CARDINAL MERCIER IN LONDON

New Zealand Tablet, 19 November 1914, Page 9

CARDINAL MERCIER IN LONDON

RECEPTION BY KING AND QUEEN. GREAT POPULAR WELCOME. His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines, was received at Buckingham Palace on Sunday by the King, with whom was the Queen (says the Catholic Times of September 18). The Cardinal, who was accompanied by the Duke-of Norfolk, reached the Palace shortly before one o’clock, and was received by Lord Stanmore (lord-in-waiting), who conducted him to their Majesties’ presence. Both King and Queen chatted sympathetically with the- Cardinal, who remained with : the King and Queen about twenty minutes. A Wonderful Demonstration. One of the most remarkable public demonstrations which London has witnessed within memory took place in the neighborhood of Archbishop’s House, Westminster on Sunday afternoon. Fifty thousand people, so it was computed, were gathered together at a few hours’ notice, under the auspices of the United Irish League, to manifest their sympathy with his Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines, and through him with the entire Belgian nation in the losses they have sustained whilst fighting for the cause of liberty and justice. Though Irish Catholics composed the great mass of those present, it was evident that a large number of English sympathisers, with many of other nationalities, were amongst the throng that stood in serried ranks fronting Archbishop’s House and filling the entire thoroughfare. ' About 4 o’clock roars of cheering announced the advent of Mr. J. E. Redmond, M. P., Mr. John Dillon, M.P., and Mr. T. P. O’Connor, M.P., who found a passage with some difficulty through wildly enthusiastic people to the Archbishop’s House, where they were received by Right Rev. Dr. Anrgo, Bishop of Southwark; Right Rev. Dr. Butt, Bishop of Cambysopolis, and Very Rev. Mgr. Hewlett, Adm. Westminster Cathedral. After a short interval volleys of cheers told that the venerable guest of the day had arrived. On entering the Archbishop’s House he was immediately presented to the Irish leaders, who proceeded ‘with him to a balcony on the second floor of the building. As he appeared, and in his scarlet robes, nothing could surpass the .enthusiasm of the enormous crowd. Hats were raised, and cheer after cheer rent the air for fully five minutes, while the Cardinal, visibly overcome, bowed again and again, and with , outstretched arm blessed the people. Every few seconds there was a fresh outburst, with cries of God save Belgium!’ ‘God bless the Cardinal!’ and ‘God save Ireland!’ There were cries, too, for a speech, but none was made. Meanwhile the crowd, or a large part of it, moved slowly down Ambrosden avenue, past the balcony, which was/regarded as a sort of saluting base, and so to the south side of the Cathedral, where it dispersed. The Cardinal blessed the great gathering in sections.. x . At length he and those who were with him left the balcony and took up a position on the balcony immediately over the entrance to Archbishop’s House, where the most impressive incidents of the afternoon took place. The Cardinal, * in 1 his! scarlet robes, stood silent : and evidently

