Show CARDINAL MERCIER SENDS MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE By Frank W. W Rostock Editor Editor- Cincinnati Post N. N E. E A A. A Correspondent Correspondent Correspondent Corre Corre- in m E Europe rope MALINES France Jan Tan 29 29 Since Since his his his' return from from ro the U United States States Cardinal Cardinal Car Car- dinal Mercier Archbishop of ot Malines has applied l himself to energetically to to the task of ot the industrial reconstruction as aswell aswell aswell well as promoting the spiritual l progress progress rog- rog ress of Belgium He paused long enough when I 1 visited him t to s 's send nd the following message of gratitude to to the American people for the enthusiastic reception he ne r received during his his' tour of the states states' I You ask me whether now that I am come home I 1 can give you any m message mes message mes- mes s. s sage for the American people with re regard regard regard re- re gard to my Journey through the states Let me take up my first words on landing I then said I 1 have come to see the people to bring them a message message message mes mes- sage of ot admiration and and gratitude These messages I delivered wherever I 1 went and to the best of my ability And I think my first object has also been achieved I h have e seen the people people people peo peo- and I use the word see In the sense in which we use it spiritually meaning to know and to loveI love loveI I know the American people and so their dominant nt ch characteristic of open hearted frank spontaneity has Impressed me and gone to my heart Itis It Itis Itis is to this this' fact that I attribute the current current current cur cur- rent of genuine sympathy which im ini immediately immediately mediately flowed from them to me and back again b z I met the cardinal in the rO room lm orthe of or the where he received and answered the notes of General Von Bissing when that iron-fisted iron Prussian Prussian Prussian sian inva invader er was in command with his headquarters at BruS Brussels els I It was here 1 that Cardinal Bercier the the there penned re replies replies re re- plies pIles which will live in history B But Bilt t now Cardinal Mercier is busying busing ing himself with thoughts of peace and progress The end of ot the war brought to him many problems LEARNED TO LOVE AMERICA r I I am always glad to meet an American American American Amer Amer- ican he pe said as he welcomed me into his study I I learned to love America and Americans during m my tour of ot your wonderful country I 1 hope to be beable beable beable able to visit your country again The Th cardinal was not the same tired- tired looking man so many Am Americans ricans metat met metat metat at the close of ot his American tour Then his tall taIl form was vas noticeably bent with fatigue To Today ay he stands erect The lines which told o physical weariness ha have ve from his face I have traveled much and in many lands said Cardinal Mercier I I have met many people and made many friends But ip in all my travels I never felt more at home than I did in your country ADMIRES BIGNESS OF HEART I admire th the bigness of f America and its ts people I d do not Ilot mean the he physical bigness of ot your its country country its g great at cities Its great buildings but ut the bigness of heart and the bigness of mind and purpose There was was wasa a a touch of sadness in the voice of the cardinal as he discussed the future of ot the Belgian people Belgium Bel- Bel glum gium has has' made tremendous strides inthe Inthe in inthe the matter of industrial reconstruction but some institutions have made little progress Many of the churches in the archbishops archbishop's archbishops archbishop's arch arch- bishops bishop's ar are in a a state stat of bankruptcy Technical schools In which boys are taught trades are in ina a asad asad sad state I visited one ono of these schools In Malines Malines Ma Ma- lines JInes where hundreds hundreds' of boys are oe- oe Ing taught carpentry cabinet making malting wood carving and metal trades This school lacks tools It lacks laks seasoned wood and above all properly lighted rooms room J PLANS BIG SCHOOL Lack of coal and consequently lack Jack of electric light was responsible The cardinal is money to build a a. a newer and larger school in Malines MaUnes and other ther Belgian cities In the reception hall halt at the cardinals cardinal's home I met Marguerite Boylan of Columbus Columbus Co Co- Co I 1 lumbus 0 O a a. worker in in the National Catholic c War Council of ot the United States States Miss Boylan is engaged d in making surveys The council has has' opened community houses in the devastated devastated devastated devas devas- districts and al also o in the large Belgian cities In the smaller places like and St Staden den where the iron fist of the Germans fell heavily a great work Is being done Many families still live in inthe inthe inthe the cellars of their old homes while the work of ot rebuilding goes on They ob obtain obtain ob ob- tain food and recreation at the community community community com com- houses GIRLS DO SHARE At Liege the tha first Belgian city to be rocked by the thunder of the great siege guns of ot the Germans older girls arc are ro being taught to do their sh share re in inthe inthe inthe the work york of ot Belgian reconstruction It is In cities like Liege that technical technical technical tech tech- scho schools ls such as planned by the cardinal are are most ne needed ded |