The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-28
VICTORIA AND EDWARD VII.
Mother and Son EuloEized by the
Rev. George Buckler.


Victoria and Edward was the title
of the sermon delivered by the Rev
George Buckler yesterday morning at the
New York Avenue Methodist Church. The
first part of his address was tribute TO
the virtues of the dead Queen, and was
prefaced with the text: "A good name is
rather to be chosen than great riches, and
loving favor rather than silver and gold; 4"
Prov. xXii;1.
Citing an instance of the Queens early
childhood. when first made acquainted
with her prospects to the English throne,
the Rev. Buckler said:
The secret of her success and the key
note of her entire life and her reign is
bound up in that little sentence of four
words. with which she closed her utter
ance upon being made acquainted with her
royal position I will be good. This was
her guiding motto throughout. and the
childish promise of the little Princess Vic
terra made VIXEN she was but eleven years
of age. she faithfully and scrupulousiy
fulfilled to the end. She was pre-emi
nently a good woman. and a good Queen.
Hers was indeed a good name. She
chose to make 1t such, in her childhood.
and she has left us an example well wor-
thy of emulation. With Edward we, too,
may well endeavor to walk in her foot
STEPS"
The second part of the sermon was de-
voted to the consideration of the cRarac-
ter of the new mprarch of Great Britain,
Edward VII. He spoke from the text:
/ God save the King" II Samuel xvi:l6.
He said in part:
Amid the ELUSIVE eulogies of the Illus
trious Queen. this morning. the silence
upon the subject of her eldest son, main
tanned by the Christian clergy throughout
the universe, is doubtless oppressive II
not ominous For one l deem it my duty
to break that silence with few words
in his behalf
There can be no doubt that the Chris
tian world observes the accession of AL
bert Edward to the throne of Great
Britain with distrust and doubtful fore
bnding Some will say that his record is
against him Others that for the position
in which he finds himself, he has only
himself to blame; that he has sown the
wind and will reap the whirlwind. For
years this man has been published as a
profligate prince He has been heralded
by the public press as a rake. roue, and
as a roysterer He has been branded
gambler and excorIated most numerically
by the clergy of his own country for his
alleged immortality
Where there is smoke there has in all
probability been fire. l am not here to
offences. but to bespeak for him, at least
moderate measure of indulgence. for
bearance. and Christian charity. If those
cold lips in far off Osborne could speak
this morning they would doubtless cry
out: 90 world, if you loved me. love my
SON For the sake of Viz ,oria we must
pardon Edward Fer her sake we must
love him. until he shall by life of Chris
tian purity and noble deeds compel us TO
love him for his own. If ever man need
ed sympathy and Christian love and for
bearance Edward does.
What a terrible task is his. With the
spotless regulations of his father and
of his mother to sustain; with MS own
past record to blot cut or at least live
down; with the knowledge that his every
move will be watched with suspicion; with
the knowledge that he takes up the relns
of power with the prestige OF his people
passing and the pounds sterling IN ms
treasury dwindlins because OF the untor-
tunate South African war; with selfish,
scheming politicians and consplrators at
his elbow; how heavily is this man nandi-
capped at the very outset of his kingiy
career.
-'tCan or must he compel us to admit
that there is not in the British Empire
man so we'll equipped to pilot the En-
glish ship of state; so fit TO govern the
English nation; so capable OF guiding the
destiny Of the English people. as this
Edward. He is. as he has always been.
man Of kindly Heart and generous I'M
pulse: in all his career he has always
horne himself as a gentleman, and on
more than one occasion has demonstrated
that he is a man Of undaunted courage
GOODNESS. and bravery.
"And contend that Edward has started
we'll His accession speech. wholly eX-
temporaneous as it was, is master
piece"