The sun., 1919-09-19
CARDINAL MERCER
GREETED BY STATE
Tribute Paid to Belgian Prel-
ate by Gov. Smith and
Other Officials.
HONORED BY UNIVERSITY
Failure of Germans to Break
Spirit Of Faith Told by
Churehman.

ALRANT, Sept 1s.--"1f there is any
one who deserves praise. your gifts your
sympathies and your prayers. 1t Is not
my humble person it is my nation, the
Belgian nation"
This was the modest answer made By
Cardinal Mercier to the words OF praise
heaped upon him by Gov. Smith IN greet
ing him In behalf Of the Empire State.
by church dignitaries of his ezn and
other creeds and by the highest State
officials
The Belgian prfmate was touched by
the obvious sympathy Of the thousands
who crowded the station and the streets
TO see him and there were tears In his
eyes when the honorary degree OF Doc
tor Of Laws Of the University Of the
State Of New York was conferred upon
him by the State Board OF Regents.
Chester 8. Lord making the address and
DIT. Augustus II. Downing adjusting on
the Cardinals shoulders the hood OF
New York University. Only three other
living men have been 50 honored. they
being EIihu Root, Thomas A. Edison
and Ambassador Jules Jusserand
The Cardinal admitted that he was
at loss to find words to express his
appreciation of his receptions and the
honors conferred upon him.
Cardinal Mercier came to Albany with
Archbishop Hayes and party of church
notables. and was escorted to the Cap
itoi by several companies Of the New
York National Guard. After a brief re-
ception in the Executive Chamber by
Gov. Smith the Cardinal and his party
were shown the Senate and Assembly
chambers and conducted to the State
Education Building. where the ceremo-
niles of welcome were to take place.
Hearty Welcome to PreIate.
There was a notable gathering Of rep
resentativeS Of the executive judicial
and legislative branches OF the State
Government, city officials and proui-
nent private citizens, men and women.
awaiting the Cardinal, and he was given
n hearty welcome.
We have read how this man put
courage into the hearts of his people
when in the distress Of war II seemed
they would be crushed to death beneath
the iron heel Of Prussianism," declared
Gov. Smith in his speech Of welcome on
behalf Of the 10000. 900 people Of this
State. History VIII tell of the great
moral force that he was behind his
country"
High praise was put upon the Car
diral by the Rev. r Brooks, speaking
in behalf of Bishop Richard H Nelson
Of the Episcopal diocese of Albany, who
declared that Cardinal Mercier proved
that patriotism and religion can and
should be combined, and by Rabbi Eli
Mayer. who said that as a result of the
Cardinals efforts Belgium Is the corner
stone Of united world
sunerfngs of Belgium.
4 never for a moment feared the
enemy" was the assertion of Cardinal
MERCER in telling OF Belgium's dark
hours MY only motto was right above
might / believed in the justice and the
mercy OF God I saw the German
colossus trampIing the fair soil Of Bel
GUM, shedding blood Of poor, innocent
civilians, and I thought II was impos-
sible that God would tolerate such a
crime and such scandal They tried
In different ways to change me, by
threats, by brides. by perndIous insinu-
ationA They tried to make me silent
before my flock. said: I shall speak,
because have something TO say They
tried to make me recall my pastoral
which had caused no little commotion.
told them: What I said was my mind.
was sincere. sought to state the
truth and 1 did not change anything in
truth to an untruth! When they told
me anything might happen IL refused, I
told them do what you Nike and time
and again I embarrassed them with
these simple words"
Cardinal Mercier was dined by Bishop
Gibbons Of Albany this afternoon, Gov.
Smith and a number Of other notables
attending