The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-08

than show us how gloomy and cherries
was this scene of the coming royal f~estivi-
ties. Wise indeed is the purpose to close
this ancient fame four months in advance
of that ceremony If cleanliness be next TO
goodness It is high time that in Westmins-
ter Abbey the voice of the preacher gave
way to the sound Of the %scrubbing brush.
Since, too, light is so much better for all
good purposes than darkness, 1 took the
liberty of praying. the last time 1 wor-
SHIPPED in this dismal old temple. that some
rich American might be providentially
moved to do for the Abbey what Pierpont
Morgan has lone for St. PauIs, viz. startle
both the dead and the sleepy living by fit
ting it out with an up-to-date Illuminating
plant.
THE COMING CORONATION.
But Westminster Abbey will no doubt be
bright enough when the browning of King
Edward takes place in it. No one of any
consequence on this side thinks otherwise
than that the coronation will take place on
schedule time and that the King will be
alive to play the leading part in it. There
are silly ones who say that he will not,
that a fatal malady will take him off in
advance of that time. Any day, in fact. you
can hear the doleful opinion expressed by
some IMAM in the street" that both the
King and the newly-created Prince of
Wales are marked by disease for a speedy
exit. 1t will not be long. say these prophets
of evil, until there will be another child
King in England and a regency. OF course
everybody is aware that even in that case
the country would manage somehow TO get
along. But the people generally take no
StOcE in fhaaa fOr-phOdinRS-WhV ShOUl6
they when every day they see the King
and his son and heir doing business at the
old stand as vigorously and punctually as
at any time in twenty years? 1t is a literal
fact. too. that the great mass of Londoners.
when royalty is in town. can see their 60
ings and comings almost every day of the
week. They never went out more than now
and never with less ceremony. There is no
attempt at concealment. They are always
on deck. and the eye of the populace can
- for itself that, il appearances count for
anything. they are not invalids and so are
reasonably certain TO bob up healthy and
smiling at the coronation in June.
This writer only wishes that he were as
certain to be a witness Of the coronation as
King Edward is TO be on hand for his part
in il. But a good many million Of US have
concluded that on that occasion places IN
Westminster Abbey which might otherwise
be ours are likely 10 be pre-empted by
somebody else. All we can do. therefore. is
to make the best of our present OppOrtuni-
ties. and that is wSt the writer did a
week ago Sunday. He was at least in the
place where the coronation will occur, and
this fact. with one other, made his latest
visit TO this grand old Abbey one OF the
most impressive of a large number. The
| other fact OF commanding interest was the
new face in the pulpit and the new and
really extraordinary gospel that was
preached. To tell the truth, il was what 1
expected in the sermon that drew me there.
as. afterwards, what l heard in it held me
i'm a spell OF alternating amazement and de-
light, driving out not merely the memories
OF the past, but even so live and enthrall-
ing a subject as the approaching corona
ton.
GREAT PREACHERS.
The great preachers under whom, in
Westminster Abbey. this writer has sat
| spell-bound at successive periods have been
Dean Stanley. Canon Farrar and Canon