Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-09-19
Archbishop Seton Discusses
Phases OF Situation in Europe
Peate Thinks Higher Law of Justice Will Assert ItseEx
plains ''Truce of God and Deplores War.

Various features of the European
situation were discussed in the course
of an interview granted by Monsignor
Robert Seton to a reporter for the
Evening Star this week. The prelate
is titular archbishop of Heliopolis,
the "city of the sum-" in Egypt, He
Is now the guest of Very Rev.
Dean Patrick Smythe, rector of st.
Josephs Church, Jersey City. Some
years ago Monsignor Seton resigned
the rectorship of the Jersey City par
ish to live at Rome. He recently de-
cided to spend the rest of his days at
Emmitsburg, Md, and returned to
this country a few days ago.
Monsignor Seton is seventy-five
years of age. He comes of a famous
American family descended from the
royal Stuarts of Scotland. His grand
mother. Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Seton,
was founder of the Order of Sisters of
Charity in this country. She was
convert to the Catholic faith. Her
father was Or. Richard Bayley. of
New York. Her half brother, Guy
Carleton Bayley, was father of James
Roosevelt Bayley, first Catholic
bishop of the diocese of Newark, and
later archbishop of Baltimore.
In the course of the interview re-
garding conditions in Europe Mon
signor Seton showed much distress
over the destruction of Louvain, Bel
GUM, He officiated at the great Uni
versity of Louvain at the commence
ment exercises there a few months
ago. The institution Is conducted by
the Catholic church and had more
than 2400 students from all parts of
the world. One section of the college
was for the use of American students.
Proposes to Rest.
The order OF Sisters of Charity was
founded at Emmitsburg by Mother
Seton and a few companions. 1t was
there Monsignor Seton spent his boy
hood days, his father, William Seton,
being noted United States navy Of
f1cer. He now proposes to spend the
rest of his life within the shadow of
old Mt st. Mary's College at Emmits-
burg and to be buried beside his an
cestors.
Departing from Rome early this
summer, Monsignor Seton intended to
make leisurely trip through Europe
before returning to America. He said
that when he left Pope Plus X, with
whom he possessed an intimate
friendship, the pontiff was in good
health and appeared to be cheerful.
He presented to Archbishop Seton q
beautiful ring set with large aqua
marine and a gold cross.
After war was declared / met
someone who had spoken with the
Pope" said the archbishop. HE told
me Of the depression shown by his
holiness, who had said to him: In
the older days, when the Popes had
the power to make peace, this could
not have happened. The Truce of
God will forever remain the glory of
the Papacy of the middle ages
81 assisted in the giving of degrees
at the University of Louvain this
summer continued Archbishop Sc
ton, "snd officiated at mass in the
beautiful church there. I went
through the library with It's seventy
thousand rare books and manu-
scripts that are now lost forever to
civilization. We little expected that
all OF these splendid buildings and
priceless treasures would be destroyed
by vandal hands.
1.-THE Germans excuse their wanton
breaking of treaties, their invasion OF
a neutral state by declaring that me-
cessity knows no law. Necessity does
know a law. Necessity must know
the law of God, the higher law of
Justice. And whether the Germans
find victory or are vanquished, they