Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-13


ays an embarrassment to the Prussian system.
the oppression of my sincere esteem and am yours
dcvotedp
(Signed) LANCKEN.
IF. Franch, in religion F. servasius. Superior of
the Franeiscans at Malines, had been sentenced 70
o GP Re of er
November II the Cardinal nterceded in his favor.
Won Bssing, in spite of his promise, did not
the letter of November 20. He confined himself to in
forming the Cardinal through Baron der Lancken,
that he could not accept the help offered by the priests
in the work of enrolling the unemployed
Pleas for Tyo Liues Refused
Political Department of the Government General of
Belgium, Brussels December 9, 1916.
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of
Malines.
In repty to vour esteemed letter of Nouen,ber 27
last, haze the honor to inform your Emincnce that
the Governor General after Investigating the case,
has been unable to make of his right of reprieue
"a fuUor of the Engineer Uyebroek and the Rai,oay-
man Mertena condemned to death for espionage In
regard to VANITY, definite decision can be tuker,
until IL has been ascertained By medical examination
wheher he is of sound mind and therefore responsible
for his actions"
The Governor General i,strucs me to inform
your Emine',ce in reply to your letter IF November
go, that he is unfortunately unable to grant to priests
kind Of official cooperation TN recruiting the
ployed. But taking into account the reasons as
signed By your Eninence the Governor General teaues
authorities and there impart their Information and
crpress their Oishes before the enrolment is begun
present to your Emi'ecncc the expression of 1ny
sincere esteem.
(Signed) LANCKEN
+The Cardinal interceded on behalf of the condemned
men in a letter addressed to Baron der Lancken,
dated November o. -f ...--.
Several days later the Cardinal sent the parish
priests of his diocese the following instructions:
In spite of the protests addressed to Germany
by the Sovereign Pont and several neutral states,
the deportation of our civil population still continues
1t is duty to lessen to the best of ability
evil we powerless to prevent
The moment that notices to assemble are
placarded in your parish, please persons who
do not depend on public assistance to provide them
selves with receipt for the payment Of this years
taxes, duly certified by the communal authorities
The sick and delicate must ask their doctor for
certificate of i'll health; workmen who are employed
must ask their masters for a declaration, counter
signed by the burgomaster, that they in employ
ment
Acting in concert with influential persons of
your parish take specially to heart the interests of
those parishioners who according to the instructions
of the German authorities, exempt from deporta
ton. Then take joint action with the communal
authorities, the national committee for relief and
food supplies and your well-to-do and devout
parshoners, in order to provide for the INDECENT
whose departure is probable, clothes and other
necessaries.
On the of their departure or the day before
invite those who going off to to confession
Provide adequate number of confessors for them,
celebrate for their intention, to which you will
be careful to their children, grandchildren
and interested adults to the end that the communion
made by them, together with their whole family, may
prove comfort to them and memory which they
carry away with them into exile. In a suitable
instruction exhort them to remain steadfast in their
faith and their moral and religious practices during
the period of their absence. At home prayers will
be recited for them. Give those who going away
a rosary, scapular and New Testament
Help for Stricken Families
The day following their departure make an
appeal to the best of your charitable parishioners
both men and women, get into contact with the St.
Vincent de Paul Society, with the Ladies of Mercy
the Third Order of St. Francis, the congregations
and confratenties the manifold societies affiliated
with the diocesan Federation of Catholic Women of
which the Able Halhants is the director, and form
with their help and under the direction of the parish
priest his delegate committee of moral assistance
who will undertake to visit stricken families to COM
fort, advise and help them. Give them moral support
and help them materially if need be. A Christian
parish forms family When in family one
member suffers all suffer; when il enjoys prosperity
every shares therein. And so not single home
in the parish should be left out, unknown or for
gotten. If this were desirable in normal times, it
should be absolutely necessary in these distressing
days. Those who have leisure ought to place them
selves at the disposal of those who have none. The
superhuity of some ought to minister to the wants
of others. Mutual help understood and practiced
is but the fuliflment of the law of Christ "Bear ye
one another's burdens says the Apostle Paul, "and
so you shall fulfill the law of Christ"
The parish priests who in need of some help
in their ministry of charity may come send some
one to me for it, but should like them to be good
enough TO fix approximately the amount Of help they
require. We must leave stone unturned TO effect
the repatriation of those who according to the Ger
man Governments declarations, ought to be immune
from deportation. To that end, committee has been
organized in our Episcopal Curia to deal with cases
calling for redress.
CONTINUED TOMORROW -a r.-
Copprioht, 1870, Publto LedOer ,sssts
~ Coptft1hf, PabhG Lsd0or
iutsrnats0sai Copyright 1889, BY Public Ledger %.
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