Show MERCIERS MERCIER'S BODY I lAID IN CRYPT Solemn Splendor Marks Final Rites o to o Deceased Heroic War Cardinal Belgium Jan 29 AP The AP-The The bod body of Belgium's war cardinal Desire Mercier was enshrined today in Malines the I seat of his archbishopric and amI the scene of his long years of struggle I and triumph From the palace to which it had been returned after atter yesterdays yesterday's elaborate state funeral In n Brussels the casket was borne bornen in n solemn procession procession preceded preceded by bya T. T great silver cross cross to to the tho cathedral catbe- catbe dral of Saint and there entombed in the crypt The Tho entire route from tram the palace to the cathedral was lined with soldiers who presented arms as the I cortege slowly passed while the great crowds bowed and the men uncovered in the rain in token of respect to their great spiritual leader eader and fellow patriot The ceremony was of d deeply re religious re- re character less of ot pageantry try than marked th the service in n the capital PROCESSION STARTS The procession started shortly before 10 o'clock when the casket was carr carried ed down the steps of the palace by twelve bearers Count de le Merode grand marshal of 01 the Belgian court with two officers knelt before the coffin for a mo mo- ment Then the count placed upon it the hat and robe of the dead cardinal and Monsignor Heylen senior bishop of Belgium recited recited the De in which which many of the mourners joined A A detachment of soldiers took their places at the head and the march began The casket was followed followed followed fol fol- fol- fol lowed by delegations from all parts of the country including representatives representatives representatives of the various religious orders delegations from foreign chapters canons prelates and bishops with representatives of the king and royal family arid grid of 01 foreign foreign foreign for for- eign monarchs Also in line were the members of the Belgian n cabinet senators deputies deputies ties generals presidents and members members members mem mem- bers of the provincial councils and courts and several of the cardinals cardinal's relatives SOLEMN SOLEMN SPLENDOR Hymns and prayers ch chanted by bythe bythe bythe the marchers mingled with the strains of Chopin's funeral march played by military bands while the robes of the prelates Swaying as they walked t added to the solemn splendor of the scene As the procession neared the cathedral the crush of the crowds became so so o great that the gendarmes gendarmes gendarmes gen gen- darmes were unable to preserve order Intent only upon entering the edifice to witness the final fina service many lost hats umbrellas or other personal belongings while several women fainted tainted A quarter of an hour elapsed before the military military military mili mili- tary were able to restore order in front of the cathedral The service began at 11 o'clock Bishop of Bruges of of- of After the funeral oration absolution was pronounced succeSsively successively successively by five Belgian bishops ac according according according ac- ac cording to rank and age When the service was ended the crowds which had been unable to ent enter r the cathedral before were admitted and thousands filed past the coffin before it was placed inthe inthe in m the crypt |