deeply; moved. •- To the crowd below represented the outraged Belgian nation. They cheered and chebred. The refugees among them cried Vive la Belgique !’ An Irish- soldier waved his bayonet, and then knelt to receive the Cardinal’s blessing. Then a sudden silence filled the { entire ' street. The Cardinal,’ said Mr. O’Connor, ‘-will give the paternal blessing.’ The Archbishop stepped forward and spoke the Latin sentences of Benediction. . The group on the balcony then adjourned to the Throne Room, where Mr. T., P. O’Connor read an address, signed •" by himself on behalf of the Irish of Great Britain, and by 'Mr. J. E. Redmond, on behalf of the Irish Party. There was a large and representative attendance of the latter. - The Address. The address contained the following striking passages: ' . May it please -your Eminence, —We, the Irish people of London, could not resist the impulse to beg your Eminence to give them an opportunity to express to you, and through you to your people, their feelings at this tragic moment in the history of Belgium. Though your people and yourself personally appeal powerfully and irresistibly to the sympathy and the respect of the while civilised world, we felt that as Irishmen, united by special bonds, racial, religious, and political, to your people, we might claim the right to take the initiative in London of making ourselves the mouthpiece of those sentiments to you and to your country. In love and fespect for Belgium, and for her brave and "patriotic Cardinal, all the peoples of the British Empire and all the peoples of the'' civilised world, outside the States unhappily at war with Belgium, are one. The glory of nations and the glory of arms are not to be measured by their size but by their spirit and tested by that , standard your nation ' takes 'its place among the many other ,heroic small communities of the world whose heroic resistance to overwhelming superiority of an invading Power have made the names of even small battlefields stand out on the pages of all history and of all time. The glory as well as the sacrifice of your defence do not end with your soldiers. Your men in civil occupation, nay more, your women and even your children, have had to bear the brunt of this terrible invasion. True Culture Stands Appalled. Finally, your Eminence, true culture in all the world stands appalled, and in helpless grief before the destruction of some of the most beautiful and most historic -monuments which Belgian learning, Belgian art, and Belgian piety have raised during centuries of effort. Louvain has touched the heart of all the world; but nowhere, we assure your Eminence, has it touched the heart of people so profoundly as in Ireland for, between Louvain and Ireland there are historic ties for centuries associated with the illustrious name of O’Connell and thousands of Irish priests and of Irish students who received there the learning which for generations was shut out from them in their own land. And your own beautiful city of Malines, with all its great history and splendid monuments, also, we know, bears terrible traces of the desolation of war. v Every Belgian widow, every Belgian orphan, every Belgian victim of the war will find an asylum and a loving home in Great Britain; and we have already taken steps so that our own country of Ireland may have its share in the glory and the duty of finding homes for Belgium’s women and children. Might we express the earnest prayer that, at some later hour, your Eminence might find the time to pay a visit to our Motherland, there to learn from our people that all Ireland as a nation would turn out to give your Eminence and your countrymen an enthusiastic welcome. In faith, hope, and charity: in the courage and resolution of your people, in confident hope-in their final resurrection in renewed freedom ,and strength, charity to her sons and daughters— place this welcome before your Eminence and, through you, before your people.

Cardinal Mercier’s Tribute to Ireland. His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, who was received with loud applause, said: Mr. O’Connor and gentlemen, the sympathy which your people show to us in these dark days of our sorrow and anxiety impresses me deeply, and with all the ardor and sincerity of a wounded heart I thank you and the brave Irish people for it. (Applause.) May I also say that lam most sensible of the personal kindness shown to me by you, sir, and by Mr. Redmond and Mr. Dillon. Ireland may well apply to herself the words of the poet: Baud ignara mali miseris succurrere disco. She has suffered for faith and liberty. More" than any country in the world she can understand what pain is. But she knows also how great are the resources of energy, steadfastness, and hope called into being and developed in the soul of a nation through the spirit of sacrifice and selfabnegation. (Applause.) The example of your people has been fotf. centuries before the eyes of ours. Your admirable history is a perpetual stimulus for the generations which have seen you at work, and your perseverance in preserving the. Catholic Faith and defining your liberty is a powerful support to our own hopes for the future. (Applause.) •' Our Country is Laid Waste, but, with God’s help, we shall raise it from its ruins. (Loud and continuous applause.) Our Catholic University reels under a cruel blow, but we shall rebuild what has been thrown down. I invite you, together with our countless sympathisers in Great Britain, to come to Brussels, to Louvain, to Malines, and celebrate with us in our restored cathedrals and municipal buildings the triumph of the cause of justice, the cause of Great Britain and Ireland, of prance', and Russia, and of Belgium, which, having sustained the first shock, will by right be foremost in celebrating the final victory (applause). Once more my heartfelt and- brotherly thanks to you and your people. God save Ireland, and may He protect her ever, and bless Belgium too (loud applause). At the conclusion of his speech his Eminence shook hands with the members of the Irish Party present, and gave them his blessing. His Eminence Cardinal Mercier left London en route for Antwerp on Sunday night. The train by which he travelled was largely filled with troops, who, recognising his identity, gave loud cheers for Belgium.