Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-10-06
ROYAL BELG|ANS
WORSHIP At HOLY
CROSS CATHEDRAL
cardinal Mercier Is Also Pres
emit Heroic Figures Meet
for First Time on Soil of
Land Which Aided Them

~ hoNhlNo JOUHNAt GPECihI .tED
Boston, Oct. 5--King of the State
and Prince of the Church Albert of
| the Belgians and Desideratus Cardinal
Mercier, worshipped today under the
vaulted dome of Holy Cross cathedral.
The two most heroic figures of the
little land which was the earliest prey
Of Germany. met here for the first
ftim> upon the soil of the land which
succored them King Albert was a
towering figure in the khaki of d
lieutenant general, and the venerable
prelate wore his crimson robes of Of
flee
The scene within the cathedral was
unique in the annals of the western
world. Two cardinals sat upon their
thrones and with them the king, his
queen and heir apparent. as was their
royal right under the laws of the
church.
As the royal BelEians entered the
cathedral to worship at a solemn
pontifical high mass, Mgrdinal Mercier
greeted them affectionately and then
presented to them Cardinal O'Connell
of the archdiocese of Boston, who
escorted the king and queen TO gilded
chairs upon the left of his throne to
the right or epistle side of the altar.
At the left or gospel side was second
crimson throne, upon which sat Car
dinal Mercier.
Cardinal O'ConnclI Speaks.
Addressing their majesties. Cardinal
O'Connell said
I'VE pray God to preserve you for
many long and happy years and to
give you in future for the sorrows and
griefs so nobly borne thousand
consultations by the complete restora-
ton of your beloved Belgium in which
every American desires to have a
share"
Turning then to Cardinal Mercier,
he said:
Your eminence. VIC see in the per-
son of Belgiums primate one who,
like true shepherd, guards his flock
at whatever cost. When the power
of might seemed near it's triumph you
fearlessly stood for right and justice
against mere brute force"
The king and queen followed the
service devoutly from the blessing OF
the gospels by Cardinal O'Connell to
the occasional. After the blessing
of the incense the monarchs were in
censed with the two cardinals, as was
their royal right. II was the first
time such a ceremony has been en-
acted upon this continent After the
signing of the sanctus and the conso-
Grafton, king. queen, crown prince and
cardinals knelt before the altar.
America Is Thanked.
After holy communion Cardinal
MERCER ascended the pulpit
In your wonderful country" he
said II have had many bright days
for which | thank God. but surely
none more glorious than this
When | go back to my people |
shall take with me the picture of faith
and Christian honor and charity which
you have given me. America gave
the world splendid answer when
you entered the war. You sought no
territorial or political gains. You
came in TO help save the world r.
want to express to you in the name
of our glorious king, in the name of
our nation. in the name of the Cath
olic church, tribute. of homage and
gratefulness, | pray for the recovery
of the noble president of the United
States"
King Albert again today manifested
deep concern over the health of
President Wilson and expressed great
satisfaction when told the contents of
an Associated Press dispatch an
nouncing that the president had
spent comfortable night.
At o'clock this afternoon Harvard
university conferred unon the king
the degree of doctor of laws.
A tea at the home or President
Lowell of Harvard brought the formal
program of the kings visit to Boston
to close and he returned to Copley
plaza, where he remained until his
special train left at 1880 o'clock for
Falls.
The royal party will arrive at Nj
agara Falls at o'clock tomorrow
afternoon.