The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-06
HERO PRIESTS OF THE WAR
BY the REV. DR.. PETER CuILDAY

About s o'clock that morning they
arrived at the monastery. which had
been turned into 4 hospital. The
fathers saw at nee that Father Der
gent was in danger. for the Red Cross
badge was poorly made and was not
stamped with the eneiny's seal. They
advised him strongly not TO leave the
hospital until they had arranged the
matter with the cnemy's physicians,
but he told them Of what the young
Flemish student had said and that ne
had no time to walt for eli this rcd
tape. because his parish was In the
hands d tho enemy and his people
needed his support every moment In
the trials they were going through.
After going TO confession to his O
ular confessor, Father Blasius, TO
whom he said: \ feel, father, that
this is my last confession no started
hack to Gelrode- He had scarcely
reached tho limits of tho town cf
Aerschot when he was arrested. His
Red Cross badge WAS examined and
no was technically accused Of spying
on the enemy's outposts under a dis.
Suisc. That night he spent I'm the
cellar OF the city hall of Aerschot O
prisoner and IL was announced to him
that on tho morrow he was to die.
Father Dergent was about 81 years
old, a strong specimen Of the sturdy
Flemish stock which has never known
fear. and he showed no concer over
his fate. 1t vas easy to die when It
was in the pursuit Of his duty as a
priest of God. Had he known the
l N, n ~ ,-vN1nyr au.uiti,u 1l., a.. .-i-ts
not have passed that night so calmly
or so peacefully. .
Tho people of Aerscliot we're all
huddled together in the Church Of
Notre Dame. The priests Of the town
were imprisoned there also, In the
sanctuary. and 10 one was allowed to
move except ut regular intervals. when
a group was led outside tho church
for "A few moments to satisfy their
needs.
That morning AN officer mounted the
pulpit and told the terrified priest and
people that the paris, priest Of Gel
rode was 20 die for his NmerIty In
lcavlnS his .wn town. even though IL
was on al errand of mercy. In the
several accounts I have OF what fol-
lowed the writer's all apologize for
telling the facts exactly as they hap
pencj.
Father bergvut was placed upright
III "a certain thing which stands out
side many churches in Belgium against
'he wall. HIS feet and arms were
bound with wire and as each group
was brought out OF the church they
were forced at thc point Of a revolver
M ,la1lE isf1--t ,-l-v.Ns '. mara sN4ss
for d~ec,ucy's SAKE. Hts face WAS cut
and bleeding from the blows Ne had
received. and for three hours this
hideous comedy WAS carried out IN
the presence Of the ,iemy's soldiers.
' When The soldiers grew tired OF il
one ainpug them PROPOSED to give HIN
lis fr,.-lom II hc would cry out. "To
Ii with Jesus CHRISTI There VAS
only ono answer 20 that temptation "a
apostaslIe, and 1t Was d 'irru Newer
I'll" only wo-i tlst passed his lins
during tho Whole tim. of the outrage.
Two soldiers then dragged Father her
gent 1" IA spot about thirty iH.ters
an4y from the church ana shot hun
through tho hear.
Ills i-,Jy Wa stripped and thrown,
into Tie lSner. Two days later Il
vas picked up and buried. After tie
capture OF Mahnes when things had
quoted down. Cardinal Mercer went
to the spot where he Was inferred, the
body was eXhumed and carried in pro-
cesstun to tho church at Gcir,ds
where the mlrtyrcd priest us.s buri~i
with the highest ecclesiastical honors.
That such II thing could take place
In modern times Is almost i~ucr~dible
Unfortunately Il is true and Father
bcrGents name stands out among .he
heroes of Belgium to-day as one whc
suffered for Ills aith as well as 70,
his country. c.rdinal Merci"r woul.
never have called him a martyr unless
he ~ sure OF the facts, and the young
Flemish student who sat and told me
this story heard tho Incidents spoken
Tout by the people of o'elrode on Tn.
morning OF the burial there.
The CAUSE OF Father U%.rgent's avn
suffering and death he certainly Uss
not, but i Is not difficult to imagine
what must have passed over his
memory when he saw the heading @,
the article 7 showed HIM: Joseph
Dergent the Martyr Priest Of Gel.
rode"
,CopYN9htcd IN Tritrd Stctes rn1
Canada by Bhtciy Hnli. Grcat Brito1r
r1hts rcserred.)