MERCIER PASSES i
AWAY AT HOME ;
IN BRUSSELS
LESION OF STOMACH CAUSES
COMA —MASS CELEBRATED
AT HIS BEDSIDE
BRUSSELS, Belgium, Jan. 23 {IP)—
Cardinal Mercier died ttoday, losing
the stubborn fight following an oper
ation December 23. A lesion of the
stomach caused unconsciousness as
he tried to pronounce the benediction
following mass at his bedside. When
mass ended he turned to the com
pany at his bedside with a signiflcent
look of farewell. Two of his nephews
the Reverend Joseph Mercier and the
Reverend Charles Jean Mercier, the
lattr professor of philosophy at No
tre Dame, Indiana, celebrated the
mass. Otther cardinals, his sister
in-law and physician were present
wrhen tbe end came.
After the mass the Cardinal said:
“There is nothing we can do but wait.”
Administration of oxygen prolonged
his life during the coma.
Desire Mercier, Cardinal of Ma- j
lines, Prince of the Church and j
“Apostle of Peace,” was one of the;
most striking figures brought promi
nently before the world by the most
ruthless war off all times.
Little known outside of Vatican
circles or beyond ithe borders of Bed
gium prior to 1914, this modest, un
assuming prelate was as famous be-1
fore the world on Armistice Day as
were the royal heads of belligerent
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dates or the illustrious generals who
ed the Allied armies to victory.
The role played by Cardinal, Mer
ger was one of the outstanding fea
tures of the World War. Although
lailed as the “Apostle of Peace”
:hruout the civilized world, he dem
mst rated early in the great strug
gle that he also was a fighter of the
irst magnitude when convinced that
ais cause was imbued with righteous
ness.
He was in Rome when news arriv
ed that Belgium—his native land—
had 'been stricken to earth by the
mighty German advance. Cutting
short the formalities which usually
attend the departure of a high church
dignitary from the Vatican, he hast
ened back to Brussels, waved aside
preliminareis and precedent; exhort
ed his people to resist the invasion
with all the strength and determina
tion at their command; denounced
the Germans from pulpit and palace,
and from then on continued as one
of the most formidable and danger
ous thorns in the side of enemy mil
itary authorities -who were endeav
oring to shape the destinies of con
quered Belgium to the best advan
tage of victorious Berlin.
On countless occasions his coura
geous attitude in defying the invad
ers evoked admiration thruout the
world. His devotion to the subject
ed populace throughout the five most
trightful years in Belgian history
never faltered for the briefest mo
ment, even under pressure of threats
and coercion bespeaking violence and
death to himself. Baron von Bissing,
the German Governor General of
Belgium, who ruled over the little
Kingdom with an iron hand encased
in a mailed fist, was forced in the
end to acknowledge that his master
had been met in this mild-mannered
disciple of a cause which made up in
glory and devotion what the fortunes
of war had decreed 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 written.
The letter went forth to printer and
priest despite every precaution the
German authorities could take (to sup
press it. Spies by the score watch
| ed day and night over the prelate
j and his staff, for the invaders were
! aware that a letter containing con
! demnations of the most violent na
I ture was to be read from every Ca
tholic church in the land on New
Year’s Day, 1915. They were de
termined to forestall it at all costs,
but the letter was read despite their
efforts and the wrath of the powerful
von Bissing was heaped upon Cardi
nal Mercier for his defiance.
Under orders from the General’s of
ifice, he was kept a prisoner in his
home for two weeks while van Biss
ing was bringing pressure to forc(
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his submission. A mere verbal ad
mission that the prelate had no in
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 1916, again
brought persecution from von Bias
ing.
“The conviction of our final vic
tory is more deeply anchored in my
soul than ever,” the letter said in
part. “We will win, do not ever
doubt it, but we have not reached
the end of our sufferings. Prepare
your plans, place your batteries, co
ordinate your movements. Remem
ber, man proposes but God disposes.”
Von Bissing flew into a towering
rage when he read the letter, which
he avowed was “an invocation o/f the
Cardinal to God for the extermina
tion of the German armies.”
Purple with indignation and On the
verge of an apopletic attack, he
threw his helmet on the door, tram
pled and kicked it into an unrec
ognizable mass, then sent every or
derly in his headquarters for Baron
von der Lancken and Count Mar
rach, his advisors. Cardinal Mercier
must retract, he told them. They
must secure an apology to Germany,
and al the resources of the German
Empire were at their disposal to get
it.
Still, no apology ever came from
Malines.
A little village not far from Wa
terloo-Briane d’Alleud—was the
birthplace of Cardinal Mercier in
1851. The family was a distinguish
ed religious one, several other mem
bers having received high honors
from the Catholic church.
