WE began this fund this year. It is for the help of the lepers of India, who are cared for by the mission to lepers. The mission gives a home to as many lepers as possible, and by the loving labor of local missionaries, brings the afflicted people under the teaching of Christianity. Lepers, in the East, are utterly outcast—they are regarded as suffering for their sins, or for the sins of their former existence, and are left to perish. A leper is driven out from his or her house, by wife or husband, father or mother, and if not cast over a rock or into a river, as is done outside the limits of England's dominions, is reckoned as dead. The victims of the disease may be seen starving and wasting to death by the wayside, unsheltered from the burning sun or the dense rain.
The mission to lepers has had a great effect upon the heathen, for, say they, none but Christians would care for such people. And who shall tell the blessing that the leper mission is to afflicted people. Many, many have found in Him, whose loving and almighty hand Touched the leper, a Savior and a Friend. Hope for the future, love in the present, has filled sore hearts. The work is a most gracious one, and is much blessed by God.
The readers of FAITHFUL WORDS are permitted to share in this work. Some pounds have been sent to India, and, after considerable correspondence, it has been agreed that we shall have a little ward, or group of beds, of our own in Purulia.
The editor promised a nice letter from the lepers to his young readers, and he fears that some Sunday-schools and families will be disappointed in not having the promise made good. When he did so, he did not count on the difficulties of getting into touch with the friends in India. A special locality had to be selected, for there are many stations where the lepers are taken in, and one where children could be more particularly cared for was an important consideration. So it has taken more time than the editor anticipated in bringing his young readers into loving touch with individual lepers in India, Also, he could not say all at once what help his readers would render, but now, having received such welcome letters from the United States and Canada, as well as from England, he has engaged, God willing, for 1894, that at least four children in Purulia, two boys and two girls, shall be maintained by the readers of FAITHFUL WORDS.
We shall have their names in time for our issue in January, 1894, and, it is hoped, a little word or two from them. It will be explained to these four children that boys and girls in the United States, Canada, and England, maintain them because Jesus, our Lord and God, loves children, and bids us love one another. Indeed, the missionary, Mr. Uffmann, in Purulia, has already the matter in hand. His heart is full of longing for the sufferers, and there are more applicants for admission to the home than there is room. Hence we shall have our little share in the good work.