Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-17

Brussels and of Brabant has had to punish the popu-
lation u Greater Brussels
Your Enttnence assurcdly cannot be bl.nd to the
fact that the principal cause Of these incidents IS TO
be found as usual IN the playing and singing Of the
national anthem. 1t is inevitable that the enthusiasm
of the crosUd be reused and committed Since,
as general rule, the organ gives the signal for the
singing, the responsibility of all that happened falls
the ecclesiastical authorities Since denons!rd-
tioms of this kind may lead to serious trouble cam
not in future adopt the tolerant attitude US 1
haze done up till must also mention, on this
occasion, the of flags inside the churches People
longer content vith dec, Itng the affairs Dtth
flags, but they haze begun to mfurl and acaue them
If IN the future incidents like those aUIich haze hap
pened at Brussels brought to my notice, shall
haze to eaoe to the Judgment of your Eminenoe the
Gdvisab'lity Of celebrating not solemn religious
services anniversary days.
I am informed that than gear ago your
Enience gaze instructions to yopr clergy limiting
the introduction of or rites into relioious services
to those only proVided for By the liturgy. For
the aforesaid reasons hare asked myself eohether
ought not to prohibit the playing the singing of the
national anthem and other nonregious melodies; and
ought not to restrict the of flags in churches
to memorial services held for the fallen IN battle.
Before Issuing any order of the kind, solicit your
Eminences ddvice.
(Signed) BARON Won Kissing,
Lieutenant General
The Cardinals is as follows
Archbshop's House. Malines,
November 29 1916.
To His Exceency Baron Won Kissing, Governor Gen.
eral, Brussels.
Sir-The letter I. 11.319, with which your Excel
ency has honored me under date 25th N0vember,
calls my attention to political demonstrations" al
legged to have taken place in certain churches.
have at heart much as anybody the dignity
of public worship and respect for holy places. So
Gently as last Sunday opened my address in the
Church of st. Gudule with these words Brethren,
beeseech you earnestly to remain recoected in the
House of God, both during and after the service"
My words needed Neither by gesture by
word Of mouth was the decorum of the ceremony dis
turbed+
I feel confident that the few parishes where an
abuse may have crept in will observe similar
mendation, such as shall deem it my duty to make
them
For my part beseech your Excellency to
be your guard against deliberately undelberate-
ly exaggerated reports sent you. For instance, do
not know whether there be reality several
churches where the clergy would indulge in flag
waving. l have rade no inquiry about the two cases
of ST. Gudule and st. Jacques, the only two which
your Excellency's letter mentions by But
person of high standing, stranger in Belgium. who
assisted at the religious service November Is, of
his own accord, informed me that he was very sur
prised that the German authorities should have used
in describing this ceremony, the word "demonstra-
tion." n
(sgned) DJ CARDINAL MERCER,
Archbishop of Malines.
+on Sunday November 2, mass was said at st,
Gudule for the intention of those deported The Card
nal made an address IN which he lnvelghed against the
crime of denortation and proclaimed that violated right
remains right and thai injustice resting on might is
none the less injustice.
Baron der Lancken, acting on the order o1
Baron Bissing, acknowledged the Cardinals letter
Of November 20 and called attention to new case
which, according to him. the Cardinals people had taken
part in political demonstration in Brussels church
Political Department of the Government General
Brussels December IS, 1916.
To His Em,inence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of
Malines.
His EnceIency Uas pleased to hear that your
milton to the clergy of those parishes 1vhere abuses
haze crept IN
Quite lately people haze again made a political
demonstration IN Brussels church. In the middle of
the singing Belgian flag unfu"led and ,vaved
before the altar; then 1t carried all round the
church IN kind of torchHgM procession. AU the
time the "Brabanconne" played on the organ in
very lively anl ostentatious aOay
Such cases fall 1Uithin the scope of the orders
1vhch haze been dra1Un up against political demon
stratons organized in public and consequently render
those participating in them liable to legal proceed
ngs. 1t is impossible not to hold the res ponsble
for any breaches of the law in his church. Your E,u
kno0s ho0 distaseful 1t Is to the Governor to
take steps against prests and he, therefore, earn
esy desires the ecclesiastical authorities to take the
n.eedf,u measures to avoid their recurrence
(Signed) LANCKEN.
The Cardinal asked Won der Lancken for details an,
took advantage of this opportunity to intercede i,
favor of persons detained under peculiarly c1V1e
circumstances.