The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-09-11
CARDINAL MERCER is
PREME CHURCH HERO
OF GREAT WORLD WAR

~ts1ii ~ ~ ilEk W ~
New York, Sept lO.-Cardinal Mer.
cier, primate OF Belgium, who arrived
yesterday in New York on his long.ex
pected visit to the United States, is one
OF the most heroic figures Of the world
war.
Belgiums beloved spiritual prince,
guardian of the welfare of $500 900
Roman Catholics in the little kingdom
whose FIRST fierce resistance stayed
the German avalanche. Cardinal beside.
ratus Metcier was born on November
%, 1851 in Braine d'Aueud. village
only a few miles from famous Waterloo
Typical Of the heroism Of King Al
berts countrymen, this physically frail
but intellectually powerful prelate OF
the church stirred the whole world
TO admiration of his courage when. on
the first war Christmas, in 1914, with
Germans everywhere in Belgium. he
issued his first Pastoral letter. denounc-
ing 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, Oc-
cupied provinces are not conquered
provinces. The authority Of the in
vader is no lawful authority There
fore, in soul and in conscience you owe
it neither respect, attachment nor ODE.
dience."
Later in protesting against the de
portation OF the BelRians for forced
labor, 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 Cardi-
nails letter were 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 q retraction 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 crystal2
ing world opinion against the Central
Powers. All during the war, however.
he has subjected to petty precautions
and his secretary and other 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 member Of the Sacred
College on April Is, 1907. Before that
he was professor in the University Of
LouNaln, which Y Is repeatedly pilaged
ana deSecrated in the war. The pre-
lates distinguished service for Belgium
throughout the war has been told in
frequent news dispatches. Less is pub
hcly known Of his early record as a
churohman.
The Cardinal studied at st. Rom
bouts College, Malmes, and the dio-
cesan seminary in the same place. He
was ordained to the priesthood April
/, 1874, entered the seminary at Ma
lines in 1877 as a professor Of philoso-
ply after taking a 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 1856 Pope Leo NH
appointed him a domestic prelate, with
the title of Monsgnor.
He comes of a distinguished religious
family other members of which have
won honors in the church. one uncle,
the Rt. Rev. Adrian Croquet. born in
1878, was pioneer missionary among
the Indians for thirty-eight 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 importu.
mites from all sections OF the country
As President Wilson is absent
from Washington the Cardinal will
pay his first respects TO Car
dinal Gibbons in baltimore and
visit the White House later in
his tour. According to present plans
in his tour. According to present plans
the noted Belgian prelate's itinerary
will include. besides the cities mention
ed Philadelphia, Pittsburgs, Scranton,
Albany. Boston, Providence, Hartford,
Springfield, Mass. Detroit, Cincinnati,
st. Louis and Chicago.