The sun., 1919-09-30
PRINCETON HONORS
CARDINAL MERGER
Confers LII. d. Upon Him in
Presence of University
Students.
HIBBEN EXTOLs PRIMATE
Prince Of Church Makes Stir
ring Response, Expressing
Belgian Gratitude.
6pecial DespatcA 10 THr suN.

PRINCETON, N. J., Sept. 2s.-Princeton
University to-day conferred upon. Cardi-
nal Mercier Of Belgium the degree Of
doctor Of laws. The Cardinal came to
Princeton early this morning from Phila-
delphia- He was accompanied by the
Belgian Ambassador to the United
States. Baron de Cartier de Marchienne
and his wife by the Mayor Of Louvsin
and by several members of the Belgian
Embassy in Washington and of the Bel
gian Consulate in New York.
President John Grier Hibben Of the
university and a special committee Of
the faculty met the Cardinal at the sta
ton and went directly to Prospect, the
presidents home. At IL o'clock the aca-
demic procession formed in front Of the
library and moved from there to Alex
ander Hail. Glass appointments for all
students had been cancelled for the day
and as a result the large auditorium
held $500 persons. Perhaps 500 more
damned through the doors during the
ceremony and many viewed the proceed
ings through the windows and doorways.
President Hibben in greeting the Car
dinal spoke of him as "the valiant de-
fender of the sacred right of his coun-
trymen." The president referred to the
given not only to Belgium but to the
world at large. for, he said. "you belong
not only 20 the Roman Catholic Church
but to all churches of all lands which
cherish the name Of Christ and believe
in His power.
you belong not only to Belgium but
to all nations whose peoples have
learned from you anew the lesson Of
patriotism and endurance. You are for
US a symbol of that which men live by
and die for" In closing his greeting
President Hibben said "You have won
derfully exemplified the motto of Ann
brose. Bishop Of Milan: Honor above
all -"
Following the Presidents speech of
welcome, Dean Andrew Fleming West of
the Graduate School made a Latin ad-
dress. After the comforting of the de-
gree. Cardinal MERCER, visibly affected
by the applause that had greeted him
as he became an honorary son of Old
| Nassau, stepped to the front of the
| platform and addressed the assemblage
| in ringing voice.
The Cardinal reminded his hearers of
the great kinship of universities and re-
marked that he had always been ex-
| tremely anxious, having been a univer-
sity professor himself, to greet the pro-
fessors of American universities
There Is brotherhood" said the
Cardinal, between Louvain and Prince
ton, because men of Louvain and men
! OF Princeton, 1t seems to me, are equally
| the sons OF liberty.
II was anxious to come here per-
sonally to pray you to accept in the
name of my people, our deep grateful
ness. 1 come not here as a private per-
son. I do not come here as a church.
man, at least not only as churchman.
1 come here as the representative OF
| Belgium, suffering and aided by the
American people. and by Princeton es-
| pecially"
In concluding his address the Cardl-
nal said, my last words are that you
and I are to be strong, strong against
all the forces of injustice, to defend to-
sether, hand with hand, heart with
heart, the same ideal OF Divine justice.
| of Divine truth"
Following the ceremony in Alexander
| Hall the Cardinal and his party were
| the guests of President and Mrs. Hib-
ben at luncheon. During the afternoon
an inspection OF the university grounds
and buildings was made, and Cardinal
Mercier spoke to the members of the
Princeton Red Cross and Belgian relief
committees on the lawn Of Prospect
The Cardinals party left late in the
afternoon for New York, whence he will
go to New Haven, where a similar honor
will be conferred upon him by Yale
University.