Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-26
"Do Not Shake Our Confidence"

These incidents, Excellency, do not shake our
confidence, but they fill with apprehension and
will to justify our addressing you collective
letter today to demand protection for the rights OF
the church and ecclesiastical property-a protection
to which Article 46 of The Hague convention entities
We fear lest the prolongation of the war may
some day threaten with danger the weghty interests
of religion and Christian art of which the nat
ural guardians We hope the German authorities will
listen to our appeal We coniure you to intercede with
the higher command of the army should the need
ever rise 1t is superHuous to repeat to your En-
ceency that it is the duty of the Belgian hierarchy
to keep the patrmony of the church intact and to
oppose every act attempt contrary thereto. Cath
olic liturgy does not merely look upon bells objects
pertaining to worship; it has included them in the
category of sacred vessels They consecrated to
divine worship through being anointed by the bishop
and by the prayers Of the church They must be re-
tanned for their exclusively religious purposes and
only used for sounding the praises of God and
moning the faithful to prayer. They cannot be alien
ated without the consent of the ecclesiastical authori
ties. Their removal their being utilized for profane
purposes, would be looked upon by people as
sacriege Moreover how painful would it be for the
faithful to think that the metal from which the bells
cast and which is rule provided by their
generosity might be converted into guns ammuni-
ton for the of hostile army and might be des-
tined to carry death into the ranks of their
trymen, their own children.
We shall be happy to receive from your Excel
lency a word to calm our fears and to enable US to
pacify our sorey tried people
Ac >.Pt the assurance of sincere esteem.
(Figned) D. J. CARDINAL MERCER,
Archbishop of Malines.
Csignod) NH. RUTTEN
Bishop of Namur.
(signed) TIL. LOUIS HEYLEN,
Bishop of Liege
The Governor General gave an evasive answer.
Government General Of Belgium, Brussels,
September %, 1911.
To His Eminence Cardinal Mcrcier, Archbishop of
Mntines
In the letter you urote me on the 10th inst
yor En1inence in conjunction aOith their Lordships
the Bishops Of NGmur and Liege, expresses fears
lest the bells in Belgian churches be seized The
cessities might lead to the eTecution of such
able to that far there has been
no for assuming any definite attitude as re-
CARDS the question raised in this appeal
offer TO your Eminence the expression of my
sincere esteem,
CSigned) Won FALKENHAUSEN,
Lieutenant General.
The Cardinal acknowledged the receipt of the Gov
ernor Generals letter as follows:
Archbshop's House, Malines.
October 4, 1917
To His ExcelIency Baron Falkenhausen, Governor
General Brussels
Sr-I have the honor to acknowledge the re-
cept of your Excellencys letter of the goth inst,
with reference to the preservation of hells
Grated to Catholic worship, and thank you in the
names of my colleagues, the Bishops of Namur and
Liege and in my own, for having quieted anxiety
in this matter.
Please accept our assurance Of our sincere
esteem.
(signed) D.. J. CARDINAL MERCER,
Archbishop of Mahnes.
ri. -