The Washington herald., 1919-09-28

ing under the guidancs Of Pope Leo
XIII, he founded and established on a
solid footing the school Of philosophy
In the College Leon XIII.
It was after the death OF Plus x and
the calling of all the cardinals Of the
Catholic Church to Rome for the cleo
ton OF pope that Mercier made his
first move In the drama OF the war.
The conflict was month old IAegc
and Namur had fallen. Louvaih had
been destroyed. The allies were re-
treating on Paris before Won Kluck
and the German great right wing.
Cardinal Mercier had intended 10
journey to Rome by way OF Germany
and Austria, but before he started he
issued a call to Belgian prfeses to DIN
the army. Neither Germany nor. Aus
tria would give him a safe conduct.
He finally reached Rome by way or
ostend. london, Paris and the Ri
| yiera.
Treated Invaders with Disdain.
Back In Malines, the cardinal
treated the invaders with disdain.
The University of Louvain, where
for years he expounded Aristotle,
st. Thomas Aquinas and the entire
range OF philosophy. was literally
pulverized by the Germans guns
The library. rich with the literary
treasures of five centuries, was q
thing of the past.
/ Menaced constantly by derman
bayonets Cardinal Mercier launched
his boidest stroke against the in
vaders.
It was his Christmas pastoral Of
1914. the pastoral of "patriotism
and endurance" that famed the
flames of Belgian love Of country
and made. even the aim OF. German
tyranny a hopeless task.
The words scared even the Ger
mans. And the reaction was swift.
The people feared for the life OF
their nations champion. Some
4 thought the red robes OF his cardi-
nal's rank would be stained q deeper
, red with his life blood. But the car
dinal smiled. He spurned the sugges-
/ tion OF night or concealment
, A curt command from Won Bissing
sent German patrols searching for
| copies OF the dynamic pastoral. From
| Francis Dessain, the printer OF
MaIines," 1900 copies were seized.
! The printer was sent - prison
for three days and fined 800 marks
The next step was an order for
bidding the reading Of the pastoral
In the parishes.
Then, January 3, three German Of
fcers called on the cardinal and in
! terrogated him. The next dag he
| received a telegram from Won Bis
sing inviting him not to go to
service which was to take place at
Antwerp.
| on January the cardinal was
detained In his palace all day. In
the morning one of Won Bissing's
aides arrived in an automobile, ac-
! companied by soldiers. and bringing
| letter from the governor general.
| An immediate reply was demanded.
Soldiers Stay In Palace.
The cardinal offered to send a reply
! in the course Of the day to Brussels.
| but the aide was obdurate. After teie-
| phoning to Won Bissing he told the
cardinal he and his soldiers would
| stay in the palace until the desired
reply was given.
| On January the Germans presented
! the cardinal with the text OF a spe-
! cies Of retra ction which they demand
! ed he should sign. The cardinal re-
! fused.
/ Threats would not bulge him, and
! at length the Germans stopped beating
their heads against the wall Of his
! resolution.
| Meantime relief ships were bearing
supplies to the Belgians. Philadelphia.
through the Belgian relief committee
Of the Emergency Aid. did noble work
for the invaded country.
i On May 2. 1911. the Belgian relief
committee received a personal letter
OF thanks from Cardinal Mercier. The
following month another personal let
ter was presented to President Wilson.
the cardinal thanking America for its
: ~ pOa nir,,ity