New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-20
AMBASSADOR BRYcE,s NEW ORDER.

AMBASSADOR BRYCE's NEW ORDER
IN view Of the impending arrival to-day to-
rlorT0w Of King Edwards new ambassador the
Right Hon. James Bryce, few words Of exp!ana-
ZION may be Of timely interest with regard 10 the
distinction conferred upon him BY his sovereign just
prior his departure from London. Il IS q honor
concerning which a good deal Of ignorance and
misrepresentation prevail, ana, curiously enough,
mention Is 10 he found Of il IN the current is
81 ''Whitaker's Alnanack,' while other works
~ reference equally silent 70 the identity u
its members These are few in number. The limit
IS tweuty-f0ur. But thus far there only about
sixteen individuals VINO have been decorated there
with Dy 1he sovereign and they constitute the very
cIeam oT the Of mark Of the British Empire,
including. IS they CO. Lord Kelvin and Lord Lister,
Admiral # the Fleet Sir Onward Seymour. Field
Marshal Lord Roberts Field Marshal Lord Wolseley,
Fed Marshal Sir George White Admiral Sir John
Fisher The Right Hon. John Morley Lord Ray
leigh. Sir William Higgins. president Of the Royal
Society: William Holman Hunt, Sir Laurence
Alma Tadegna. George Meredith, the novelist; Lord
Cromer. Admiral Togo ana Field Marshal Oyama.
T-nIikc all he other English and foreign orders Of
eaIralry. II has royal parsonage on its roster
save the sovereign and moreover, # differs from
tae other kniEhthoods in that it confeTs neither
title nor rrcceGencc Yet. 50 highly priced is the
distinction by those who fortunate enough 10
POSSESS it that they prefix the letters 90 M TO
The other initial letters which follow their names
70 Indicate the orders Of knighthood which they
own.
red and blue enamel bordered with gold. and hav-
ing within laurel wreath upon centre medallion
~ blue enamel the motto Of the order For Mer-
it." ia letters Of gold On the reverse within a
laurel wreath upon centre OF blue enamel, Is the
cipher IN gold OF the sovereign. The cross IS sur
mounted By the imperial crown in gold and col
5-ed enamel and Is suspended around the neck by
Tarti-coIored ribbon Of garter blue and crimson
~ Ire breadth Of inches. II cases where the
order has been bestowed IN recognition Of neritoFl-
Gus services in the navy or army the cross IS FUR
fber adorned by the addition OF two silver swords
with gold hits placed saltare-wise between the
angles u the cross The order created by
King Edward on the occasion Of his coronation in
the summer OF 1872.
There ere a far larger number Of men than most
people would be willing 10 believe who object to
titles Thomas Carlyle one Of these. and de-
olined the Grand Cross Of the order Of the Bath
when it was pressed upon him by Queen Victoria
end several Of her ministers. the ground that II
would EMAIL his becoming Sir" Thomas Carlyle,
which. lie considered. would be- ridiculous and rs
calculated 10 diminish rather than 10 enhance his
prestige He however. accepted with pleasure tie
Prussian Order Of Merit from tls late Emperor
william in recognition more especially Of his his
tory oc Frederick the Great. for THIS rrussan or
der permitted him 20 remain plain Thomas car
Isle as heretofore. King Edward had THE in mind
when ae created his order Of Merit and thus
found means 10 honor John Morley, who had de
s-iiued the Grand cross Of the Order OF the Bath.
and James Bryce. who had rejected not only TIE
Bath but likewise tie offer OF Il peerage on his
arrointn1eut as Ambassador 90 the United States