MISSION TO LEPERS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 16 November 1917, Page 4

MISSION TO LEPERS.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS 1\ INDIA. AND THE EAST. The loathsome., incurable disease of leprosy is found in almost all countries. There are three lepeis in Xew Zealand, segregated on a certain small Uland. There are at least 250,CC0 in India, and countless multitudes in China. Japan, Korea, and other countries, particularly in the -hast. Said to be cursed bv ttieir "ods. outcast from Lome and village, these poor'. helpless .sufferers need a helping hand', ipr they have to beg for their daily bread. Their sufferings are often acute; their fingers and hands, toes and feet gradually rot off. Who would not pity and help them ■' The Lev. Frank Oldrieve, who had charge of a leper asylum in India, is now visiting Dunedin m the interests'of the' Miss Ton to .Lepers, tins mission is the onlv lar<ro mission in the world which works amongst iheso most unfortunate people. It is entirely undenominational: it works in 14 countries, has over 93 asvlums and homes in its care, and ministers to no less than 14.000 leper men, women, and children. No 'less than oq ol the leading Protestant missionary societies of the world co-operate with this mission in its beneficent work. The Mission to Leper's erects buildings" and provides the upkeep lor the asvlums ami aonies. while the local missionaries (An-' gtean, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist etc.) superintend Mn- work. The Government ol India, show their appreciation and approval ol the work done by the mission in India by giving a snbsidv when buildings arc erected, and sometimes thev hrln in the upkeep of a home. The mission president is His Uiace the- Lord Primate o t Ireland. Its patroness is the Dowager Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava Lord Lurzon helped tile mission when he"'was Viceroy of India, and anion.' the vicepresidents are Rajah Sir Harnam Singh. tv.ca.L. Sir Andrew Fraser. K.C.5.1., fn F - CIE - CSI - Sir J. Bourdillon, L..L.S.L. Sir C. Rivaz, K.C.5.1., Sir Andrew Wingate. K.C.1.E.. etc. The mission not only supports lepers, but cares for their children. Leprosy is not beredii •"•- o™ the ch,]f(l "-'» <> f lepers to the number oi 800 are cared for in 22 homes, where they grow up splendidly healthy, and are tavght some useful work so that they may go out and earn their own living and be- | come useful citizens. India has dene so splendidly for the Empire in the present war that it is only right that something shou!d be done for these of her needy people. Owing to the war. food prices are U?^ an ? t , leper cau bu y iess than usual with what he gets, and, on the other hand, he receives much less in the way of alms, i bo he suffers doubly. Five pounds will ■' support a leper man or -woman in one of