The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1904-02-05
EDWARD VII AS A CHURCH.
GOER,

have once said; and this royal prefer
ence is so we'll known that it is the
rarest occurance for a host of His
Majesty to permit meal to last more
than an hour, or for one of his
chaplains to carry finally" into the
second quarter.
This restriction no doubt involves
some self-denial on the part, at any
rate, of the preacher who is accustom-
ed to spread his eloquence over sixty
minutes, and some amusing stories are
told of difficulties King Edward and
Queen Victoria (who shared his dis
taste for long-winded homilies) have
had in keeping some of these spiritual
ministers within time-limits.
AS church goer, as in 80 many
other characters, King Edward sets
an excellent example to his subjects;
for wherever be may be. at Balmoral,
Sandringham, Windsor, on his yacht,
or on the Continent, he makes the
strongest point of attending Divine
service once every Sunday, and ex-
poets his guests to do the same, what
ever their private inclinations may be;
and another point on which he is equal
ly insistant is the wearing of a tall
hat (Which be notoriously dislikes) and
a frock coat, as the most suitable garb
for church-going.
When the king is in residence at
Sandringham which he still loves to
make his home as far as possible, he
may be seen any Sunday morning
strolling across the park in company
with his family and guests to the tiny
church, which stands few minutes
walk from the house. In the ortho-
dox silk hat, frock coat, and gloves,
and carrying either stick or umbrel-
la, he usually walks in company with
one of his guests, 80 accurately timing
himself that be enters the church with
in minute or 80 of the hour for CON-
mencng the service.
King Edward always vigorously
practices the punctuality (which is
the politeness of kings" but never is
he more punctiliously punctual than
in his church-going-in fact, his ap-
pearance at the church door is so re-
liable that, as one OF his tenants once
said to the writer, "you could set your
clock by him.
On his arrival the rest of the small
congregation are already in their
places, and as soon as the royal party
have taken their seats the service CON-
mences. It is characteristic of the
King, who does everything thorough
ly and heartily, that he follows the, SER
vice with the keenest interest and alb
sorption, joining audibly in all the re-
sponses and singing the hymns with
heartiness which might we'll be cop
led in many of our London ch urches.
Simplicity and devoat earnestness
are the leading features of the Kings
church attendance. He claims the
privilege of conducting his devotions
as quietly and unobtrusively as any
of his subjects, and for this reason
his chaplains are expected to preach
without the most indirect reference to
his presence, and at the same time to
make their sermons as simple and as
free from politics or doctrinal matter
=, possible. If they fail in these
points they may expect some sign Of
the royal displeasure.
While his majesty is intolerant Of
long sermons, he loves the musical
part of the service, and the hymns are
largely chosen with reference to his
personal preferences. His favorite
hymn is probably "Onward, Christian
Soldiers" and among others of his
choice are "Sun Of Ny Soul, Thou
Savior Dear" "Our Blest Redeemer," J"
and 20 Day of Rest and Gladness. ;"
At the conclusion of the service the
King and his party usually retire be-
fore the clergyman and the choir leave
their seats, thus allowing thet, an in.
terval to get away before the remain
ing worshipers, his going, like his
coming, being as qaiet and free from
attention as possible.
When at Balmoral King Edward
worships either in the singularly un-
pretentious chapel in the castle, in
which table takes the place Of a pull
pit, or in the square AMI rather unat-
tractive church in Crathie village,
which has little Of the privacy of the
church at Sandringham. When in
Scotland tall hat and frock coat are
discarded in favor of the national Co.'S
tune, but the same simple conditions
mark the service. In Queen Victoria's
time the Scottish fashion of standing