clothing, and comfortable shelter, are provided by the Government. A Presbyterian missionary, Dr. G. W. Wright, living in Ma¬ nila, though not able to visit this Station regularly, is none the less actively supervising the work and keeping in touch with the leper congregation through visits and correspond¬ ence. There is only one boat going from Manila to Culion. The Mission’s Bible Woman, Sra. Juana Coronel, followed 23 the visit of two theological students who used their Christ¬ mas vacation to make an evangelistic tour to the colony. The Bible woman, as the missionaries say in Manila, is anywhere and everywhere a host in herself. She knows what to do and how to do it. Pastor Garchalian, who was trained in the Theological Seminary, is not only an excellent pastor, but a man of warm heart and sympathy. He, too, has visited the lepers, spending some time among them, per¬ forming the functions of a pastor and doing much good by his visit. Dr. Wright made a very remarkable visit at the end of the year, preaching in a “Watch Night” service, a Christmas sermon, and another on New Year’s morning, and conducted Communion and received new members in the afternoon. The regular Christmas exercises were held by the congregation at the usual time, distributing the sup¬ plies that had been sent on in advance. The work in the colony is all done by the lepers with the exception of the construction of the buildings. There is even a leper police force. These police, the butcher, the baker, as well as the teachers, receive special compensation. The colonists have their own shops with which the Govern¬ ment does not interfere. In 1911, Dr. J. B. Rogers of the Presbyterian Mission, encouraged by the fact that a number of the men and wom¬ en were received into communion and due to the presence of a native minister, who had contracted leprosy, advised the organization of a church. The number of lepers pro¬ fessing the Protestant faith is, of course, very small, as the Catholics are notably numerous. It would not be fair to conclude this U. S. A. LEPERS, article without giving credit to Presby¬ terian Christian workers interested in the lepers in our own country. Rev. J. W. Caldwell of New Orleans presided at the dedication of the Protestant chapel erected in the Louisiana Leper Colony, the 14th of last June. Under his chairmanship a wonderful service was held during which the congregation voted to make their motto, 24 “Brighten up the corner where you are.” This was done on a show of hands, many of which indicated the serious dis¬ comfort caused by leprosy in their own bodies; but shall we not take courage from their cheerful attitude toward life under the most adverse circumstances and join with them in a living demonstration of effort to “Brighten the corner where you are.” We have seen how the Presbyterian missionaries in co¬ operation with The Mission to Lepers are working in “Leper Lands” in the preaching of the Gospel to the whole congre¬ gation. This is an illustration of Evangelical Alliance in which the Presbyterian missionaries lead all other denomin¬ ations. Dr. Arthur J. Brown, Secretary, Board of Foreign Mis¬ sions of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A., says: “Two visits to Asia have deeply impressed me with the for¬ lorn and pathetic condition of that afflicted class. Your Mission is doing a work among them which must be very close to the heart of the Great Physician, and it ought to ap¬ peal to all who love Christ and are interested in those to whom He ministered when on earth.” Dr. A. W. Halsey, Secretary, Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A., says: “I wish to assure you of the cordial co-operation of our Board in this important work. For many years The Mission to Lepers has aided various leper institutions in connection with our Missions. Our Board has only the highest ap¬ preciation of the work which The Mission to Lepers is do¬ ing.” Dr. C. R. Watson, Secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions of the United Presbyterian Church of North America, says: “The Mission to Lepers is doing an admir¬ able work. Our missionaries are in touch with this work in India, and I have always heard the heartiest commenda¬ tion of the work done by this Mission.” The Continent in editorial mention has said: “There are not many Foreign Mission objects outside denominational lines, to which responsible missionary leaders of the Presby- 25 terian Church are entirely willing to see Presbyterians con¬ tribute ; but one big and notable exception is The Mission to Lepers, which the Foreign Board endorses with utmost cordiality. This good will springs from the fact that The Leper Mission works in closest harmony with denomina¬ tional Mission Societies and practically all its money is spent under supervision of denominational missionaries. 1915. Note.—The denominational Boards do not receive or disburse funds for leper work, though in hearty sympathy with the interdenomina¬ tional society, “The Mission to Lepers,’’ of which W. M. Danner. 105 Raymond St., Cambridge, Mass., is Secretary. The missionaries of all Boards give a portion of their time to work in the leper stations. 26 THE WOMAN’S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 501 Witherspoon Building, Philadelphia Price, Five Cents