davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1919-08-24
E Euery Church

1t became established that fifteen
thousand copies Of the famous pastoral
were burned by order of the German
administration. But, despite TIM.
the American officer who brought news
of the telegram from the newspaper
men and its reply. said. "The now
famous pastoral was read in everv
church in Belgium, and when l say
every church, l mean every church.
right to the edges Of the firing lines.
Cardinal Mercier had hoped that it
would get into Bavaria, where tho
population is Catholic and where the
people would be inclined to believe
what Prince of the Church would
say.
AT o'clock the morning after the
pastoral was read three German Of
ficers appeared at the palace of the
Cardinal. They sent word in that
thay had to see him immediately.
Tell them they must wait until I
finish the mass was the reply.
You return and tell him we mnst
see him now was the retort Of tho
officers.
THE Cardinal, however, did not in
terrupt the mass further. Whom he
had finished he went to tho officers.
and ono OF them handed him q three
page letter from Won Dissine and de-
manded IN immediate reply. The, Car.
dinal explained that he could not read
German and therefore could not replv
at once.
But yeu must answer tho letter,
one OF the officers told him. We will
await your reply We cannot 90 back
without it,
The Cardinal told his uHweiceme
guests to wait in the courtyard, Tbs
cardinal had the letter translated
ana found it was an effort at coacilia-
tien ON the part of Won Bissine, who
called attention to the fact that their
personal relations, while not cordial.
mad not been unpleasant,
This was ths sspiy ssst by the
Cardinals
General voa Kissing; There hsy.
eeeh' as you say, good personal rela-
New-York tribune., 1919-08-24

welfare. Then r1.nization.
be- formed for assisting the fam;,,'
from whom the men were taL.
Finally he told in this letter Of b,r:"
laid the matter before the Ho,v G..
But events proved that Rome w.a
powerless as Malines to interfere
"Courage''
On sexagesima Sunday in 1917 r..
dinal Mercier issued another pasto-,,
1t was entitled Courage, Ny B,s.,
ren," and instantly took its placs wiz,
his first words on patriotism .,I
Endurance"
The message was subdivided ~.
first part was called "The Nor,
Grandeur of tbs Nation" and bsy.n
with the question, as II. indeed. meas.
saW to preach courage to you,p :,
part it was as follows:
awe have listened 70 the r,igh.,
voices of wives and mothers; thron,s
their tears they have prayed God "a
sustain the courage and fidelity n
honor of their husbands and sons 90,
ried off by force to the enemv's :a,.
tories. These gallant men have bs.,
heard at the hour Of departure rauv.
ing their energy TO instil courage into
their comrades, or by supreme ~
fort to chant the national hymn. u.
have seen some of them on their p.
turn, pale, haggard and human wrecks.
as our fearful eyes sought their dim
eyes We bowed revcreatly before them
for all unconsciously .hey were n
yealing to US g new aspect Of nat;opa,
heroism.
after this can 1t be necessary {.
preach courage to your
Nevertheless. brethren. we mus.
rise still higher.
IF our ordea. is prolonged it is be.
cause the design OF Divine Love is no.
yet accomplished. The design Of Provi
dence is 8 design of love: doubt it not.
It is carrying out for some a work Of
justice, fer others work of mercy:
but for all it is, in the divine intea-
ton, work Of love"
New-York tribune., 1919-08-24
A Word Of Peace

Three days later, in Brussels. the
Cardinal delivered an address "For
Those in Captivity" sATolling of the
scenes he had witnessed and addino
The memory Will never leave me" he
said: PAX Vobiscrm is the tradition
al greeting of the Bishop. And 90 7
prlng to you now wold Of peace.
But there can be no peace without
order, and order reposes upon justi.e
and charity We desire order, and it is
Tor this reason, from the first, we have
begged that no active resistance he
offered to the power that is in occupa-
ton OF our country and that all its
regulations be implicitly obeyed. so
long as they offend neither against our
conscience as Christians nor our honor
as Belgians. But that power must atso
desire order, that is to say, it must
respect our rights and its own prom
iscs.
I'm every civilized country the citi-
zen has right to work freely. He has
right to his home. He has a RIGHT
to refuse his services to any but his
own country.
Regulations which infringe these
rights can bind our conscience in no
way.
Il tell you this, brethren, without
anger and in no spirit of vengeance
were unworthy this ring which the
Church has put on my finger, of this
cross which she has placed upon nv
breast, if I yielded to human weakness
and hesitated to declare that, though
they be violated, rights remain rights
and that injustice which reposes upon
force is no less injustice"
Cardinal Mercier was not to stop
there. He wrote a third letter of pro-
test after due publicity had been given
70 his sermon, in the faint hope that
there might have come a change. The
. concluding words were: "I am loath -
believe that the authorities of the en-
pire have spoken their last words.
They will think Of our undeserved sor-
rows, Of tho reprobation Of the civil
lied world, Of the Judgment of history
and the chastisement Of Cod"
But It was all to no avail In De-
cember Cardinal Mercier addressed q
pastoral letter to his clergy on the
subject OF the deportations. He was
resigned to the inevitable and said:
1T is our duty TO mitigate, as much as
we can, an evil which We are pcwerless
to prevent Then followed instruction,
as to how the clergy wore 60 assist the
men under orders for deportation.
They were to provide them with cloth
ing, when possible, and with othe, NO
cessities. and to guard their spiritual
New-York tribune., 1919-08-24
IT'S Fame