Believing that he was destined for
a career other than secular, the future
Cardinal prepared for the medical
i_____—
profession, and upon his graduation
from college sltudied surgery under
Professor Charcot at Paris. Inborn
love of the priesthood, however, soon
caused him to abandon his medical
studies and seek seclusion in a sem
inary, where he prepared himself
to take the cloth.
Before he was referred to as "the
Great Cardinal,” the Abbe Mercier
was known to Belgians as "the tall
priest,” as he stood well over six
feet in height. His mental endow
ments proved to be on a par with
his physical appearance, hence it
was not long before he attracted the
attention of influential persons in
the heiraohy of the church. Even
tually, when it was decided to cre
ate an institute of philosophy in con
nection with the University of Lou
vain, Pope Leo XIII recognized the
capabilities of the young Abbe Mer
cier and had him placed in charge
otf the organization work.
Great surprise was occasioned la
ter, however, when it was noted that
the priest's teachings were in direct
opposition to doctrines of the more
conservative element in the Holy
See. He taught that Catholic dog
ma “did not constitute an ideal
which it was forbidden to attempt
to surpass, or a frontier defining
| the activities and limits of the
mind.”
Summoned to Rome by his adver
saries, then constituting a majority
in the College of Cardinals, he argued
his case so convincingly that Pope
Leo decided the controversy in his
favor and soon afterward appointed
him Bishop of M alines. He was
made a Cardinal in 1907 by Pope Pius
X and then dropped from sight, so
far as the world at large was con
cerned, until the Germans entered
Belgium in 1914.
Modest, humble, seeking no per
sonal honors, the Prelate of Belgium
spent the declining years of his life
as he had spent the years before
the war—visiting his priests and con
gregations, discussing their troubles,
consoling them in sorrow, and preach
in to them humility in success.
Following the war, in September,
1919, Cardinal Mercier paid a visit
to the United States. As his ship
docked in New York he was met by
General Pershing, who welcomed him
in the name of t/he American gov
ernment, and thruout his tour of the
country he received many honors
and degrees. At the time of his
departure he said:
“If, under the pressure of years
or for other reasons, I have to re
lenquisih my ministry in Belgium I
am willing to spend my last days
in your country, and will not refuse
an opportunity to come here and
show that I am worthy to be a true
American.”
Condition Mrs. Williams
Shows Much Improvement
Mrs. E. A. Williams, wife of the
veteran railroad conductor in the
service of the Alaska Railroad, who
slipped on a doorstep in Anchorage
two months ago injuring her foot to
such an extent that since that time
she has been, more or less, an inval
id, is getting along as well as can
be expected, according to Mr. Will
iams who has been in Seward for a
few days. The ankle has been in a
cast until last week when Mr. Will
iams took it off and is now perform
ing in the role of physician. It is
expected Mrs. Williams will be able to
be about as well as ever wthin a few
weeks.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams made their
home in Seward for a few months last
summer but have since resided at An
chorage.
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I
m
!§
ill
Sts
J©
if THE '
METHOD OF
MAIL ORDER
MERCHANDIZING
Mail order concerns de
mand cash in advance. They won’t
take a chance. They won’t trust you.
They are the “fair weather friends” of
merchandising.
If a local dealer treated you in the
same manner you would be madder than
a wet hen. But he doesn’t. If you desire
credit and are ivorthy of it, he will extend it
gladly. Then why not
Favor Dealers Who Will Favor You
Spot cash trading is of course the best
policy of purchasing. There are, however, times when
even those well heeled financially must resort to “credit”
buying. You may see the time when it will not be convenient for
you to “come across” with the cash. And when that time comes
the local merchant is the only one who will “accommodate” you. The mail
order house would turn you down cold. They want your business only when
they have your money in hand.
Unless you trade with home dealers when you have the
ready cash—don't ask for a “credit lift” in a pinch. It’s not just. It’s
net even common decency to expect your home town dealer to bear
the burden of your bills—when you refuse to do business with him when you
can do it on a spot cash basis.
By every reason of right your local merchants are entitled
to your patronage—every penny of it. They cater to your best inter
ests with the best brands of merchandise. Their quality standards are the
highest. Their lines are fresh—clean—right up to date in every particular.
Their prices mark the extreme limit of economical buying. They deal fairly.
Every dollar you spend with them buys actual value. None of it goes for ex
orbitant mail order expenses—costly catalogues—high salaried office workers. They don’t
attempt to lead you on with merchandising “lures’—with low prices on one or a few articles—
then high prices on all other goods.
They want your business. They will do everything within
their means to earn your patronage. They must handle your account
with care. They can’t stand to lose trade—because their field is limited.
Even if they were inclined (which they are not) to employ underhanded methods, they couldn’t
afford to—because it would kill them commercially.
Turn trade to the dealer who in turn will treat you right Put your con
fidence in merchants who have confidence in you.
The Calumet Baking Powder Company
paid for the preparation of this article*