Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-25
INTEREST AROUSED
IN MERGERS WILL
Believed Cardinal Referred to
Union of Roman and
Anglican Churches.
By the Associated Press.

MALINES. Belgium, January 25.-
! Much interest was aroused today by
the revelation that Cardinal Mercier
had left religious will addressed to
the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The details Of this document have
not yet been made public. but, as il
was written shortly after the visit to
the dying cardinal by Lord Halifax
president of the Anglican Church
Union, it is believed that 1t has ref.
erence to the question of a union of
the Roman and Anglican Churches. for
which the cardinal long had been
working. The will was written in the
cardinals own hand.
Hundreds Seek Admission.
So great has been the desire of the
people to show their love for Cardinal
/ Mercier that last night several hun
dred. believing that the doors of the
archepiscopal residence would be clos
ed before they had time to pass by
the bier. rushed past the attendants
and gained entry to the vestibule. The
police made several arrests and the
cardinals secretary threatened to close
, the palace until after the funeral if
further untoWard incidents occurred
Many of the persons who came to
pay tribute to the prince of the church
brought with them medals and other
holy objects with which they touched
the cardinals body, believing that
hereafter they would carry with them
the attributes of blessing.
! Although only three Belgians thus
! far have been honored with national
! funeral the homage that is being paid
Cardinal Mercier transcends even that
given a monarch. In his robes of
purple, mitre in hand and the great
gold cross upon his breast. thousands
of people in all walks of life continue
to pass by the bier on which his body
lies in the archepiscopal residence
here, to which it was transferred yes
terday fl ON the hospital in Brussels
where he died Saturday.
Coolidge Sends Condolences.
From all parts of the world have
come messages of coincidence. Among
these is one from President Coolidge,
sent to the embassy here by Secre-
tary Of State Kellogg. In it there was
reference made to the indomnitable
courage of the cardinal toward hui
ma nifty and better world conditions
The cardinal will be intomber Thurs
Gay in a crypt in the Cathedral of
st. Rombau besides the bodies of for
mer prinates of Belgium.
King Albert, the Crown Prince,
members of the cabinet and other
high state and ecciesia stical officials
will be present.
$4,000 Persons Assemble.
1t is estimated that $4,000 persons
came here from other parts of Bel
gium yesterday, hoping to get a
glimpse of the cardinals features.
Extra police were summoned for to.
day and arrangements made to pre-
serve better order.
The streets were filled with automo-
biIes all day, among them those of
the French, Spanish and Japanese
Amba ssadors. who made the trip from
Brussels.
The question Of national funeral
and the arrangements for the cere-
mony are being settled at today's
cabinet meeting in the capital Pre-
mier Poullet and Baron Jacuuemyns,
minister of the interior, taking the
initiative.
Among the prominent persons send
ing such messages of coincidence thus
far are Cardinal Mundelein of Chicago,
Cardinal O'Donnell of Ireland, Cardi.
nal Cerretti. the papal nuncio in
Paris: the Archbishop OF Canterbury
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