Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-19


Of endurance and of faith in the future"
given by the Belgian people would to educate the
mind of genera tions to come"
In the second section the Cardinal dwelt the
grandeur of the Christian spirit "f natural moral vr-
tues be worthy of esteem, charity alone, which Christ
nfuses into the soul, gives virtue its full significance
ard strictly speaking merits eternal reward"
The pastoral ended with exhortaton to confidence
and acts Of alteration and love OF God and of submits
sion to His holy will.
Baron Kissing, considering that the Cardinal
had again issued political manifesto, wrote him as
follows:
Government General of Belgium, Brussels,
February 27, 1917.
To His Eminencc Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop Of
Wotjres
ON the s5th inst. your E1niuencc ordered pas
toraL to be read IN all the churches, chole chapter
Of 1Chich is tGe up tcb purely political matters.
must raise Vigoro1s protest against the abuse
'ch;ch has bee, made Of the liberty Of ,rorsip hth-
e'to accorded, u, order to promote political agiC-
tio,'. By issuing this manifesto, directed against the
occ~pyng po1cer, VOui' Eminencc has again sadly
disGlusiomed me of the hope scas justified IN forn
ing. uieV of the repeated declarations Of the Holy
Father IT. after this incident retra, from taking
serious It is solely because of my regard for
the HolV See and for tho sake Of religious peace in
occupied TERRITORY. For action of this nature
simple priest, according to the orders IN force
auoud render himself liable to ledaI proceedigs Nor
refrain iron, expressing to your En,inrmce my
surprise thGt gou should issue public manifesto of
this Lind at the Ve1y tnc tchen, IN common auth
certain nun,be" of 1oellkne,un- personnges in the
eusd territory you hare just addressed appeal to
his Majesiu the Kaiser IN the interests of the
employed This act Of yo,r En,inenee deteYs from
prom'sing as haze done, nay support TO the dbops
appeal ia. -.....r
lPecsivc the of mn sincere esteem.
(Sig1tcd) BARON Won Kissing,
Lieutenant Geaerci
The Cardinal hastened to Justify his conduct BY
asserting that his duty to encourage, lead and
support his beloved people struggling in the midst Of
the most cruel sufferngs. ...-...,..
Archbishop's House. NIalines,
March 8, 1917.
To His Excellencv Baron Won Bissing Governor Cen
eral Brussels.
Sr-The letter I. 1899, with which your Excel
lency has honored me- under date Of February q,
only reached yesterday, March 2, and avail
myself of nv first leisure moment to answer it.
May beg your Excellency to be good as to
abstract for moment from your position SOL
der and the chief representative of the occupying
power to hearken to those feelings which
sponsve echo in the heart of every Christian and
thrill his very soul? do not ask than that in
order to rest assured that you will not hold fast to
your first decision.
Be so good, Excellency, as to look the facts in
the face. Just Our Holy Father Benedict XIV, in
his consstoria address Of December 4, 1916. pro-
claimed nobly before the Church and before the
world considerable numbers of inoffensive citizens
dragged from their mothers their wives and their
weeping children ard led OF into captivty far from
their native lard. W" have them go detected in
mind. though sound in body, and we have them
back wznn"d. emaciated, prey to tuberculosis
in the proportion of six to ten, thus creating dire
menace for generations to come.
Every family is in dread. Tales Of sorrow come
to from every side and how in face of this
remain unmoved witnesses of beloved psonle's
anruish? No. TxceInncy a power which only took
count of exterior discDline might max" this c!aim
A man with a heart would not uphold it.
regret having to raise my voice in public at
moment when people are speaking about the generous
efforts displayed by Excelencv to prevent fresh
deportations and TO mitigate the effects of those al
ready carried out--at moment when I had iust
signed confident appeal to his imperial Majesty. But
it is needfu to take account of the compex situation
created for us by events. We are face to face with
power which has at its disposal the means
of might; but around us people weak, agonized
and suffering; have to resuect the without
negectng the other. am ready, with Gods grace
for every personal sacrifice. but cannot ask
shepherd to take no interest in his flock. 1t is in
conceivable that he should it dspersed and hear
its cries without trying, at least with the poor
means at his DISPOSAL to prove that he still leads
them and that he will not forsake them.
Would your Excellency kindly read again with
an impartial eye my pastoral of February II? You
will find therein nothing but the expression of the
sentiments of kindly solictude. have intention
of wounding any one whatever, nor of being aggres
sive. merely coniine myself to encouraging people
who are dear to me and of whom am, bv my voca-
ton, the leader and manstay. The faithful under
stand me- my words incte to rebellion. where
as in the of many know it has brought them
peace &C mind.
Accept, sir, the expression of my sincere esteem
(Signed) D. J, CARDINAL MERCER,
Archbishop of Malines.
CONTINUED TOMORROW