The New York herald., 1921-07-29
BIZ the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LouvAIN, Belgium. July 2s.-The cor
nerstone of the new library of the Uni
versity Of Louvain. planned as a~gaft of
the American people to the people OF
mony here to-day.
The reading Ola message from Presi-
dent Harding was feature of the ex-
ercises, which were attended by King
| Albert, who delivered an address pre-
ceding the laying Of the stone, as did
Cardinal Mercier. the Primate OF Bel
gium: former President Poincare OF
France and Premier Carton de Wharf of
Belgium.
The building to be erected will re-
place the world famous Library of Lou
vain. destroyed by the German army In
Its invasion of Belgium In 1914.
The representatives of leading Ameri-
can and other universities participated
in the ceremonies. DR.. Nicholas Muir
ray Butler, president of Columbia Uni
versity, New York, laid the cornerstone
as chairman OF the American committee
cational centre. Cardinal Mercier,
standing in the midst of Belgium's high
est clergy, blessed the building. AS the
cornerstone swung Into place DR.. Butler
said:
| America will watch this splendid
building rise like the phoenix from Its
ashes to bear witness to the unbreak-
able bonds that Bind American to Bel
gfum. to France, to Great Britain and
to all their allies. A nation cannot do
battle in a great cause or for noble
ideal without receiving q new baptism
Of spirit.
"Such a new baptism of spirit has
come to the people Of the United States.
and this act of theirs, so small when
compared with their ambitions and
hopes, is convincing evidence that
America will never stand idly by while
freedom is destroyed, while liberty Is
turned into slavery or while the cannon
and flames of war carry destruction to
the most splendid monuments, to human
aspirations and human accomplish
ments."
The raising of $500 900 fund to re-
build the Louvain library has been In
progress for nearly two years under the
direction Of the National Committee OF
| the United States for the Restoration OF
the University OF Louvain.
This committee, composed of distin-
guished Americans in many walks OF
| life. is headed by DR.. Nicholas Murray
Butler. president of Columbia Univer'
sity, who with Thomas w. Lamont L.
II. Outerbridge, Herbert Putnam and
the late Alexander J. Hemphill consti'
tuted an executive committee which
actively directed the movement Only
about $151,000 has been collected thus
far. It was stated. Unless the United
States speedily provides the balance
Cardinal Mercier has said, the Louvafn
authorities will be compelled to turn to
the Continent for aid.
The University of Louvain is the
largest in Belgium. 1t has twenty-five
buildings scattered about the city, some
| cid, but some new as regards modern
equipment Three of the twenty-five. the
library, a dormitory, Maiscn des Etudi-
ants and the School of Commerce, were
burned and sacked by the invaders, who
carried Off priceless manuscripts and
books, practically wiping out the historic
structure, with most Of Its contents.
Only some of the walls, pillars and
buttresses of the library remained
though some Of these retain the beauti-
ful carvings which characterized the en-
tire building before 1t was destroyed
The new library, designed by Whitney
Warren, will be building quite distinct
from Les Halles, which the German fire
destroyed.
| Inc history Ol Lnc university VI i<ou-
vain stretches back over five centuries
to the time when tho Duke of Brabunt, a
patron of literature and the fine arts,
was instrumental In securing from Pope
Martin " bull sanctioning the fourda-
tion Of q university. which was there
upon established at Louvain in 1425.
In those days. when the famous Halles
de Draps. of Clothmakers' Halls, played
so important a role In the economic and