Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1926-01-23
AGED PRIMATE
HEROIC FIGURE
in WORLD VAR
Prince of Church Slips
Quietly Into Hereafter
As Friends Pray For
Speedy Recovery

BRUSSELS, Jan. 23.-Cardi-
nal Mercier, primate Of Belgium,
and one of the heroic figures of
the world war, died today at the
age of "a, losing his long battle
against the decline that set in
after an operation on December
29.
Death came at 6 o'clock this
afternoon.
The aged prince of the church
slipped quietly into the here
after with all Of Catholic Bel
gium and France praying for a
speedy recovery of the grace of
happy death as the church
formula has it.
He was surrounded by members of his
family, the faithful clergy Of his arch
diocese, the papal nuncio in Brussels,
and representative Of King Albert,
when the end came.
Special masses for the illastrisus
dead will be celebrated throughout Bel
GUM and France tomorrow to mark the
cardinals passing.
Cardinal Mercier was stricken with
influenza December 19. The news Of
his illness became known when he was
unable to attend the ceremony at which
Queen Elizabeth received the golden
rose sent her by Pope Plus in honor Of
her twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.
Shortly afterward it was announced
that the primate would have to undergo
an operation.
During the days Immediate following
the operation the cardinal semed to i'm
prove and his complete recovery was
predicted by those in attendance. Sud-
denly on January 6 it became known
that his condition had taken a turn for
the worse 1t was with difficulty that
he was able to assimilate food. He be-
gan weaken but his robust constitu-
tion and faith aided him to withstand
the ravages Of his ailment. much to the
surprise Of his physician.
Desire Mercier. cardinal Of Malines.
prince of thee hurch and apostle Of
peace" was one of the most striking
figures brought prominently before the
world by the most ruthless war of all
times.
Little known outside Of vatican cir
cles or beyond the borders Of Belgium
prior to 1914, this modest, unassuming
prelate was as famous before the
world on Armistace Day as were the
royal heads of belligerent states or the
illustrious generals who led the allied
armies to victory.
The role played by Cardinal Mereier
was one Of the outstanding features OF
the world war. Although hailed as the
"apostle Of peace throughout the civ
ilized world, he demonstrated early In
the great struggle that he also was o
fighter of the first magnitude when
convinced that his cause was imbued
with righteousness.
Rallied People to Battle
He was in Rome when news arrived
that Belgium-his native land-had
been stricken to earth by the mighty
German advance. Cutting short the
formalities which usually attend the de-
parture Of high church dignitary
from the vatican, he hastened back to
Brussels, waved aside preliminaries and
exhorted his people to re
sist the invasion with all the strength
and determination at their command;
denounced the Germans from pulpit and
palace. and from then on continued -
one of the most formidable and dan
gerous thorns in the side of enemy
military authorities who were endeav-
oring to shape the destinies of corr
quered Belgium to the best advantage
of victorious Berlin.
Damns Germans
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 incidents Of the
German invasion ever written. The let
ter went forth to printer and priest
despite every precaution the German
authorities could take to suppress it.
Spies by the score watched day and
night over the prelate and his staff,
for thei INVADERS were aware that les
ter containing condemnations Of the
most violent nature was to be read from
Continued on Page Four.)