Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-09-11

of Archbishop Hayes. what he most
wanted to see in America. without a
moments hesitation, he replied. with a
voice deep with emotion:
Il want to see your people. | want to
see the people of America because I love
them"
New York, Sept. 9.-Belgiums beloved
spiritual prince, guardian of the welfare
of 2,500,0O0 Roman Catholics in the little
kingdom whose first fierce resistance
stayed the German avalanche. Cardinal
Desideratus MERCER, was born on No.
vember %, 1851, in Braine d'Alleud. a
village only a few miles from famous
Waterloo.
Typical of the heroism of King Alberto
countrymen. this physically frai but
intellectually powerful preate of the
church stirred the whole world to admira-
ton of his courage when, on the first
war Christmas, in 1914, with Germans
| everywhere in Belgium. he issued his
famous pastoral letter, denouncing the
invader and urging his people to resist
In these words:
Germany has violated her oath. We
| can neither number our dead nor com
pute the measure of our ruins. Occu-
pied provinces are not conquered prov
inces The authority of the invader
| is no lawful authority. Therefore, in
soul and in conscience you owe it
neither respect. attachment nor obedi-
ence."
Later, in protesting against the de-
portation of the Belgians for forced
la Dor, he threatened Germany with
the reprobation of the civilized world,
the Judgment of history and the chas-
tisement of God"
Fifteen thousand copies of the card
mails letter We're seized and destroyed
the printer was arrested and fined and
the brave priest was kept a prisoner
in his palace by order of General Won
Kissing until retracton of the pas
toral had been signed" The cardinal
not only refused to retract his state
ments but became even more defiant.
He was given his liberty. finally.
and continued to use his voice and
pen against the mailed fist in crys-
| tallizing world opinion against the
Central Powers, All during the war,
however. he was subjected to petty
prosecutions and his secretary and 9TH
err aides were thrown into Jail He
went through the bombardments of
Antwerp and Malines and braved the
perils of the common soldier.
Cardinal MERCER was created and
/ proclaimed IA member of the Sacred
College on April Is, 1907. Before that
he was professor in the University of
Louvain. which was repeatedly pill
LACED and desecrated in the war. The
prelates distinguished service for Bel
GUM throughout the war has been told
! in frequent news dispatches Less is
publicly known of his early record as
a churchman.
| The cardinal studied at st. Rombout's
College. Malnes, and the diocesan semi
nary in the same place. He was Or
dained to the priesthood April 4, 1874, en-
! tered the seminary at Malines in 1877 as
a professor of philosophy after taking
course in theology at the University
/ of Louvain and five years later was
| called to the university as professor of
thomistic or liberal philosophy. In 1886
, Pope Leo NH appointed him a domes-
J tic prelate, with the title of monsignor.
: He comes of a distinguished religious
. family, other members of which have
; won honors in the church. One uncle,
/ the Ri. Rev. Adrian Croquet, born in
1915 was a pioneer missionary among the
Indians for 80 years in the Canadian
Northwest He died in Belgium in 1902
! and it is the cardinals wish to visit the
scene of his uncle's labors.
Cardinal Mercier's visit to the United
States is largely the result of importuni-
ties from all sections of the country.
AS President Wilson is absent from
Washington the cardinal will pay his
! first respects to Cardinal Gibbons in Bal
timore and visit the White House later
! in his tour According to present plans
! the noted Belgian preates itinerary will
| include. besides the cities mentioned
Philadelphia. Pittsburg, Scranton. Albany,
Boston, Providence, Hartford, Spring
, field, Mass, Detroit, Cincinnati St. Louis
and Chicago,