LEPER WORK

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 268, 25 August 1949, Page 6

LEPER WORK

Visit by International Secretary

INTERESTING ADDRESS

A representative gathering of the people of the churches of Ashburton op Tuesday night heard the world leprosy representatives, Dr. Marjorie Miller and her distinguished husband, Mr A. Donald Miller, in the Baring Square Church. Dr. Miller spoke of the medical advance in relation to the leper work, arid how that new life had been extended to the otherwise'down-trodden women of these vast Eastern zones. The leper organisation gave womenhood her true place, and although they had a long way to go, a start, and a very good one had been made to alleviate the lot of the sick people of the East.

The speaker made special mention of the grand work done among the children who were symptom free. By that she meant that although parents had leprosy it did not follow the children would have it. It was not a hereditary disease, so orphanages had been formed and the work was therefore two-fold, communities of healing and children’s homes. The results bad been so great that they should feel every penny they put in was well worthwhile. * ,

The second speaker, Mr Miller, took the political consequences at present in places like India, Burma and China. India, he said, had gone a long way in a short time. Pandit Nehru had as his chief health portfolio in Cabinet rank a woman. His Finaifce Minister •was also a Christian man. In a land always recognised as heathen, this was extraordinary, but it reflected the goodwill of men who were not devotees of the Christian way of life and were a good portend, so far as we are concerned, being so interested in the East.

Burma Is Different Burma, Mr Miller said, was different, as a spirit of pessimism reigned. It was only such places as the leper colonies and Christian communities that the spirit of the resurrection prevailed, an eloqpent proof of the power of the Christian message.

China, Mr Miller continued, would come through. He was impressed by the rugged individuality of the Chinese. He felt sure that China would never be a menace to our way of life. At the s*ame time, lie added, the Chinese had a streak of cruelty toward their own sufferers. Many cases of lepers being murdered were reported to him. The whole survey was eloquent of this fact —that for broken communities- and humanity tlie Christian message, backed up by practical healing methods, was the greatest method of goodwill toward the East.

The Rev. James K. Reid wlio accompanied tlie international visitors, briefly outlined that lie would be back early next year to show an outstanding film on the East which would demonstrate beyond all shadow of doubt the words Which the distinguished guests had given them. ; «