A PROTESTANT ESTIMATE OF CARDINAL MARCIER

New Zealand Tablet, 1 February 1917, Page 51

A PROTESTANT ESTIMATE OF CARDINAL MARCIER

; Right Rev. Samuel Fallows, Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church, Chicago, published a long appreciation last Sunday of Cardinal Mercier , of Belgium (says the Catholic Bulletin of December 16). Bishop. Fallows says in part: • One of the most striking personages of this bloodstained era is Cardinal Mercier, of 'Belgium. His arm has never lifted a sword — carried nothing heavier than a book or a crozier, in factyet it wields more power over countryman and foe alike than any other in Belgium, not even excepting that of Albert, his beloved king. Such spiritual heroism as Cardinal Mercier has displayed since the beginning of the war has been rarely equalled in the world’s history. With his country lying stark and silent at his feet, this prelate dared to step forth', one puny hand against the whole of the terrible central powers, raising his voice in protest against the devastation around him. After the sacking of Louvain and the destruction of her university, his alma mater, with the priceless library therein, the great Cardinal’s human heart well-nigh broke. The university, with its treasured library, and its associations, had meant everything to him, in an earthly sense. All his youthful dreams and plans for future Christian service were born within those walls. He was a diligent and an enthusiastic student. After his graduation he became professor of Thomasian philosophy in that ancient centre of learning and worthily upheld the sacred traditions of the important chair. The man who was destined to become cardinal loved teaching and was a natural leader of men. For his pupils and disciples he felt the greatest affection and tenderest solicitude. He grew steadily more and more famous. When the presidency of the Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters, and Fine Arts of Belgium was offered to him he accepted it humbly and wonderfully, as was his wont. To him all the credit lay with his beloved alma mater, not with himself. In recognition of his great public service he was made Archbishop of Mechlin in 1906 and created a Cardinal April 15, 1917. And always, in the midst of the dignities and honors which came to him, the University of Louvain seemed in his memory like a ladder, as it were, to the high plane on which he stood. Then came the thunderbolt—war! Louvain, idol of the Cardinal’s mind and heart, was the first victim of its ravages. The world shuddered or raged. But the spiritual soul of the Cardinal took this, the greatest of all his sorrows, straight to God. It may be that the passionate prayer of this latterday saint was answered by the inspiration of that famous pastoral letter which afterward shook the whole world with the strength of its pleading. At any rate, Christendom has listened breathlessly ever since to each word Cardinal Mercier has publicly uttered, sure of its inextinguishably truthful origin. Cardinal Mercier’s voice has not yet been silenced. He is still the mouthpiece of his unconquerable little nation, the channel through which their accumulated sufferings are poured upon a pitying western world. Just now he is giving speech to the feelings of his countrymen upon the subject of their deportation for the purpose of aiding the German Empire in further conquest. Soldier and Ascetic. Only a nature formed from a combination of the ascetic and the soldier could dare speak at such a time and in such a manner as has this courageous prelate, And yet the Cardinal is not a very young man. Born in 1851, he is far from being either youthful in appearance or strong in physique. Tall and thin, he is the ascetic in every lineament. Yet of his physical and moral bravery there have been few peers in history. It is related of him that on a morning when he was driving in his automobile along the streets of a neighboring

village a little girl ran directly in'..the path of the flying car. . Instantly the Cardinal shouted tp his driver to swerve from the road, though in the fulfilling s : of this command the chauffeur was obliged to head for a high stone wall! The Cardinal was ; thrown out and sustained severe lacerations of the head and face because of his intrepidity. When condoled with subsequently i he remarked with fervor that his ; injuries were a real L source of v joy, inasmuch as through' them- the child’s life might be saved. - It is said that the Cardinal loves America especially; because his uncle, the Very Rev. Adrian : J. Croquet, \ was one of the great pioneer ; missionaries in this country The latter was known as .‘the saint of Oregon. The Cardinal has spoken many ■ times to Americans, to whom he has given audience, of his great desire to visit America and to see the places where his}; distinguished relative performed his many exploits. It _ is not unlikely that the influence of the valorous pioneer • priest had a subconscious influence in forming the character of his stout-hearted Belgian relative. But from whatever source Cardinal Mercier draws his contempt o anger, he. understands as well as any living man to-day the meaning of Christ’s words: ‘For whosoever % shall save his life shall lose it; but whosoever will Jose his life for My sake, the same shall save it.’ Undoubtedly he is destined to remain one of the noblest figures that history will etch upon the dark background of this the bloodiest of all wars.