New-York tribune., 1919-10-09
MERCER Made
Doctor of Laws
By New York u.
Belgian Primate Inspects
Hall of Fame and Plants
Tree ON College Campus
While Students Cheer
ssHeart Won by Degrees
Cardinal Declares His Land
Was Against Peace Until
Invader Had Been Ousted

Cardinal Mercier walked in the
colonnadc Of the Hall of Fame at New
York University yesterday afternoon
IN the hour preceding the ceremonies
at which he was awarded an honorary
degree of Doctor Of Letters.
1T was an unusual scene. resembling
rather the paintings of cloistered
monks of old than an ordinary scene in
bustlirg American college, when the
venerable Cardinal, with his crimson
robes, made his slow pilgrimage
through the columned way, stopping
occasionally to inspect the bronze
tablets in honor of great Anne ricans,
the valley at his feet, russet and
crimson with autumn foliage and dotted
with the bulks of apartment houses
and bridges.
Recalls Americas Famous
Cardinal Mercicr seemed familiar
with many of the great names in Amer
lean history, and his mobile face
lighted up more than once as he caught
a we'll known name in the bronze tab
lets.
DR.. George Alexander presented the
Cardinal to Chancellor Elmer Ellis
worth Brown in the Gould Memorial
Library hailing him as "patriot, daunt-
less defender Of his flock, interpreter
of the Christian conscience and vindi-
Gator of the eternal law of God"
The Cardinal responded with trib-
ute to the universities of the United
States as the breeding places Of pa
triotisni. He said:
Nov I am one Of you. I have been
proud to be a citizen Of your great city,
oyr -i1
fessor in the University of New York. "
This whimsy, spoken with smile.
brought q tremendous response of ap.
plause and yells from the undergrad
uate gallery. The Cardinal then con-
tinued in light vein.
Heart Won by Degrees
perhaps you have read that have
been receiving many degrees from your
universities, and one newspaper said
that you were taking the heart of the
Cardinal by degrees. May I not say.
now that | have received this last de-
gree from your hands to-day, that you
have my whole heart? And also. is it
not that shall take back to Begium
with me little bit of your heart? I
shall keep this diploma always, not
only as q. piece of paper in black and
white, but as symbol Of the love be-
tween your great country and my small
country.
II see the two flags before me, the
flag OF Belgium and of the United
States, and under them the Lion of
Flanders, symbol of resistance to tyran-
ny. Ii l did useful service during the
war and was able by Gods grace to
help my country, l must say that my
strength was like that OF all OF Bel
GUM. When on the I'd Of August the
Germans tried to bribc their way
through our country. not only the King
but the whole nation stood up as one
man and cried, No, you shall not pass
through! l wish to affirm now publicly
mother protest against this resolution
Belgium Always Undaunted
"And it was not me vely one moment
of enthusiasm for them. During the -four
wears Of the war they remained stead
fast Even when they came to me with
tears on their cheeks. worn out witt
suffering and exhausted. and asked me
how long it would last, when asked
if they wished for peace at any price
they said: NO, no. We will wait. first
Of all we must have them down."
General John +. O'Ryan, Henry 2
Dawson, Robert Underwood Johnson
ex- Senator James A. O'Gorman, Cleve
F.; land II. Dodge. Charles H. Sheriff.
Thomas c. du Pont and Finley j. Shep
ard were among the invited guests. The
audience at Chancellor Browns reques
pledged their support to the uovemen
for tho rostOretion Of Lolve!r Onlver
sity.
Plants Tree on Campus
After the ceremony the Cardina
4
everybody faculty, students and police
men on duty, was given an opportunlt,
to greet his emminence In the Faculty
Club.
In the morning the Cardinal officiatet
at a pontifical mass at st. Patrick
Cathedral, the first time he has take,
! part in a religious ceremony in New
York. The sermon was preached b.
/ Monsignor Hayes.
In the afternoon he visited the Con
vent of the Sacred Heart and Fordhan
I University, where he was presento'
with medal.
Cardinal MERCER, evidently wearie'
and weakened by the social demands o
Club last night at 100 Central Par
South. 1t was the first official recep
ton to the Cardinal by Catholics il
this city and Archbishop Hayes, in hi
address of welcome, jestingly remarked
that with all the attentions paid to hin
by non-Catholics the Cardinals fait1
might be imperilled.
Americas Dignity and Piety"
my faith was never in very grea
DANGER replied Cardinal Mercier
NATURALLY, | relied on the prayers o
Your Grace. l have been deeply i'm
pressed by the dignity and piety of tn
American people. by the sympathy o
my brethren in Christ for the Be'gians
but in no lesser degree have the beaut
and unity of the Catholic Church il
America been impressed upon me-"
Thomas J. Farrell. president Of tn
club, presided at the reception. Their
were about eight hundred present.
TARRYTOWN, Oct. s.--Cardina
MERCER will be tho guest of John r
Rockefeller at Pocantico Hills on Fri
day afternoon. He will come here wit
the Rev. Patrick J. Lennon, forme
pastor at Pocantico Hills, a friend O
Mr.. Rockefeller.