Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-09-09
Cardinal Mercier, Primate
of Belgium, Comes to
Convey Thanks.
TYPICAL HERO OF
ALBERTS DOMAINS
Letter OF Defiance to Germans Who
Invaded Country Stirred Whole
World to Adniration--Refuse 70
Retreat AItho Thrown Into Prison
Mereier TO Visit Cities as Far West
as Chicago.

New York. Sept. s.--Cardinai Mer-
cier. primate OF Belgium, will reacn
New York today on board the North
ern Pacific to thank America for tho
aid II sent his country during the war.
TIE cardinal will be met down the bay
by a committee headed by Archbishop
Patrick Hayes.
Defied the Germans.
Belgium's beloved spiritual prince
guardian OF the welfare OF 2.5a0.eoo
Roman Catholics In the little kingdom
whose first fierce resistance stayed tho
German avalanche, Cardinal Desiderss-
tus Mercier. was born on Nov. 22.. 1881.
in Braine d Alleud. village only
few miles from famous Waterloo.
Typical OF the horoism OF King ALI
berts countrymen, this physically
frnil but intellectually powerful pre-
late of the church, stirred the whole
world to admiration OF his courage
when, on the first war Christmas, IN
1914, with Germans everywhere IN Bel
gioum, ne issued his famous pastoral
IC<ter. denouncing the invader ana
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 pro-
vinces. The authority OF the invader
is no lawful authority. Therefore, IN
soul and In conscience you owe II
| neither respect, attachment nor ooe-
diencc."
Later, in protesting against tha cess
portation OF the Belglnns for forced Ia
| bor he threatened Germany with ina
reprobation OF the civilized world, tna
| judgment OF history and the chastise~
ment OF God" @%'f
Rafused to Rctraot--'mprisoned
Fifteen thousand copies OF the ears
dinars letter We're seized and Destroy
| ed. the printer was arrested and fneo
and the brave priest was kept e. pris-
oner In his palace NY order OF GeneraA
Won Bissing until a retract,oa OF the
pastoral had been signed" The car
dinal not only refused to retract ms
statements but became even more de-
fiant.
| He was given his liberty. finally, ana
continued To use his voice and pen
against the mailed fist in crystal
lizing world opinion against the cen
trai powers. All during the war. how
ever. no was subjected TO petty per-
secutions and his secretary and other
aides were thrown into Jail. He wene
thru the bombardments OF Antwerp
and Malines and braved the perils Ok
| the common soldier.
Cardinal Mercier was created ana
proclaimed a member OF the sacred
college on April i, 1907. Before that
| he was professor in tho University OK
Louvain. which was repeatedly PHI
lagcd and desecrated In the war, Iho
prelatc's distinguished service Tor bei-
GUM thruoat the war has been told IN
! frequent news dispatches. Less is pub
ncly known OF his early record as
| Churchman.
Comes From Family Of Churchmcn-
The cardinal studied at ST Ron-
| bouts College, Malines, and the dioe
Cesan seminary in the same place he
was ordained to the priesthood Apfu
4, 1874. entered the seminary at Ma
lines In 1877 as n professor OF phiio-
sophy after taking course In theology
at the University of Louvain and fivo
wears lnIDf WAS Cuiittl w thN o't'NN'
| sity MS professor OF Thomistic or lib
| eral philosophy. In 1855 Pope Leo
XIII. appointed him dom<stic pre-
/ late with the title of monsignor.
| He comes of distinguished religious
family. other members of which have
won honors In the church. One uncle,
the Rt. Rev. Adrian Croquet. born In
1918, was n pioneer missionary among
the Indians for thirty eight years In
| the Canadian northwest. He did u.
Belgium in 1902 and 1t is the Cardin-
! ais wish TO visit the scene OF his
uncles labors.
| Will Come West.
Cardinal Mercier's visit 10 the Uni-
ted States is largely the result of i'm
portunities from all sections OF the
country. Az President Wilson Is alb
sent from Washington the Cardinal
Will pay his first respects to Cardinai
Gibbons. In Baltimore and visit the
| White House later In his tour. Nc
cording to present plans the noted Bel
sian prelate's itinerary will include.
besides the cities mentioned, Phila-.
| delphin, pittsburgh. Scranton. Albany.
| Boston. Providence, Hartford, SPRING
! field Mass, Detroit Cincinnati. Se.
! i.u,i, ans. chlcag" ss5 -
| ------------.-----------------
Europe Follows Load OF u. s.