The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-11
MERGER REJOICES
AT LOUVAIN GIFT
Cardinal Voices Gratitude
Over Move to Rebuild
Ruined Library.
NOTE TELLS OF THANKS
Twenty Thousand Children of
City Greet Prelate at
Stadium.

Cardinal Mercier OF Belgium. who dur
ing his visit to the United States, fire.
quently has asked Americans to lend
their aid toward rebuilding the library
of Louvain University, which was de-
stroyed by the German army, wrote out
message Of gratitude yesterday to
those who have started movement to
raise 100000 for the rebuilding.
Il was deeply gratined. he wrote.
when I heard that the National Com
mitteo OF Restoration had started a pub
lie subscription to raise funds for the
reconstruction of my beloved library,
burned to the ground with all the treas
ures 1t contained.
las I have often said in public, the
humiliation Of the Louvain library and
the utter exhaustion OF the university's
funds. leaving 1t to face an almost hope
less situation. is perhaps my greatest
sorrow and my greatest anxiety. From
this all those who will hold out a help
ing hand to me will readily guess how
heartily thankful will be to them.
IT wish to add that consider Lou
vain University to be the strongest bull
wark OF social order and Christianity
In Belgium. and that it's revival 10 es-
sential to the moral reconstruction Of
my beloved country. Its reconstruction
will be a monument of the generosity
of the American people. and their lively
| interest in scientific progress"
Cardinal MERCER. who has been IA
this city since last Monday and has
| spoken to several audiences on each day
of the week, was the guest Of honor a,
a luncheon Of the Clergy Club yester d.
day. went from there to the City Col
lege. where 10000 children from the
public and parochial schools of this Dor
ough greeted him in the Stadium, and
at night was the guest Of the Bar AS
ISOLATION.
Al the children's gathering he was
| entertained with drills. singing and n
pageant portraying the history of New
York and made a speech In which he
praised the boys and girls for the quail
ity of their work and their discipline.
When Cardinal Mercier arrived at the
Colony Club yesterday afternoon for the
reception given in his honor by Miss
Marie La Montague there was a repre-
sentative gathering to greet him, includ-
ing several hundred persons of prom
inence in New York society.
His Eminence was met at the entrance
of the club by its president, Miss Nor
gan. and Miss La Montague and also
by a committee Of reception that in.
cluded ex-President William Fl. Taft,
Morgan J. OBrien, Adrian Iselin, John
g. Agar. Alfonso de Navarro. Cornelius
Tiers and Michael p. Grace. The Cardi-
nal was escorted to the ballroom. where
he was introduced to the assemblagu
by Mr. Taft and later he made an ad-
dress. Afterwards many were presented
| to him.
Cardinal Mercier was made an hon.
| orary member of the New York Bar AS
| sociationsat a dinner in the Bar Associa-
| tion Building last night, his name being
put in motion by William d. Guthrie.
| In his speech Mr.. Guthrie said that tie
| action involved, more careful distinc-
ton than was impliedSn the term "hor-
orary member" He added that Car
dinal Mercier in his pastoral letter OF
Christmas, 1914, now famous, enun-
dated the bed rock principles upon
| which all law exists In that respect
| the membership of the Cardinal in the
Bar Association was actually term of
parity as far as knowledge Of the law
was concerned. The Cardinal replied
briefly to the compliment