Cornwall Legh
Encyclopedia
Cornwall Legh, Mary Helena Cornwall Legh (May 20, 1857 - December 18, 1941) was a highly-educated English woman, who devoted herself after age 50, to missionary work in Japan
and especially to the welfare
, education
and medical care of leprosy
patients in Kusatsu
, Gunma Prefecture
, Japan
.
, England
in a rich family whose central figure was a baron
. Her father was a colonel
and died when Mary was very young. She studied music
and drawing
in France, education, economics
, languages and English literature
in a Scotland
university. She became a missionary
, and after the death of her mother and having finished everything she thought she should have done in England
, she came to Japan in 1907 at the age of 50. She inherited an enormous sum of fortune, but she was plainly dressed and ate plain food in Japan
. Between 1907 and 1915, she worked as a missionary in and around Tokyo
.
at the strong request of a Christian belonging to the Koenkai
(Light and salt society), which had been established under the influence of Hannah Riddell
who had established the Kaishun Hospital for leprosy
patients in Kumamoto. Cornwall Legh investigated the Kusatsu
Hot Spring, one of the gathering spots of leprosy patients. It was a problematic town where leprosy patients gathered to cure the disease, but their life was that of demoralization such as gambling
, violence
and sexual enjoyment. Religious revolution was anticipated. Father Joseph Jean Augustin Bertrant of Fukusei Byoin first wanted to begin missionary work and build a hospital
there, but met immediate opposition. Cornwall Legh started missionary work at Kusatsu
in 1916. In the same year she established a kindergarten
and a women's dormitory "Family of Love", at parts of a Japanese stype hotel. In 1917, she established a clinic (Dr. Kesa Hattori, Nurse Chiyo Mikami), followed by various homes and schools. The administration of the mission and all buildings were financially paid by her, although in later years, fundraising
was also conducted. For instance, in 1929, Tomekichi Matsumoto, a president of a company donated much money enough for the building of a new clinic
and the salary of a doctor for 10 years.
The directors of the Hospital were:
was opend in 1932. She celebrated her 77th birthday in 1939 and went back to England
for health problems. Her place was taken by Mary B. Magill. After returning to Japan, she lived in warm Akashi
, Hyogo Prefecture
. The St. Barnaba Hospital was dissolved on April 13, 1941. She died on December 18, 1941 at Akashi
.
of people with leprosy, and all she did was in the interests of these people. She respected the opinions of people, and she did not give priority to her principles.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and especially to the welfare
Welfare
Welfare refers to a broad discourse which may hold certain implications regarding the provision of a minimal level of wellbeing and social support for all citizens without the stigma of charity. This is termed "social solidarity"...
, education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
and medical care of leprosy
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
patients in Kusatsu
Kusatsu
Kusatsu may refer to:* Kusatsu, Shiga, a city in western Japan** Kusatsu Line, operated by JR West**MIO Biwako Kusatsu, local football club* Kusatsu, Gunma, a town in eastern Japan** Kusatsu , operated by JR East**Thespa Kusatsu, local football club...
, Gunma Prefecture
Gunma Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the northwest corner of the Kantō region on Honshu island. Its capital is Maebashi.- History :The remains of a Paleolithic man were found at Iwajuku, Gunma Prefecture, in the early 20th century and there is a public museum there.Japan was without horses until...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
England and Japan
She was born at CanterburyCanterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in a rich family whose central figure was a baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
. Her father was a colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
and died when Mary was very young. She studied music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
and drawing
Drawing
Drawing is a form of visual art that makes use of any number of drawing instruments to mark a two-dimensional medium. Common instruments include graphite pencils, pen and ink, inked brushes, wax color pencils, crayons, charcoal, chalk, pastels, markers, styluses, and various metals .An artist who...
in France, education, economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
, languages and English literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
in a Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
university. She became a missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
, and after the death of her mother and having finished everything she thought she should have done in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, she came to Japan in 1907 at the age of 50. She inherited an enormous sum of fortune, but she was plainly dressed and ate plain food in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Between 1907 and 1915, she worked as a missionary in and around Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
.
St. Barnaba Mission at Kusatsu(1915-1941)
In 1915, she visited KusatsuKusatsu
Kusatsu may refer to:* Kusatsu, Shiga, a city in western Japan** Kusatsu Line, operated by JR West**MIO Biwako Kusatsu, local football club* Kusatsu, Gunma, a town in eastern Japan** Kusatsu , operated by JR East**Thespa Kusatsu, local football club...
at the strong request of a Christian belonging to the Koenkai
Koenkai
Koenkai are an invaluable tool of Japanese Diet members, especially of the Liberal Democratic Party . These groups serve as pipelines through which funds and other support are conveyed to legislators and through which the legislators can distribute favors to constituents in return...
