THE KING’S BUSINESS
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leper, made a most beautiful response on the part of the leper congregation, voicing great satisfaction and “pledging conduct on our part to merit consideration and confi dence.” The closing song, “My Faith Looks Up to Thee,” was wafted heavenward by many whose voices had lost their natural tone because of leprosy. Even those whose faces clearly manifested the destroying presence of the dread malady did their utmost to swell the volume of consecrated song. Besides those who took direct part in the program, there were present Miss Violette Belle, the Charity Hospital missionary of the New Orleans Ministers’ Association; Mrs. William Lamb, educational secretary of the Woman’s Auxiliary of the Protestant Episcopal Church and publicity secretary of the Woman’s Interdenominational Mission ary Union; Mrs. J. W. Caldwell, president of the New Orleans Woman’s Interdenom inational Missionary Union; Miss Sarah McKowen, the Baton Rouge representative of the Mission to Lepers, and Mr. W- S. Payne, leader of the Presbyterian Men’s Bible Class of Baton Rouge. The local officers of the Leper Home gave .every facility for making the service one of pleasure and profit. At 2 o’clock in the afternoon, a confer ence occurred, led by Mr. W. M. Danner, in which many of the congregation partici pated. The arrangement for the chapel to be open daily was earnestly desired, and ap proved by the Leper Home authorities. The women residents gladly assume the care of the interior of the chapel, and daily song and devotional services will be held under a committee, of which the chairman is a former active worker in a large western Young Men’s Christian Association. He does not want to have his old friends know of his confinement by the terrible disease from which he is suffering. The closing songs of the lepers’ own choosing were, “God Will Take Care of You,”, “Nearer, My God, to Thee,” and “God Be With You Till We Meet Again,”
keys of the new church over to the chair man of the meeting, and he in turn to Dr. Holmes, as president of the New Orleans Ministers’ Association. Rev. Caldwell, as chairman, in introduc ing Hon. J. J. Prowell, of the Board of Control of the Leper Home, called atten tion especially to the courtesy and friend liness of the Board of Control. Mr. Prowell responded with an address, emphasizing the fact that freedom to worship God accord ing to the dictates of one’s own conscience would be guaranteed to all. His emphatic statement that the Board of Control meant to help make life as pleasant as possible for all the residents was received with evi dent satisfaction. The greetings and congratulations of the Governor of the State came at this time; his absence being due to official duties, in cident to the State legislature in session. Mr. W. M. Danner spoke briefly and gave a number o f messages of congratulation from various Leper Mission Committees, including a telegram from Mrs. Landon R. Mason, of Richmond, Va., on behalf of the Richmond Auxiliary of the Mission to Lep ers. A handsomely inscribed pulpit Bible was also presented with greetings from the American Bible Society. Sixty Rodeheaver and Sunday revival hymn books were pre sented with compliments of the- publishers. A message of appreciation by the leper con gregation was ordered sent to the American Bible Society, and a special message to Rodeheaver and Sunday, inviting them to visit the Leper Church, and including a pledge by the leper congregation to join in the refrain, “Brighten the corner where you are.” The vote on the invitation and greetings was taken by a show of hands, many of which were fingerless stumps. Reference was made to the Rev. Theo. F. Hahri and his connection with this work at its inception led to a request that he be notified of the service of dedication and asked to accept grateful messages of ap preciation of the congregation. Mr. Alfred Wilson, a long-time resident
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