Ultimately the fame of the pastoral
spread throughout the world and it
was read from Catholic pulpits Of all
the Allied and most Of the neutra, !,
countries. The outcry against further
lndlgnlties to Cardinal Mercier re-
strained the Germans. The Cardinal
realized that his enemies had been
batfled, and he began defending his
peoples rights with new vieor.
But 1t was nearly year after this
famous Christmas pastoral when he
made his boidest move. This was a d.
rect appeal to "their eminences the
Cardinals and their lordships the Bish-
ops OF Germany, Bavaria and Austria
Hungary" The document was entitled
AN Appeal to Truth"
He said: Our people do not UNDER
stand how you can be unaware CT the
twofold fragrant iniquity that has been
inflicted on Belgium-the violation of
our neutrality and the inhuman con-
duct of your soldiers-or how. know
ing 1t, you can refrain from raising
your voice to condemn it and to dis
sociate yourselves from it.
"On the other hand, what ought to
scandalize your population, Protestant
and Catholic, is the role ascribed bv
your press. to the Belgian clergy. and
10 nation over which for tho last
ehirty years it Is we'll known that q
Catholic government has ruled.
THE campaign Of calumnies ara,nst
our clergy and our people has no.
s!acKensd' Erzberger, deputy Of the
osh'fe, seems to have taken upon him.
SER 10 increase 1t, In Belgium Itself,
IN the cathedral of Antwerp, on tho
sixteenth Sunday after Whitsunt!de
enc OF your priests, Heinrich Mohr,
dared to declare from the pulpit of
truth TO the Catholic soldiers of your
arnyI Official documents have In
formed us how the Belgisns hanged
German soldiers upon trees, sprinkled
shem with boiling liquid, and burnt
them alive,'"
l" this appeal the Cardinal was
yo'aea by the Bishops Of Ghsnt,
nfuses' Namur and Liegs and by the
o'shop Designate Of Tournai.
oH the day Of the aatisaa, sa.a
'u's zi' 1915, Cardinal Mercier a.,,u.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-24

administration have in themselves no
authority, but legitimate authority has
tacltly ratified such of those acts as
affect the general interest, and this
ratification. and this only, gives them
iuridic value"
Immediately following the reading of
this pastoral, it was reported that Car
dlnal Mercier's arrest had been decided
upon by Won Kissing, who was Military
Governor General Of Belgium The re-
ports became so persistent that pro-
test was made from the Vatican. This
brought q denial of the incarceration
of the Cardinal from German head
quarters. Still the reports persisted.
and finally group of American news
paper men sent telegram to the Car
dinal asking him for the facts in the
case. Details Of the correspondence
between the Cardinal and the news
paper men, and the attendant circum-
stances, were suppressed But an
American army officer who returned in
February, 1915, told the story. Ee
said Cardinal Mercier refused to con-
tradict the report that he had been
restrained. General Won Kissing had
asked the Cardinal to state for certain
American newspaper men whether he
had been subjected. to indignities. His
reply, as translated. follows:
General Won Bissing,
German Administration, Brussels.
Your Excellency:
1t is not true that I have personally
been subjected to any indignties. al
though l have been prevented from
saying mass in Antwerp. However, my
priests have not received the same
treatment. Some have been killed,
others have been thrown into German
prisons, and all have been abused in
Belgium.
D. CARDINAL MERCER.
The telegram Of the American news.
paper men was conveyed to the Cardt-
nal BY Baron Won der Laneken, the
Military Secretary Of State under Won
Blss1ng, The telegram read. "Card1-
nal Mercier, Malines, IL it true that
you have been subjected to indignities
by the Gezmans7
AMERICAN NEWSPAPER MEN,
When yoa der Lancken received the
Cardinals sspiy he asked, "Yeuy
emanenee, is this really your answer 2"
~ U.s." replied the Cardinal.
Ths baron Withdrew and reported to
administration headquarters, Three
Gays lator ne was back in the archi-
episcopal palace to "instruct' the Car
dlnal to write new 1,ply to ths
New-York tribune., 1919-08-24

