New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-27

Italy and Natalie of Servia-besides scores OF
princesses of the blood. now living, have 'verted
from the faith to which they were reared. In
times gone by they would have been denounced
as apostates. But nowadays there are few who
take exception to their change of belief and they
continue to enjoy the respect and good will even
of the very clergy Of the churches which they
have deserted OF the four women of sovereign
rank above mentioned. alone, Queen Natalie
of Servia, has been led by purely religious con-
sideratons to leave one denomination for an
other. She had suffered all that 1t was possible
for queen, wife and mother to endure and
not finding in the Orthodox Greek Church the
spiritual consolation of which she felt herself
10 be in such sore need, she became a convert TO
Roman Catholicism
1t was for political and dynastic reasons that
Helen Of Montenegro forsook the Greek Rite
for that of Rome on marrying the Prince Of
Naples For the Italian people, in spite of their
refusal to restore TO the Papacy its former tenn
poral domnons. are nevertheless. so attached
to their church. that under no circumstances
would they have permitted any princess who
not Roman Catholic to occupy their throne
the consort of their King. The Queen was
admitted into the Catholic Church just before
her marriage, but it is said that her enthusiasm
in behalf OF the creed 10 which she belongs
is of a lukewarm order and that her adhesion
to the Church of Rome is based less upon the
belief in its doctrines than upon her love TO,
her husband and children.
In Russia all foreign princesses who wed
members OF the reignng house of Romanoff are
virtually obliged to join the Orthodox Church.
since by their refusal to conform to this REQUIRE
ment they debar not alone their husbands but
also their children and grandchildren from
succession TO the throne. Grand Duchess Vlad-
imir. princess of the Lutheran dynasty of
Mecklenburs Schwerin, though bearing the
reputation of being worldly rather than a
religious woman. displayed a remarkable OBJ
stinacy in the matter, and in spite Of all the
pressure brought 10 bear upon her from every
quarter insisted upon retaining the faith Of
her girlhood, and enjoyed the distinction of
being the only unorthodox member of the i'm
perial family until after the celebration of her
silver wedding. when. for the sake of the pros
poets of her two sons cyril and Boris as pos
sbe heirs TO the crown she quietly 'verted.
Empress Alexandra admitted into the
church OF Russia few days only before her
marriage 10 Nicholas. who had already sue
ceeded at the time the throne. She did not
attempt to conceal the reluctance which she
felt about changing her faith. found IL dinicult
at first to accept in their entirety the doctrines
OF the orthodox rite, declined to comply with
all the requirements OF conversion In the way
OF not merely recantation but bitter denuncia-
ton of the church In which she had been
brought up. and showed herself so halfhearted
about the matter that the Muscovite clergy
and fanatics Of the order Of the Procurator of
the Holy Synod did not hesitate TO assert that
the long delay of the birth OF an heir 10 the
throne the serious Illness OF the Emperor and
other misfortunes were attributable to the lack
OF sincerity Of her conversion. 1t Is asserted
however that all her doubts concerning IN.
teachings of the national church of Russia