New-York tribune., 1919-09-18
rowds Cheer
Welcome to
Mercier Here
|..,u;un,'s Heroic Primate Is
Made ''Citizen of New
York at Great Ceremony
After Greeting by Mayor
|rrong Bows to Cardinal
p,eIase Pays Tribute to Aid
Given His Nation by U. S.
During Dark Days of War

r.,a;n.i Mercier, Belgium's "Prince
vsarrnws" was received formally as
Ssst Of the city yesterday at City
Hin' Tho Aldermanc Chamber the aged
.,sIate in a voice, trembling with
l,.,sn 'rnsion, prayed that Divine blessings
| \. showered on America and Americans
y, The succor they rendered his
.,;,ken people in the hour of need
| /, ras the most impressive ceremony
|; @ ;ts kind ever held at City Hall
/ Cardinal Mercier was the guest of
..ror At q dinner given last night at
~ waldorf Astoria under the auspices
.|tbe MAYORS Committee for the Re-
..nton Of Distinguished Guests. Many
.atsbles. representing the nation, state
.sS city. attended. as we'll as church
m,n Of ali denominations.
Cardinal Deeply Moved
IN introducing Cardinal Mercier
| paJman Wanamaker the toastmaster r
sruped an American flag about his
| aY thin form and said:
/ cardinal Mercier, we greet you, and
/ wish to tell you that the stars in
his flag will shine forever for you
and yours" The band then played
asnr Spangled Banner" while the
/ ruests, including women in the bal
/ eony, sang it, The Cardinal said
d am so deeply moved that it is
| difficult for me to express what is in
| ms heart. | cannot thank you Ameri-
can people for all that you have done
for me and my Belgium. There are
some things. however, that | would like
/ TO tell you about
AFirst, | would like TO tell you o. the
King 1t was he who first Of all spoke
|Ihe secret words. that honor and lib
LEFTY were things that could not be bar
gained for Patriotism is not merely
d word it is something deep in the
Heart. That earned more after Bel
GUM entered TIE war.
Never Doubted Success
q never doubted for a moment the
success Of the cause OF justice. | never
minded tie consequences, whether good
|la bad. thought it was my duty to
|aep and speak the truth openly to
enemy as we'll as 10 friend. ! spoke
the truth as saw il. There was some
DISCUSSION among my clergy as to
whether had the right to expose my
|pres,s and people by speaking. Some
Of he clergy told me. If your letter
disp.eases the Germans you will! not
OILY expose yourself but also your
priests and people,
/ u answered this BY saying that a
genera. has the right to expose his
soldiers in battle, ard as ! am your
genera. viii write the truth and ex-
pose you. sent my letter out to the
G9NO priests in Belgium. and not one
them refused TO read it to their
people
II knew from the beginning Won
Dissing and other German autocrats S
ind learned from others OF the power
1e these men. When looked them
s''slgat IN the eyes and asked: What
are you going to do to Belgium 1t is
you duty 70 protect and spare our
gsope and have charity for them.
Wien said that to the German officers
poo soldiers was their master"
Tells of Priests Sacrifices
TIE Cardinal then told Of the sacri-
ises Of Belgian priests during the ter
Hpe days when the Belgians were
ssns de9orted. He said that in
ane case twenty-one young priests
vent hlm letter Offering to take the
Naces Of twenty one fathers who we're
MMhg taken ava. from their families
51ls letter was turned over to Won
DNSing' In Louvain, the prelate said
ae 1ermans ordered that one man out
", every seven be shot. Why, he
aa not know. In the line was a young
asf who had just been married by a
EeS' lhe priest offered to take the
aaA o!ec, but was pushed back. Be
wls inc hrng squad turned the
lals on tue men. however, the Car
sI'a' explained, the priest had taken
ae mau place and died for him. Just
W'Ofe ne left Felgium Cardinal Mer-
tE. Mes inc man whose life was saved
y "e PRIEST, and he said the citizen is
pHecllng 4 fund to erect a monument
"er the spot woere the priect died.
.afcnbshop Hayes, Brand Whitlock
upsA0p Charles II. Burch and Mayor
ay!an also spoke.
iHe automobile bearing the Cardinal
ss. ssa archbishop Hayes to the Mayors
smse IN the morning passed between
pIs. Sv 'ines OF fighting men in City Hal
aAa' here and there in the crowC
ssl ssn and women dropped to their knees
Dis head. ' - Z '"-
Welcomed by Hylan
.,rla valla'na! MERCER in the brilliant
ss'.et ssl.t robes OF his office and carry.
n, s a.s 'rl-colored beaver hat under his
s.n .l was welcomed on the steps of Cit,
%. Spy oy Mayor Hylan. He presented
esn sa'"ihg picture as. he walked up the
sps y WITH Archbishop Hayes on one
a st,ad anu the Mayor on the other.
,ss' 'e' Mayor Hylan had read an ad
,.sS sss; OF welcome he presented tn.
,s'u,nal gssann with an embossed parchmen,
fs,ylaoing fssl to him the freedom of New
Sn;s, Iity When the Mayor hat
s,saed sss. the prelate responded as fol
u,sa contemplate the majesty of .
snSs s,du and noble nation~the natiol
SssbS;,n']ed and personified by Geors,
boz, os,As'on, Jefferson, Lincoln-th,
"'''Se and most entcrprising peopl'
l -
"' motel Bristol Ia .ar,s nv A.