The Washington times., 1902-10-02
OLD WORLD TOPICS.

King Edward is just now being as
sailed by the press of the Church or
England, like his mother before him, for
attending divine service at Crathie Kirk,
near Balmoral the ecclesiastical papers
declaring that as the head of the Church
of England, and as bound by his oath
as sovereign to adhere to its tenets
he has no right to take part in Pres
byterian services, or to receive the
sacraments according to the rite OF the
Church of Scotland.
In reply to the argument that Edward
VII is not only King of England. but
likewise monarch of Scotland, and that
when in his northern kingdom it is
only fitting that he should, as the ruler
OF Scotland. TAX, part in the national
form of worship. it is pointed out that
he is likewise Emperor of India, and
that If that rule were adhered to he
would. If he visits India, be compelled
while there to conform to the creed of
Mohammed, of Buddha. of the fre-wor-
shippers, etc
The Church of England papers have
additional cause for complaint at the
present moment, owing to the fact that
for the first time in the history of Great
Britain the prime minister is men,
ber, not of the Church of England, but
of the Presbyterian denomination. This
is regarded as particularly serious, in
view of the fact that it falls to the
l11+ ,f I.
to the sovereign for appointment the
candidates for bishoprics and arch
bishoprics.
Lord Salisbury. who is extremely high
church, availed himself of his long
premiership to almost fill the bench of
spiritual lords in the upper house of
parliament with rtnalists. Since Ar
thur Balfour succeeded his uncle at the
head of the cabinet, no archiepiscopal
or episcopal see has become vacant, so
no indication has been given SO far as
to the course which he will adopt in
making nominations to these high dig
mites of the Church of England But
just after having had the grand corona
tion ceremonies in Westminster Abbey
la purely Anglican function in an An
glican basilica-directed and managed
by Roman Catholic earl marshal in
the person of the Duke of Norfolk-it
is no wonder that the members of the
Church of England should feel sore
about having the latter's bishops and
primates selected by Presbyterian
prime minister.
l do not think that King Edward
minds much the abuse to which he is
subjected in England in the matter of
his attendance at Craithie Kirk In
fact, he probably rather relishes it, for
1t has served to stifle the outcry raised
in the Presbyterian press in Scotland by
his conversion of the so-called service
room," or private chapel at Balmoral,
into billiard room
| 1t is very doubtful whether Sir Charles
Hartopp, OF hunting celebrity, will Sc
cure the dissolution of his marriage af-
ter all, for Lady Hartopp, one of the
prettiest and most fascinating of the
daughters of Mrs. Charles Wilson. and
sister of the Countess of Chesterfield.
| has jointly. with the correspondent in
her divorce case. Lord Cowley, appealed
against the decree granted in favor of
her husband, and the appeal has been
granted.
| The appeal from decree of the di-
vorce court is rather unusual True, the |
Kings proctor sometimes intervenes
L. l.. +
lusion between the petitioner aLd the |
respondent. and if he makes good his !
assertion the decree is not made abso-
lutte at the end of the statutory term |
of six months. but is quashed by the |
same Judge who originally granted the /
decree nisi.
But in this particular instance it is
he justices of the court of appeal who
have annul!ed the decision of the presi
dent of the court of divorce, on the
ground that the evidence was altogethe.
inadequate, and likewise because they
admitted the contention that the pre-
siding Judge lad been unduly biased
against Lord Cowley, owing to the num-
ber of times that the latter had ap-
peared before MIN eltHeT as Co-
respondent or as respondent
It seems that the evidence against
Lord Cowley and Lady Hartopp dealt ex-
clusively in generalities, without any
specific charges or dates being given, so
that they we're accorded no opportunity
of proving alibis.
Lady Hartopp will probably now sue
Eer husband Cor a judicial separation
on the ground of desertion. and owing to
his having been unable to make gooc
his charges against her in the eyes D:
the court of appeal, he will in all ike
lihood be compelled to grant her large
sum by way of alimony.
Emperor Nicholas of Russia has be-
come so much alarmed by the rapidity
with which the estates are passing out
of the possession OF the Muscovite no
bility that he has given orders for the
organization of a special division in the
department of the interior which Is to
occupy itself exclusively with the well
fare of the arstocracy and with the
endeavor OF retaining the latter in the
ownership of its lands. In certain prov
inces no less than 80 per cent OF the ter
ritoriaI possessions of the aristocracy