face OF the power sgaa, has invaded our soil End NOW
occupies the greater part of country. The au-
fhoriiy Of that power is LAWFUL authority There
fore n soul conscience you il neither respect
nor attachment nor obedience.
"Ihe sole lawfl authority ia Belgium is that of
our King, of our government, of the elected repre-
sentatives of the nation. This authority alone has
right TO affection, submissions
ih"s the invaders acts of pubic adrninistra.
lion have in themselves no asstlorisv bat Ieyitirate
authority has tact ratified such Of those acts as affect
the general interest," and this ratification, and this
only, gives them jurd;c yalsae'
From Cardinal Meycieys 1o1L Messuo
New-York tribune., 1919-08-24
His Immunity

So the Cardinal went N, never losing
his faith and always abs to say Z word
that heartened his people and N doing
so incurred the wrath OF the invaders.
But still they could 90 nothing with
him. They realized that the whole
Catholic world would le outraged By
any indignity to his person, or, as
sometimes was suggested. real violence.
M*ny months after IT, delivery.
which was in January OF 1917, there
came to light copies of an address de-
livered by the Cardinal to the deans Of
Belgium at their annual reunion in the
archiepiscopal palace, This address was
called "Christian Vengsance" Ore
passage read: The collective crime O,
d nation which violates tie rights q
another nation is incornparahiv more
grave than the crime of m individual
whom society sends TO the gui.lotine or
TO the scaffoid. We we'll understand
that those who doubt the justice Of
their cause seek TO see in war only
subjects for pity or horror. But for
US war is the means o. making honor
respected and right triumphant or
reestablishirg on a pinnacle truth as
the worship Of God Who is truth
Herein lies the grandeur of war and
the justification OF all It's sacrifices.
Let US, therefore, not confound
hatred, a vice. with the spirit Of VEN
geance, virtue"
In the present month q document
from the Pen Of Cardinal Mercier has
been made public. It is ora Tor which
there has been show of inpatience.
Many of his people could not under
stand the attitude Of the Vatican. No
amount Of explaining or the part Of
dlslnterested persons could convince
the people of Belgium that the rope
did ali he could for them Cardinal
Mercler has sought to end al discus
sions of the kind He says the silence
OF the Pope at certain times must be
construed as approval for the Belgian
hierarchy in it's struggles with the
occupying power.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-24
low Cardinal Mercier Kept Fire on the Altar

ME heropriest Cardinal
the first week of September His be In Of
n tribute Americas
and her In addition, Cardinal
will the
Adrian Croquet
Oregon In 1859 and OF
in that state
he
country his tribute Of thanksgiving
obligation
administering to Of
To the Of this
When his
military
His compelling Of He reva)id
ChurchProtcstant
nent There
New-York tribune., 1919-08-24
Defenders

His own words follow: This tacis
approval has applied every day during
NIFTY months. Every time that the
rights Of our people were abrogated
your bishops became your defenders;
every time we made il q matter Of
duty to send to the head of cur hier-
archy the first copy of our protests.
Our chief never censured or found
fault with our writings or our con-
duct. And besides the pastorals and
documents to which publicity was
given, | wrote to HIS Holiness several
confidential letters to keep him in
touch with the chief proceedings in L.
administration.
Never, either directly or indirectly
has the Pope dehanded change OF
attitude. At one exceptionally delicate
moment several Belgians allied them
selves to the Germans in order to try
to make His Holiness believe that
was betraying the true interests Of
the people Of my diocese and the Bel
gian people. The members Of the SELF
styled Council of Flanders in
ealumnious pamphlet, which they hoped
to transmit to the Vatican through
the Apostolic Nuncio, asked the Pope
TO suspend me. The nuncio refused
the message. The Council of Flanders
had to send it to Rome by a round
about route. Rome never even took
the trouble to speak 70 me ahnrt l.
The Pope did not intend to substitute
his action for that of the Belgian
hierarchy in every particular instance
even # he had the right and power
to do SO; he left to his subordinates
their liberty of Judgment and sc-
tion.
~ do not fatter myself that these
explanations will put an end TO the
campaign OF insinuation and trsvestiss
which in certain quarters have been
organized and carried out against cur
Holy Father Benedict XIV. but ! am
confident that, in the name Of truth
and justice, you will repel untrusn
moro resclutely and Win face calu,nn1
boldly
New-York tribune., 1919-08-24

