The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-01-23
DEATH COMES QUIETLY TO CARDINAL
MERCER, AGED PRIMATE OF BELGIUM
Complete Recovery Was Predicted Following Operation
on December 20 But Change for the Worse Occurred
January 6-Funeral to BE Affair of State

were the royal heads Of belligerent
states or the illustrious generals who
led the allied armies to victory.
The role played by Cardinal Mcr-
cier was one of the outstanding fea-
lures Of the World war; Although
hailed as the "Apostle of Peace"
| throughout the civilized world. he
demonstrated early in the great
struggle that he also was fighter of
the first magnitude when convinced
| that his cause was imbued with
! righteousness.
Resisted German Invasion
He was in Rome when news arrived
that Bclgium--his native land had
been stricken to earth by the mighty
| German advance. Cutting short the
formalities which usually attend the
| departure Of high church dignitary
from the Vatican. he hastcned back
| to Brussels, waved aside preliminar-
les and precedent; cXhorted his pco-
pie to resist the invasion with all the
| strength and determination at their
commands; denounced the Germans
j from pulpit and palace, and from then
on continued as one of the most for
midablc and dangerous thorns in the
! side Of enemy military authorities
| who were cndeavoring to shape the
destinies of conquered Belgium to
| the best advantage Of victorious Ber-
lin.
| On countless occasions his cOurag-
eous attitude in dcfying the invaders
evoked admiration throughout the
world. His devotion to the subject
cd pOpulace throughout the five most
| frightful years in Belgian history
never faltered for the briefcst mo-
ment. even under pressure Of threats
and coercion bespcaking violence and
| death to himself. Baron Won Bissing,
the German governor general IF Bel
gium, who ruled over the little king
ldom with an iron hand encased in .
mailed fist. was forced in the end to
| acknowledge that his master had been
met in this mild-mannered disciple
Of cause which made up in glory
| and devotion what the fortunes Of
| war had decrced it should lack in the
power of cannon and sword.
The famous Pastoral Letter of De-
! cember. 1914, prepared by Cardinal
| 'Mercier and read in every Catholic
! church in Belgium, has been called
! one of the most damning indictments
| of the German invasion ever writ
ten. The letter went forth to printer
and priest despite every precauion
the German authorities could take to
suppress it. Spies by the score
watched day and night over the pre-
!! late and his staff, for the invaders
| were aware that letter containing
condemnations of the most violent
nature was to be read from every
Catholic church in the land on New
Years Day. 1915. They were deter
mined to forestall it at all costs, but
the letter was read despite their eff
forts and the wrath of the powerful
Won Kissing was heaped upon Car
dinal Mercier for his defiance.
Was Kept Prisoner
Under orders from the generals
office, he was kept prisoner in his
home for two weeks while Won Bis
sing was bringing pressure to force
his submission. A mere verbal ad-
mission that the prelate had no i'm
tention Of exciting or alarming the
. population by the pastoral letter
would have satisfied the governor
general. it was said, but no. such ad-
mission ever WAS secured from Car
dinal Mercier.
Another pastoral letter, sent out
at the beginning#of Lent in 1915.
| again brought persecntion from voa
Bissing. e
"The conviction Of eur final victory
CONTINUED n paee ~ s