Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-11
MERCER CHEERED
AS CARDINALS KISS
Tears Dim Eyes Of Primate as
Bands Play BeIgium's
National Anthem
TO GIVE MESSAGE TO U. S.
BY JAMES NJ. BENNETT
,taf Correspondent Of the Evening Public
Ledger

By JAMES M. ENNEII
staT Correspondent Of the Evening Public
Ledgcr
Baltimore. Sept. 11.-Cardinal Glib
bons kissed Cardinal Mercier Cardi
nal Mcrcier kissed Cardinal Gibbons.
Friends of the yesteryears in lands
across the sea, they embraced for the
first time on American soil as thou
sands of Baltimoreuns cheered.
Monsignor Gibbons, wearing his full
red cardinals robes. flanked by the
present and g former governor of Mary
land, stood in the smoky train shed
while the train from New York drew
in with Cardinal Mercier and his party.
AS the Belgian prelate approached
Cardinal Gibbons smiled and opened
his arms. Monsignor Mercier walked
right into them and the aged Baltimore
preate claspcd the visitor to his breast
whispered word of welcome into his
car and kissed him on the cheek
Smiling that Mercier smile that is
ever present. the distinguished visitor
returned the salutation.
The movie men then did stunt or
two and the two cardinals, arm in arm,
laughing and conversing in low tones.
passed through the cheering throng to
the grounds that surround the station.
There Cardinal Mercier received the
welcome of Baltimore. long the home
seat of the Catholic Church in Amer
lea. He faced hundreds of school chill
dren. dressed in white, waving Amer
ican and Belgian flags, as they sang
"Vive, Cardinal"
Bands Play Belgian Anthem
Then came the real thrill of the ar
rival A band began to play BRA
banConne, the Belgian national an
them, stirring tune long banned by
the Germans while their heel was upon
the neck of bleeding and PROSTATE Bel
GUM.
AS 1.-The strains of Brabanoonnc"
hoated out over the crowd Cardinal
Mercier drew his right hand over his
heavenward For a full minute he
gazed upward. He seemed lost
Suddenly he turned to Cardinal Glib e
bons and said: 1T is all so wonderful.
| am quite overwhelmed.
Cardinal Mercier will remain in Bal
timore for several days. He has some
speeches to prepare.
These will be set speeches, and he has
surprises in store for his audiences in
cities throughout the country.
Every one knows his part of the story
of the war. from afar. He was world
figure in the conflict, and now he comes
to ten in his modest way how the Ger
mans overran a helpless nation
His Message for America
Then, too. he has an up to the min
ute message for the peonle. Belgium
is facing big problems. There is an in :
describable unrest among the working
classes, an unrest that is as yet in the
silent stage, threatening the future and
causing the thinkers of Belgium much
uneasiness.
And so, for the next six or seven
weeks, Cardinal Mercier will go here
and there, an honored guest. He says
he must be in Belgium by November 10.
''On that date" he explained, as his
train sped from New York to Baltimore,
"the members of the House of Deputies
will be elected. / want to take my part
in the election. You know I'm a bit
Of a politician. The Germans said |
was a real politician" and then came
the Mercier smile. 1t gets up early
every morning and works all day.
Watch for it when it comes to Phil
adelphia. 1t never comes off-it just
can't