New-York tribune., 1906-06-01
LORD HIGH ALMONER.
King EdScard appoints the Dean of
Westminster TO the Office.

King Edward has Just conferred upon DR. Armi-
taee Robinson. Dean Of Westminster Abbey, the
Office Of Lord High Almoner. This dignity usually
held by bishop archbishop mus, NOT be con
founded with that OF Grand Amoner TO the Crown
which. dating back 90 the reign Of King Edward 7
Is lay Office. hereditary in the noble house Of
Beauchsrnp. Latimer and Cecil. being now vested
in the Marquis OF Exeter. The hereditary Grand
Almoner ofiiciates only at coronations when be is
supposed 20 distribute certain of money from
a. immense silver dish at the doors OF the Abbey
of Westminster. retaining the silver dish after
ward the Zee OF his Office. The Kings Lord
High Almoner. on the other hand. is invariably an
ecclesiastic; ranks OF the great officers
OF the royal household and the chief spiritual ad-
wiser 20 the sovereign; distributes the iatters aims
ard bounty on Maundy Thursday, and possesses
the queer prerogative no longer exercised n is
true of being allowed TO seize the first dish that
appears on the royal table. and TO hand Il out
dish and all. to any poor people whom he may
happen 10 md az the palace gates
This particular orfce came into existence in the
reign OF King John; that is 20 say than
seven hundred years ago It seems that John. who
was not only gourmet but likewise a gourmand
was wont to atone for his perpetual breaches o<
the rules prescribed by the Church for the OBJ
serTance OF fast days by feeding a certain number
of poor people Thus when he ate twice on Fri
DAY hundred poor persons We're fed. at his
pense. with bread, meat and ale. II he profaned
the day by any other breach OF ecclesiastical dis
cinlne another hundred We're added TO the
ber and IL he offended the Church by inducing any
Of his mobiles 10 eat meat on Friday a further
number of poor had TO be fed the number being in
proportion 20 the dignity Of the noble. IL the
LORD High Almoner who was intrusted with the
duty OF keeping track and providing for the execu-
ton cf these queer penanoes Of the unsavory mon
arch 20 whom England the Magma Charta
The Lord High Almoner also assisted the sove-
reign in the ceremony OF washing the feet Of
twelve poor people the eve Of Good Friday.
ceremony last performed by King James II. since
which timo the feet washing has been abolished
the twelve poor people receiving. in lieu Of the
cleansing mnistration and the monarchs kiss
their foot. royal dole Of presented 10 them
by the Lord High Almoner in the Chapel Royal on
every Maundy Thursday.
The Dean OF Westminster. at the present moment.
10 undoubtedly the divine who occupies the highest
place IN the favor and regard of the King who first
had his attention drawn to him on the occasion OF
his coronation. II seems that when the time came
for the crowning OF King Edward, II was found
that the only person who had mastered the intri-
cate ritual and ancient traditions OF the coronation
servioe-tradtions extending over a thousand years
was the Rev DR. Armitage Robinson. at that time
a canon Of Westminster Abbey, and rector Of St
Margaret's Church Westminster. II may be re-
Ynembered that King Edward. to a great extent,
himself directed what may be described as the
stage management of the coronation, and this
brought him into constant contact with DR.. Robin
son who was never at a loss for information and
who had every precedent at his fingers enos. Con-
.souentlv when Dean Bradley compelled by
age and infrmity to retire from the oeanery OF
Westminster Abbey. a few months later. no one
mas very much astonished when IL was conferred
nv the King upon Dr. Robinson although he was
only forty-tRo years old at the time
Held in turn by Samuel Wilberforce. Bucklana
sns stanley the dignity Of Dean OF Westminster
lhbev-that IS OF the Baslica Of 81. Peter-carries
,,s-b 4, a handsome residence a salary OF $4,000
,,o.r .ceesir DIV valuable fees and perquistes and
,ba chancellorship Of the Order Of the Bath. the
insignia OF which the dean wears around his neck
Moreover as the Abbey is royal peculiar or
ro,al chsael its dean and chapter exempt from
au episcopal jurisdiction. independent OF all &c
clesisscal authority except that OF the sovereign
"a Suprene Head of the Church, and, save on the
occasion Of a coronation not even the Archbishop
OF Canterbury the Primate OF All England can
olciate or preach there without the permission OF
the dean. Dr Robinson is unmarried He
graduated with high honors from christs College.
Cambridge in 1881: became four years later. the
dean Of his college and Norrisian professor OF di-
vinity: acquired. during the fifteen years which he
spent as such al Cambridge. a European fame for
his knowledge Of early Christian literature. and
thereby commended himself the notice Of the
Chancellor OF the University the late Lord Sails
bury. who. when Premier secured for him the stall
OF a of Westminster Abbey The appearance
a DR. Robinson is characterized by great dignity.
recalling the princes OF the Church the sixteenth
century. And yet he is good raconteur, great
acquisition dinner table and possessed OF
vii which is sometimes caustic, but always good
natured He is disposed TO he High Church. Yet
has sympa thes with all ecclesiastical parties. and
holds aloof from politics II King Edward lives long
enough DR. Robinson will probably be the next
Archbishop Of Canterbury.