! American questioners. A sheet OF
paper was placed before the Cardinal,
and the baron stood menacingly by his
side. After a moment of hesitation
the Cardinal wrote, ~ cannot answer
your telegram as l would like to.
Mercier"
New-York tribune., 1919-08-24
.AN Endless ThronQ

1h ne became better known to the
humble people OF his great archdiocese
his personality. rs her than his philoso-
ply, began to stand out in traceabl
relief He became known us saint.
He was unt!ring in his devotion to the
needs of his people.
His palace attracted thousands of
peuple in all walks of life. They were
there in almost endless procession
Soon after dawn they would be- gin ts
crowd his anteroom. Irrespective Of
their station, he would sas them m the
order Of their coming. Often it hap
pened that tho aristocunr would be kept
New-York tribune., 1919-08-24

immediate representative Of tho su.
preme authority in tho German Empire,
/ respectfully ask your excellency to
have the measures of compulsory labor
and deportation repealed and to restore
to their hearths those Belgian work
men who have been already deported."
At the Same time, Cardinal Mercier
addressed an appeal to Baron Won der
Lancken at Brussels, asking that the
deportations be brought to an end.
In the same month General Won
Bissing replied and made it clear that
the deportations would be continued
In this letter Won Bissing said: "The
measure has nothing at all to do with
the conduct of the war, properly speak
ing, but is occasioned sby social and
economic conditions. Your
eminence invokes the high ideal Of
family virtues in your letter. may
be permitted to answer that, like your
ominence, rate this ideal very highly,
but for this reason l must also de-
clare that the working classes would
be in danger Of losing sight of all
their ideals If we tolerated a condi-
tion which would inevitably grow
worse. For idleness is the worst foe
OF family life. Men who work for
their families at distance from their
homes, condition which has always
existed among Belgian workmen, un-
doubtedly contribute more to the we'll
being of their families than the 'un-
employed who remain at home. Men
who undertake work in Germany can
maintain their relations with their
families. At regular intervals they are
given leave of absence to return to
their homes. They can bring their
families to Germany, where also they
will find priests who speak their
language"
New-York tribune., 1919-08-24
An appeal

Cardinal Mercier invited his bishops
to join with him in San appeal Of the
Belgian bishops to public opinion. :"
This message reused the whole world
to consciousness of what was taking
place in the little country of the
Cardinal.
Then Cardinal Mercier addressed e
second letter on the subject to Won
Kissing. He analyzed the argument Of
the Governor General and said, ~ re-
called the noble words Of your excel
lency. I have come to Belgium with
the mission of dressing the wounds Of
your country
"If your excellency, like our priests,
could visit the homes of our workmen
and hear the lamentations of wives and
mothers, for whom your ordinances
spell mourning and dread, you would
realize better how gaping are the
wounds of the Belgian people.
"Two years ago, people are saying.
we faced death, pillage and conAagra-
t'on; but II was war. To-day ii is 10
longer war; it is cclds calculation. pre-
meditated destruction, the victory of
might over right, the dehasemant oe
human nature, defiance Of humanity.
1T is within the power Of your ex-
cellency to stife these outcries Of ont
ragged conscience. May God, Whom we
invoke with all the ardor Of our soul
on behalf Of our oppressed people, in
spire in you the pity Of tie Good
Samaritan"
To this letter General Won Biz ssire
wrote, affirming again his inability to
enange the policy OF the invaders and
laying the blame for the necessity"
Aor the deportations upon England's
Isolation" methods.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-24

tions between yourself and me. But
that does not buy my own or my couu-
try'a honor.
cd. CARDINAL MEPCIER.'"
New-York tribune., 1919-08-24

