thank God for his strong head and
heart.

Damien was _bigoted_.

I am not fond of bigots myself, because they are not fond of me. But
what is meant by bigotry, that we should regard it as a blemish in a
priest? Damien believed his own religion with the simplicity of a
peasant or a child; as I would I could suppose that you do. For this, I
wonder at him some way off; and had that been his only character, should
have avoided him in life. But the point of interest in Damien, which has
caused him to be so much talked about and made him at last the subject
of your pen and mine, was that, in him, his bigotry, his intense and
narrow faith, wrought potently for good, and strengthened him to be one
of the world's heroes and exemplars.

Damien _was not sent to Molokai, but went there without orders_.

Is this a misreading? or do you really mean the words for blame? I have
heard Christ, in the pulpits of our Church, held up for imitation on the
ground that His sacrifice was voluntary. Does Dr. Hyde think otherwise?

Damien _did not stay at the settlement, etc_.

It is true he was allowed many indulgences. Am I to understand that you
blame the father for profiting by these, or the officers for granting
them? In either case, it is a mighty Spartan standard to issue from the
house on Beretania Street; and I am convinced you will find yourself
with few supporters.

Damien _had no hand in the reforms, etc_.

I think even you will admit that I have already been frank in my
description of the man I am defending; but before I take you up upon
this head, I will be franker still, and tell you that perhaps nowhere in
the world can a man taste a more pleasurable sense of contrast than when
he passes from Damien's "Chinatown" at Kalawao to the beautiful
Bishop-Home at Kalaupapa. At this point, in my desire to make all fair
for you, I will break my rule and adduce Catholic testimony. Here is a
passage from my diary about my visit to the Chinatown, from which you
will see how it is (even now) regarded by its own officials: "We went
round all the dormitories, refectories, etc.--dark and dingy enough,
with a superficial cleanliness, which he" [Mr. Dutton, the lay brother]
"did not seek to defend. 'It is almost decent,' said he; 'the sisters
will make that all right when we get them here.'" And yet I gathered it
was already better since Damien was dead, and far better than when he
was there alone and had his own (not always excelle