South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-09-17
CARDINAL GIVES
THANKS To j. 6.
Belgian PreIate Addresses
Large Audience in BaIti-
more Theater.

BALTIMORE. Nd. sept I'm
an address to an assemblaee which
packed the Lyric theater here Tues
day night. Cardinal MERCER. pri-
mo.s 90 Belgium. thanked America
for IT'S great support OF his country
in time OF trial and appealed for
the continuance Of this help.
II WIS Cardinal Mercier's first
formal address in this country lie
came here ne said first 10 express
his admiration for America. sec
ond 10 express mis- gratitude and
third 10 express the need of
American help for the social re-
construction Of Belgium"
Americas War Ideal.
America said the Belgian
primate. had no territorial. finan-
cial or political interest in the war:
rather was she bound by her tradi-
tional policy 10 keep herself aloof
from every European conflict:
America had in her bosom a pro
portion OF citizens Of German ORR
gin. and appeared to "A foreign OBJ
server rather as a cosmopolitan
agglomeration than one homo
geneous unit. but this wonderful
country showed herself 70 he ami
mated BY one soul. Permeating all
the parts of her immense organism
and giving to all the individuals the
same high ideal. the strongest bond
of social unity. the ideal which the
great doctor OF the Catholic church,
Saint Ambrose. defined in this
brief and splendid motto: Above
all. honesty
America saw Belgium struggling
and suffering for honor. America
could not help esteeming. loving,
admiring Belgium; she esteemed,
loved. admired Belgium not in
words. but in deeds.
Reason For Visit.
"Our brotherhood in the worship
of the same ideal brought both our
nations nearer 10 each other. and
my desire to clasp your hand over
this common cause OF eternal jus
tice is the first reason for my COM
ing here.
Even as Belgium was in IA. the
providential instrument to bar the
way TO the invaders. in order to al
low France and England 70 ccncen-
trate their forces against the Ger
man colossus, so was America in IT
the main providential factor Of our
final victory.
con the goth Of June last the
Belgian people, King Albert, Queen
Elizabeth and their royal children
at their head, in union with the
whole hierarchy. clergy and an
enormous multitude of our COM
patriots, celebrated in Brussels a
national Thanksgiving day. A rel-
gious monument will commemorate
for future generations our univer-
sal gratitude A chapel Of this, our
national basilion. shall be dedicaJ-
ed 10 the great republic of the
United States.
HOOver's Aid
Accept. please, this resolution
as an homage of our feelings OF ad-
miration anu gratefulness towards
your valiant troops who saved our
liberty. and towards Herbert Hoo
ver's commission for relief in Bel
GUM. which saved the very life of
many OF our Belgian families"
III QAl!hl MFltlcl Sdlu lie WiSutu
his hearers could see some Of the
letters he had received from Bel
Rian mothers asking him TO be their
spokesman here. He read one which
ne said a mother had sent him on
the eve Of his departure "Oh,
please" she wrote, tell them. far
over there. tell. our dear saviours
how much we love them. how earn
estly We pray God for them and how
the word American has become
sacred 10 Us"
We join those noble hearts of our
Belgian mothers to offer YOU the ex-
preston OF our imperishable graft
tude" Cardinal Mercier said. The
unparalleled commission for relief.
the Cardinal MERCER fund. TO which.
j know. rich and poor. high and
low. contributed. and so many other
forms OF your munificence towards
us. will never be repaid according to