(Light and salt society), which had been established under the influence of Hannah Riddell
Hannah Riddell
Hannah Riddell was an English woman who devoted her life to the salvation of Hansen's disease patients in Japan.-Early life and her determination:...
who had established the Kaishun Hospital for leprosy
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
patients in Kumamoto. Cornwall Legh investigated the Kusatsu
Kusatsu
Kusatsu may refer to:* Kusatsu, Shiga, a city in western Japan** Kusatsu Line, operated by JR West**MIO Biwako Kusatsu, local football club* Kusatsu, Gunma, a town in eastern Japan** Kusatsu , operated by JR East**Thespa Kusatsu, local football club...
Hot Spring, one of the gathering spots of leprosy patients. It was a problematic town where leprosy patients gathered to cure the disease, but their life was that of demoralization such as gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
, violence
Violence
Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
and sexual enjoyment. Religious revolution was anticipated. Father Joseph Jean Augustin Bertrant of Fukusei Byoin first wanted to begin missionary work and build a hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
there, but met immediate opposition. Cornwall Legh started missionary work at Kusatsu
Kusatsu
Kusatsu may refer to:* Kusatsu, Shiga, a city in western Japan** Kusatsu Line, operated by JR West**MIO Biwako Kusatsu, local football club* Kusatsu, Gunma, a town in eastern Japan** Kusatsu , operated by JR East**Thespa Kusatsu, local football club...
in 1916. In the same year she established a kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
and a women's dormitory "Family of Love", at parts of a Japanese stype hotel. In 1917, she established a clinic (Dr. Kesa Hattori, Nurse Chiyo Mikami), followed by various homes and schools. The administration of the mission and all buildings were financially paid by her, although in later years, fundraising
Fundraising
Fundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...
was also conducted. For instance, in 1929, Tomekichi Matsumoto, a president of a company donated much money enough for the building of a new clinic
Clinic
A clinic is a health care facility that is primarily devoted to the care of outpatients...
and the salary of a doctor for 10 years.
St. Barnaba Hospital
Cornwall Legh did not make haste in everything. Chiyo Mikami, previously a nurse of Zensho Hospital and appointed as the nurse of the "Family of Love" dormitory of the St. Barnaba Mission, advised to open a clinic. Dr. Kesako Hattori came and St. Barbana Hospital was opened.The directors of the Hospital were:
- Dr. Kesako Hattori 1917-1923
- Dr. Sadao Sato 1924-1927
- Dr. Tokitaro Nakamura 1928-1929
- Dr. Ichiro Tsuruta 1929-1941
The dissolution of St. Barnaba Mission
Legh was worried since leprosy patients hospitalized in the St. Barnaba Hospital were against the dissolution of the hospital since the Kuryu Rakusen-en SanatoriumKuryu Rakusen-en Sanatorium
Kuryu Rakusen-en Sanatorium, or National Sanatorium Kuryu Rakusen-en is a sanatorium for leprosy or ex-leprosy patients situated at Kusatsu-machi, Azuma-gun, Gunma Prefecture, Japan which started in 1932.-Pre-Rakusen-en days:...
was opend in 1932. She celebrated her 77th birthday in 1939 and went back to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
for health problems. Her place was taken by Mary B. Magill. After returning to Japan, she lived in warm Akashi
Akashi
-People:*Akashi Ken*Akashi Momoka*Akashi Morishige*Akashi Motojiro*Akashi Shiganosuke*Akashi Yasushi-Places:*Akashi, Hyōgo*Akashi Station - Japanese railroad station on the Sanyō Main Line*Akashi-Kaikyō Bridge*Akashi Castle*Akashi Domain-Other:...
, Hyogo Prefecture
Hyogo Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...
. The St. Barnaba Hospital was dissolved on April 13, 1941. She died on December 18, 1941 at Akashi
Akashi
-People:*Akashi Ken*Akashi Momoka*Akashi Morishige*Akashi Motojiro*Akashi Shiganosuke*Akashi Yasushi-Places:*Akashi, Hyōgo*Akashi Station - Japanese railroad station on the Sanyō Main Line*Akashi-Kaikyō Bridge*Akashi Castle*Akashi Domain-Other:...
.
Honours
- In 1928, she was given Blue Ribbon Medal.
- In 1939,she was given the 6th Order of the Sacred Treasure.
- In 1943,the hill presented by her was named "Cornwall Legh Park".
Admiration
Eiko Arai wrote that the combination of the missionary work and welfare in Kusatsu was magnificent. Legh respected the human rightsHuman rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
of people with leprosy, and all she did was in the interests of these people. She respected the opinions of people, and she did not give priority to her principles.