CARDINAL MERCIER'S GREAT PASTORAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2402, 6 March 1915, Page 6

CARDINAL MERCIER'S GREAT PASTORAL

The full text of Cardinal Mercier's historic "jpastoral letter to the people of Belgium will fee found in another part of this issue, published by arrangement with a lady ' who has deeply interested herself pn behalf of. the distressed Belgians. It will be remembered that the publication of this noble message throughout Belgium in December last was followed by_ the Cardinal's arrest, This exhibition of Germanjc tyranny created a great sensation, ' ancj aroused the indignation of the whol« .civilised world.' Cardinal Merciek has proved himself to be a- wise, sympathetic, and courageous friend and i counsellor of his people in the terrible crisis through which they are now passing. " TEe part-which he has played in this day of great tribulation will nover be forgotten by the Belgian people. The London Tablet expresses the feelings of the whole British Empire when it refers to the Belgian Cardinal as "a groat Prince of the Church, whose zeal and patriotism refused to be overawed by German bayonets." The Kaisee's generals, by the exercise of brutq force, pould shut him up in pis palace, but they were powerless to shut him out of the hearts of his people. The Cardinal's pastoral was worthy of the best traditions of his great office, and of the momentous occasion which evoked it. He must have known that he was treading pn dangerous ground when he decided to fulfil his obligation to advise' his people as to their duty in the face of the Power that had invaded their country. It required courage of a high order to publish broadcast the pronouncement that the authority of Qermany is no lawful authority, and to tell the people that in soul and conscience they owe it neither rbspect, nor attachment, nor obedience.' -. "The sole lawful authority in Belgium," he'declares, "is that of our J£ing, of our Government, of the elected representatives of the nation. This authority alone ha-s_ a right to our affection, our submission. These words are as true as they are brave, but they are extremely galling to tlie arrogant invader, bitterly resentful of the heroic manner in which the gallant Belgian nation had refused to be conquered. Yet the Cardinal is no firebrand. He wisely advises non-combatants to observe the rules laid upon them by the enemy so lonjj as such rules do not' violate their personal liberty, nor their consciences as Christians, nor their duty to their country. This highminded patriot rejects with scorn the suggestion tha-t Belgium should have merely issued a verbal protest against aggression, or fired a single shot on the frontier as a protest. His answer to these "paltry counsels" is that "mere utilitarianism is no sufficient rule of Christian citizenship. The laws of conscience are sovereign laws." The whole pastoral is a powerful indictment of German brutality, _ and ,a- magnificent and moving vindication or the conduct of the Belgia-n people. Cardinal Meroier is quite certain that right is on his country's side. He therefore advises his people to do their duty to their King, and to trust the great "Master of events and the Sovereign Director of the human multitude" to see that justice is eventually done.