The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-10-17
PR[LA1E AROUSED PITY ).
FOR BELGIUM REFUGEES
Cardinal Mercer's Visit to London
is Made Important Event
BY Party Leaders.
Irish Party Leaders Pledge Support
of Ireland to Avenge Louvain
Says T. p. O'Connor.
Cardinal Mercer One of Most Noted
Prelates of Church. Strong
Influence in Belgium. ~=

have rarely had more interest,"
ing experience. though partly person.
al. yet throwing some sidelights on
the psychology Of the present war,
than at the reception of Cardinal
Mercer by the British in London,
writes T. P. O'Connor.
When heard that the Cardinal
was about to pass through London
on his way to the afflicted city of
Malines. it struck me that the Irish
people of London would be delighted
to have an opportunity to pay their
respects and express their sympathy
for Belgium and for its remarkable
and brave archbishop.
Though had often heard of Cardi-
nal Mercer. for he is a noted theolog-
ian. had never met him It was
difficult to find out where he would
arrive in London in the present dis
organized state Of all travel.
sent him kilograms to two sta
tions. extending to him this invita-
tion-one to Folkestone. the other
to Southampton. I got no reply to
either. and it was by accident that
learned that the train of the card
inal would arrive at Waterloo sta
tion in q few minutes.
rushed down in taxicab, was
fortunate enough to reach the station
before the arrival Of tho train. and
was on the platform to receive the
cardinal. only ono Of the three, the
other two being M. de Pre!le. the
counselor Of the Belgium legation in
London. ami DR.. Amigo. the bishop
of the diocese Of Southwark. in Lon
don.
Humble in Attire.
When the train slowed down I
caught sight of tall. thin. white
haired man seated all alone in his
carriage. The cardinal. though q
prince of the church. seemed to be
travelling in the light marching order
of poor workman seeking bread and
work in another land. -
The cardinal raised a little dif-
ficulty or two about accepting the in
vitation. He evidently did not want
to enter upon embittered controversy.
Evidently the new pope had urged
the cardinal to maintain that Chris
tian spirit which might help to bring
this horrible carnage to an end.
explained. that there would be no
recrimintory speeches, and that the
demonstration would be confined to
an expression of sympathy on the
part of the 1rishmen to him and to
his country, and the cardinal i'm
mediately accepted.
There was no time to adopt the
usual method of summoning our peo-
pie to a meeting; there was no print
ing office that could print bill. and
we had to trust to the clergmen in
the churches and the officials of our
branches of the United Irish league
to issue the summons to the demon
stration.
John E. Redmond, who knew and
warmly approved of all the steps I
was taking, lent assistance by seeing
the authorities of Westminster cathe-
dral: and we sent out our scouts.
hoping, but fearing that such sud-
den and imperfect summons might
land US in a bad fizzle.
Watches Demonstration.
When, however. at 3 o'clock Sum
day afternoon. Mr.. Redmond. John
Dillon and myself went out from my
fiat to the archbishop's house next to
the cathedral we were soon relieved.
1t was arranged that the cardinal
should see the demonstration from
one Of the balconies attached to the
archbishop's house.
There is a great broad avenue lead
ing down to the balcony. and even as
early as 3 o'clock we saw a dense
mass of men and women, and then we
knew that it was all right.
The cardinal, meantime, had been
busy every second since his arrival
in London; had found his sister here
as one of the refugees; had paid .
visit to her and to other of his coun-
try people, and had been received by
the king at Buckingham palace, for
the evening papers of Saturday had
CONTINUED on Page 81 NJ