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PROPOSED MEMORIAL TO FATHER…

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PROPOSED MEMORIAL TO FATHER DAMIEN. A few days ago the Prince of Wales pre- sided at Marlborough House over the first meeting of the committee for promoting a memorial toLthe late Father Damien. In opening the proceedings, the Prince proposed that there should be a memorial scheme, em- bracing a monument onj the spot at Molokai where Father Damien's remains are interred tlie establishment of a leper ward in London, to be called the Father Damien Ward, togethpr with the endowment of a travelling student- ship to encourage the study of leprosy; and a full and complete inquiry into the question of leprosy in India. Mr E. Clifford, the Duke of Westminster, Sir James Paget, Mr J. Hutchinson, Sir W. G. Hunter, Cardinal Alaniiing, and the Rev. Hugh Chapman hay- ing spoken, resolutions adopting the schcme were passed, and an executive committee ap- pointed. The Dally News of June 18th has the follow- ing remarks:—The whole civilised world has followed the story of Father Damien's noble fcelf-sacrifice with admiration and reverence. No argument can be adduced against the extreme importance of giving careful study to this terrible disease, especially in India and among our colonies. India is one of the chief homes of leprosy. There are in our Indian Empire about 250,000 victims of that loath- some scourge, or about one thousandth part of the whole population. Here it is exceedingly rare, but it exists, while in the colonies it is also infrequent, but it is said to be spreading. The only part of the Committee's project over which any discussion can possibly arise is the necessity for the establishment of the proposed leper ward in one of the hospitals of the 11 11_- __1 metropolis. It has been generally supposeu that the disease no longer exists in these islands. That is unhappily a mistake. There are some unfortunate people living and mov- ing among us, who carry about with them this hideous, incurable, and possibly commun- icable disease. The Prince of Wales men- tioned one startling instance. At this very moment," said he, there is a leper, with his hands distinctly affected by the disease, en- gaged at his business in one of the large London meat markets." This would be alarm* iog enough if it were certain that the contagion could be spread in such a way. The old notion of the infectious nature of leprosy is dis- credited, but the death of Father Damien is to some extent evidence on the other side. The very doubt upon such an important ques- tion—for we must remember the great fre- 0 quency of leprosy in the East—is the best proof possible of the urgency of full scientific Z5 investigation. London is the first school of Medicine in the world, and yet this awful scourge cannot be properly studied by London medical men. But collect together a number of cases and place them where their affliction can be thoroughly investigated, and there will at last be some possibility and hope of the discovery of alleviating treatment, if not at length of an actual cure. The Lancet notes further It is gratify- ing that the self-sacriticing labours of the late Father Damien should have received such recognition as is evinced in the announcement of the movement headed by H.R.H. the Prince -of Wales, and sh a fed in by a large J number of prominent men of all creeds and political paities. Commenced under such auspices, there is every reason to hope that the movement will succeed. It embraces not only the erection of a monument at Molokai, the scene of Father Damien's life work, but also two other schemes, which, if carried out, may go far to wipe out the reproach that may well be cast at England for her neglect in investigating thoroughly the nature and treat- ment of a disease that is so rife in some parts of her colonial dominions. It is proposed to found a leper ward at the Hospital for Diseases of the Skin, Black friars, to be called the Father Damien Ward, and in connection therewith to found travelling scholarships to promote the study of leprosy. The other suggestion is to follow up the recent recommendation of the Royal College of Physicians, and to despatch a Commission to India to determine in what manner the disease may be best alleviated and, if possible, eradicated. This, which we have more than once urged as the duty of the State, would necessarily require large funds, but no more fitting memorial of Father Damien's work could be well suggested. It must also be gratifying to Archdeacon Wright, who has done not a little in urging the recon- sideration of the subject, especially in view of the question of contagiousness."

" THE LYRE OF ANACREON."

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