The morning news., 1897-08-29
A PRINCE-PRIEST.
The London "sIum" Work of MAXI
milan of SaxOny.


From the New Orleans Picayune.
One of the recent London papers con-
tanned a short paragraph to the effect
that the health of the young Prince Max
imlian of Saxony had broken down, and
that his physician had ordered him to
leave London Immediately and seek recu-
peration in Dresden.
This marks the elimination of one of
the strangest sacrifices of royalty in mod
ern times. year ago the prince became
a priest. He forsook the pleasures Of
continental court life to delve into the
miserfes of Whitechapel. He was deli
cately constituted when he begun his
work in the most hideous slum in the
world. To-day he is a physical wreck.
Back in the medieval times it was
common occurrence for kings and princes
to cast aside all the pleasures of exalted
position to suffer and battle for religions
sake but the minds of these men were
frenzied by the peculiar teachings of
Christianity of that era and by the glory
which marked the warrior of the cru
sade. Besides, great riches were to be
wrung from the Turk. 70 say nothing of
the wild license tolerated in the ranks OF
the men who were pledged to free the
Holy Land from the yoke of the intidel.
The crusades offered a wide field for the
indulgence Of all the sordid passions, and
il was this that tempted the great men
quite as much as their zeal for Christian
ity
For these reasons there is small scope
to parallel the motives of Prince Maxi
milan and the royal leaders of the cru
sades. No glory of a worldly kind could
be won by his sacrifices. OF riches there
are none in Whitechapel Fame is never
found there The crusaders gloried under
the wild enthusiasm of leading a vast host
in battle. The prince walked alone into
the abode of sorrow, shame and poverty.
II was less than year ago that the
prince made the Whitechapel district his
home He had searched the wide world
for the place most in need of Christian
teaching and help, but, In stead of finding
1t among the savages of Africa, the IA
natics of the Soudan or the ignorant mill
lions of Asia, he saw what he was search
ing for IN the very heart of the greatest
and richest city in the world. Such was
his tribute 70 boastful London.
Prince Maximilian, or Father Max, as
he has been known for the last year, will
be Y years old on Nov. II next. His fun
name is Macmillan William Augustus A.
bert Charles Gregory Odo. His uncle Is
King Albert of Saxony. His father and
heir presumptive to the throne is Prince
George. field marshal OF the military
elder brothers, one of whom has children.
In event of a few deaths in the line OF
succession, the Whitechapel priest would
become King of SaXony.
Stranger things than his possible success
sion have happened in royal families, and
in view Of this his determination TO engage
in the Whitechapel work caused many
solemn councils among the ministers of
the kingdom. The king was opposed TO il.
and so was the father for time. but he,
knowing the singular disposition of the
young man, was finally won over, and then
the king gave a reluctant consent.
II was necessary. however to go through
certain formaltles. and on Aug /. 1896. a
legal document was signed by the prince
priest in the royal palace at Dresden. by
which he renounced all rights as prince
royal Of the house of Saxony, but il is ex-
pressly stated that, should the throne be-
come vacant by reason of the death Of the
intervening heirs. he viii accept the king
dom. This peculiar document reads as fol-
.ows:
1--WE. Max. Duke OF saxony. having been
cousecrnted 10 the hoy priesthood, do here
by renounce FOR all time. with the restric-
uons hereafter mentioned all rights ap-
pertaining 60 us as a prince OF the royal
house OF SaXony, under the decree Of Sept.
g. 1881. relating TO the succession OF the
throne. 20 the administration of the king
'iNih W HaA ttN i'AAAAAi AAl AiAf royal AdfflllN
council and 20 membership Ia the upper
house OF The legislature, and also. under
the royal house decree of Dec. 30. 1887. re-
lating TO money allowances. suite and the
succession iu the coilatera. lire. This re-
nunciation shall be ineffective lg az any
time. the SaXony royal throne being va
cant. We shall be the only surviving prince
OF the royal house of SaXony.
MAN. Duke OF saxony.
Dresden Aug. J. 1896 "
Five days before the signing OF the
above tle young man was received into
the priesthood hy Or. Wahl vicar apos-
tolic of saNony and on the same day he
anlNcd hiH signature 10 the document he
celebrated hiH FIRST mass in Dresden with
aIl The members OF the saAOuy royal fam
lir iu thc congregation.
Immediately arrangements were made
Tor bis entering upon The work a. White
chapel, and inside fortnight Father Max
bad become one of the regular features OF
the notorious district. By special decree
of fhe pope hc was attached 60 ths church
OF &c. nonlDcr. Union street Boo tho very
center 0f Whiiechapol, aud tlcre hs in.
bored with extraordinary zszll until illness
forced him io dnsift
in the population ~ Whnecnap,i thofs
arc fnOuaHulf ~ che poorest German.
tnd 60 tHfHr the minirir tiiouf of Father
MaK aerr Eoiafnd 1905 nf fId nof con.
nn' hIs work io thr peOpi' of tis own rHee
go speaks EuFiHh HH lf lf Hffff hIf umn
tongue. nnl fhlH mH1H if Hn rnHF maffff
flf hln fo ffffnl hla work 80 enc nsfltf
uHru.I IflGr of fHr diHffIrf
Iif ftr fHHt hf HHH H prince uf rHfHI
NIanH Na npI lInlsn"r feeling ono hHt
of anpinef H hH IanHh Thr UIu.f frn
Co.. ostHffHffIt Islar nar mIF.fB H. fD1
l0.n.r0Htfi ar1 a'ro'Hfe fYr iHfm fa
iilEs nfn nf arT giHl aiahaafl fnan hT