New-York tribune., 1919-10-11
Cardinal is Guest
OF Clergy Club and
Bar Association
Also Attends Reception of
$4,000 School Children at
the City College Stadium;
His American Impressions

Cardinal Mercier, of Belgium. was
the guest Of honor at luncheon given
by the Clergy Club, followed by a
reception by the school children of
the public and parochial schools in
the stadium of the College of the City
of New York. In the evening he was
given a dinner by the Bar Association
at the University Club, then attended
reception at the Bar Association. AZ
West Fortyfourth Street. In the morn
ing his eminence received committee
representing the Italian colony of the
city, and was presented with a bronze
replica of the bass-relef by Onorio
Ructolo, the 1talian-American sculptor,
entitled Belgium, 1914-1918. And Jesus
wept."
Ciergymen of almost every creed and
denomination greeted Cardinal Mercier
in the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel
Commodore at the luncheon of the
Clergy Club. More than four hundred
churchmen and one hundred women
stood up in the flag decorated ballroom
with the venerable Cardinal, who smiled
his appreciation when "The Star
Spangled Banner" and LA Braban-
conne." the Belgian national anthem,
were played.
"The thing that we honor most in
him." said Dr. Henry van Dyke, for
meriy Ambassador at The Hague, in his
address of greeting, "is character. We
honor the man with his red robe, and
the heart within-the man. You stand
high physically, spiritually and morally.
We turn to you not only as an ex-
ponent of Belgian patriotism and
bravery, but also as an exponent Of
Christian manhood and character"
Cardinal MERCER responded by prais-
ing America and the American people
FOR their universal respect for morality
and religion.
II came to America to learn as far
as possible of the soul of the American
people," his eminence said. "Your
universal respect for morality and
religion, for morality connected with
religion and morality aside from re-
ligion, is one Of the most striking facts
that l have noticed"
The Cardinal told of his visit to
Princeton and other universities and
how he was impressed by singing OF
religious hymns by the college students.
He also related the story Of Belgium $
Prom the first" he said, ~ had a
thorough belief in Gods providence.
could not realize that justice could
leave such q crime as was Germany's
unchastised."
Addresses were made by the Rev. j..
Madison Hare, of the Scotch Plains
Baptist Church, who served as senior
chaplain in France with the 29th Divi-
sion; the Rev. Frank Mason North,
Knight of the French Legion of Honor;
the Rev. Demetrios Callimakos, Of the
Greek Catholic Church of St. Con-
stantinc, in Brooklyn, and the Rev.
Alexander Lyons, rabbi of the Eighth
Avenue Temple, Brooklyn.
After dinner at the University
Club, where he was the guest OF the
Bar Assoc iation, Cardinal Mercier went
to the Bar Association building, at AZ
West Forty-fourth Street, where he was
made permanent honorary member Of
the Bar Association of the City Of New
York. The honor was conferred upon
motion of William D. Guthrie, seconded
by George w. Wickersham. The motion
was carried unanimously.
Cardinal Mercicr described to the
500 persons at the reception some of
his impressions of the people Of the
United States, related anecdotes of the
war and renewed his plea for the ship
ment of machinery and raw materials
to Belgium.
John G. Milburn, president of the as
sociation, delivered the address Of well
come at the reception.