SkN oD will save Belgium, my brethren; you cam.
p not doubt it,
NAY, rather. He is saving her.
AT once conscious Of our own nalriot.
ism. Fer down within us al something deener than
personal interests. than personal kzasips, than party
feeling, and This is the need and the will to devote our
selves to that more general interest which Rome termed
the Pablo thing Res Pubiica And this profound will
within us is patriotism.
Il do not require of you TO renounce any of your
national desires. On the contrary hold it as part Of
my episcopal office to instruct you your duty in
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-04
PEARSON.JONES MARRIAGE

| The following from the Raleigh, N. C., Times will be read with much interest by | Mr. Pearson's friends in this city, where | he makes his home, and will bring his lovely bride:
 l With Edenton Street Methodist church crowded to the galleries and vestibule l with an assembly of interested friends and relatives Miss Elizabeth Price Jones | of Raleigh became the bride of John Pearson of Birmingham Wednesday even- l ing at clock. The ceremony was per l formed by the Rev W. w. Peele, pastor of the church. A beautiful musical pro- gramme preceded the arrival of the we'd ding party. Mrs. James Briggs, Jr., played | the wedding music, assisted by James | Thomas, violinist There were several ap- propriate solo selections by Miss Jennie /, Proctor and Edward Seawell.
 | The church was beautifully decorated in palms and white flowers. The banks of palms which filled the space within the chancel and reached even to the or gan loft stood out in relief against background of white.
 l Miss Jones, who was attended by hel brother, Kinbrough Jones, as best man
 wore a wedding gown of Duchess satir and tulle with trimmings of pearls. Sht wore a handsome veil of Ad rose poin lace fastened with sprays of orange blos sons She carried a bouquet of brides roses, lilies of the valley and orchids. Miss Helen Whitaker was maid o1
 honor She wore gown of cream lac' over taffeta ruffles and carried deep pinl roses Mrs F. C. Hillyer in gown O. lavender georgette and Mrs. T. W. Bick
 cit in white net embroidered in lavende
 attended the bride as danes of honor
 They carried bouquets of pink and lav
 ender sweet peas.
 The groomsmen were J. W. Bailey, Clar ence Poe, C. T. McClennaghan, Alpheu
 Jones of Warrenton. John Davis of Fay
 etteville and William M Allen. A. C
 Csarber of Birmingham was best man.
 MT and Mrs. Pearson left Nednes : day night for a wedding trip to AtlTlti - City and northern cities. They will ulak
 their home in Birmingham, where MI
 Pearson is connected with the Progressfv
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-04
RANDOM NOTES

Mrs. rally Turnipseed of LeGrande. O.. who has been the guests of Mrs. w. A. Berry for few days, is now the guest of Dr. and Mrs. Carson. at their home in Greensboro.
 Mir and Mrs. Charles E. Burgoon and little daughter, Mary Draper. of New York are spending a few days in the city with Mrs. Burgoon's mother, Mrs w G. Ledbetter. Mrs. Burgoon will be remembered as Miss Ruth Ledbetter of this city.
 Friends of Mrs. R. J. McGavock will be glad to learn that she is improving. following an operation at the Birming- ham infirmary.
 Mrs, Robert Chadwick of Ensley. who is i'll at the Birmingham infirmary IS reported to be improving.
 The many friends of MT. and Mrs. E. r. Pauley will regret to learn that they left yesterday for Pasadena. Cal-' where they will make their home. They have spent the past l6 years here and have a large circle of friends who re- gret their departure to another state MT. and Mrs. R. S. Warner. who have snent the winter in Florida, have re- turned to the city. Miss Elsie Smith. of Mississippi is tho euest of Mrs. w. W. Mcintyre at heI lhome on Louise street.
 Mr. A. e. McAndrew returned Friday from sIx mouths stay in Floridas hayinn
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-04
SPANISH CLUB MEETS

The last weekly session of the Spanish American club was well attended, and number of the members participated in the exercises.
 Prof J. A. Reams gave his impressions of the Orient. MT. Beander Poole reac d paper on the resources of industries of Chile.
 Mir. J. w. Carlisle related his experiences as Y. M. C. A. secretary with the Amer ican forces in France.
 Mrs. L. B. Parsons, new member, was asked to tell the club something about the activities of the National Marine league, of which she is southern representative.
 At the close of the session, it was an- nounced that arrangements had been made with Prof. J. H. Cornyn, head or modern languages in the Birmingham Southern college to give public lecture Thursday evening.
 Prof. Cornyn has chosen for his suo- ject the title Making Newspaper Tn Latin America Under this title he will present the third of the series of public lectures on Latin America offered by the