New-York tribune., 1919-10-12
Belgian Primate Declares
Dream of His Youth Is
Fulfilled as He Meets
Inventor at Luncheon
Has Praise for Schwab
Leaves for Scranton After
Greetings From Members
of Pennsylvania Society

Cardinal Mercier fulfilled dream Of
his youth yesterday when he met
Thomas A. Edison at the luncheon Of
the Pennsylvania Society held at the
Waldorf Astoria in honor Of the Bel
gian prelate.
"To-day I have a new joy, one of
which | had hardly dared to dream.
have met Thomas A. Edison" said the
aged Cardinal, feelingly, bowing to the
inventor, who was seated near him on
the dias in the grand ballroom of the
hotel.
The ceremonies before and after the
luncheon yesterday were impressive,
and although his eminence seemed
worn by the round Of dinners, recep-
tions and other functions rendered to
him since he has been in New York, he
made one of the best speeches since
his arrival from Belgium, and shook
hands with more than six hundred
members of the society, who filled the
floor and balconies of the ballroom.
Enters With Schwab
Preceded by a guard of honor com
posed of soldiers from the port of
embarkation and marines from the
U. s. S. Delaware, who carried the flags
of the Allies, the Cardinal entered the
hotel accompanied by Charles M.
Schwab, president Of the Pennsylvania
Society. While the procession was
moving through the grand ballroom the
Paulist Choristers from Libby Castle,
on Fort Washington Avenue, sang
"Send Forth Thy Light"
Mr.. Schwab proposed the health of
the President and of Albert, King of
the Belgians, and then called upon
George w. Wickersham for tribute
to Belgium's hero.
Your spirit has been with us these
five years past, animating American
spirit to the devotion Of right" said
Mr.. Wickersham, extolling Cardinal
MERCER for his part in the war;
Referring to Europe after the war,
he said:
Human sympathy must now mani
fest itself in deeds, not words. The
war has taught us common interests,
and we must arouse ourselves to q
realization. of our duties to-day, as we'll
as year ago. Cardinal Mcrcier will
these trying days Of readjustment."
Presented With Medal
After Mr.. Wickcrsham's address
President Schwab presented Cardinal
MERCER with the gold medal of the So
ciety, saying it was fitting that the
people of a state which contributed SC
much in material way to help win the
war should honor and pay homage to
the man who was the leading spiritual
| figure of the war.
He is one of the loveliest men whom
l have ever met and talked with.
have learned to love him for his own
true human worth. l present this
medal to the distinguished Cardinal and
l present the distinguished Cardinal
to this distinguished company"
The Cardinal told Of his pleasure in
meeting Thomas A. Edison, and praised
~. s-chwa5 for the pat he played dur
ing the war. The primate referred to
the material contributions of the state
of Pennsylvania in steel and necessary
metals, which had been mentioned BY
Mr.. Schwab, and agreed that they had
great deal to do with the Allied
victory.
They have said that the victory of
the Allies was victory of chemistry,
physics and metallurgy," he said, chat
marines and ships There is a great
deal of truth in this. But the genius
to apply all these was one of the main
factors in the success of the war"
Praises Schwab and Edison
,Amerlcan genus, ne sald, was sup
piled in great measure by Thomas A.
Edison and Charles M. Schwab
when you come to Belgium" Car
dinal Mercicr said, "come to Malincs
and hear the chimes of the Cathedral
ring out for our common victory"
Other guests at the luncheon in
cluded Judge Norman S. Dixie, John
Drew, William G. McAdoo, DR.. Maurice
Francis Egan, formerly Minister to
denmark; John X. Tener, formerly
Governor of Pennsylvania: Alexander