MISSION TO LEPERS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18819, 24 September 1935, Page 2

MISSION TO LEPERS

VISIT OF SECRETARY DETAILS OF .WORK N.Z. MEMORIAL HOME The- great progress that has boon made' in the campaign against the dreaOiseasc of leprosy was outline last evening by Mr F, C. Perry, New Zealand secretary of the Mission to Lepers, in the course of a Intern lecture ip the Baptist Church. Ihe Rev. E. W. Batts presided. . Tho- lecturer saul the Mission to Lepers had a small beginning, being founded by Mr Wellesley C. Baicy, of the American Presbyterian Mission, •it a drawing-room meeting held in tno home of the Misses Pim, members ol the Society of Friends, in Monksfown, Ireland, in 1574; 'lts work commenced, and was still carried on by voluntary contributions. The operations had steadily expanded and the mission was now- tyorking at. 112 places in ovt ’ r n nn countries. It was caring for ] 4,000 lepers and 1200 healthy children ot leper parents. The mission did not send out missionaries, but co-operated with‘Protestant Missionary Societieson th<i field, c.oncentrating on the leper problem. Thus it- was distinctively interdenominational. From the evidence produced by an excellent scries of slides it was .claimed that the wide operations of the Mission to Lepers had brought, and was stilt bringing, blessing and relief- to many of those afflicted with the disease, and had saved many children from the fate of Their leprous parents. The result was. said the lecturer, that great numbers were .seeking admission into the already -overcrowded homes, some hundreds'being dailv turned away. As Bishop Chambers, of Central Tanganyika, had stated in conveying the grateful thanks of the lepers in his part of Africa: —“Tho Mission to Lepers stands for new life, new joy, new hope, for lepers everywhere. . 1 know of no more Christlike cause into which--you. can put your wealth.’’ THE FIRST NEW ZEALAND HOME Through the sympathies of a number of friends in Gisborne and elsewhere, tho first New Zealand home was opened last ye,ar, this being in the nature of a memorial to an Invercargill young man, Spencer Jack, who had hoped to be a medical missionary, but passed away just as ho was about to enter the university. His mother, Mrs C. Jack, at present resident in Dunedin, desired that her son’s interest in the Mission to Lepers .should be perpetuated in this way, and materially assisted to this end The home would accommodate about. 50, leper girls who otherwise would-have remained uncared for. , The maintenance of several inmates had already been provided -for by friends in New Zealand. • >

Continuing, tho. lecturer gave details of the patients arriving at. the homes in their pathetic and destitute condition, or the methods of treatment and care and education that were carried out; also of the remarkable contrast in the subsequent appearance and condition of tile patients, who became so cheerful and.happy and contented. The cheerfulness of being employed in some way was an important adjunct to the treatment.Nu nerous trades and industries were taught, and many of the children passed the examinations with distinction. Thus broken lives were being restored and equipped for useful citizenship/instead of being a burden and a menace-; -The leper* were most grateful for what was being done for them, and one way of showing their appreciation was by helping in everypossible way the other patients who were suffering to a greater degree. Many of those who became “symptom free’’ and could return to their homes, elected to remain in the institutions to assist in caring for their less fortunate comrades in affliction. THE SPIRITUAL FACTOR

One of the. first objects was to bring the Gospel to the sufferers, who were most receptive. Some had been known to travel miles beyond a nonChristian treatment centre in order to get what they called “a Christian injection;” Medical missionaries had 'averred that the spiritual factor, with its mental peace and happiness, was a potent contribution to the rapid cure of the disease. - Great possibilities attached to the work or rescuing the children of leper parents. Leprosy was not hereditary, and by separating children from the infection -they were being sayed, and thus the spread of the disease-was definitely checked. It did not cost much to provide for a leper, -an adult costing £5, and a child £4 a year. A number of people were assisting the work by contributing to the support of a leper. . Thankoffering boxes were also being extensively used, whilst legacies were a material help for development purposes. Mr Ferry took the opportunity of thanking all the helpers in this district for their assistance, including those who were providing scarves, which were much appreciated bv the patients, and Mrs Freakes for her valuable services as local secretary. The lantern lecture will be given at Te Hapara Baptist Church to-morrow night, and at Mangapapa Presbyterian. Church on Thursday night.