New-York tribune., 1908-10-09
QUAKER AND KING
ubu Doncaster,s Mayor Declined
TO Be Presented.
.-.rh,. 1aos. by the RrentwOod Company ]

VII enjoyed the rather unusual
s,a the ether day Of having a person decline
of presentation to him The individual in
''e - IS the Mayor of Doncaster, and the in
eues - be introduced 10 the King came from
Ni'a',O. - through the Right Hon. Lewis Har-
TIE So 81, was officiating as Cabinet Minister in
couII o,n.e On the sovereign throughout the royal
% - Ru1ord Abbey for the Doncaster race
week ,.- .,,o o,,.r.,.s oo,,,
- had directed Mayor J. B. Clark TO meet
H.. .be entrance of the royal box on the Dom
- A-- -aoecourse where the presentation was to
=, -1ece and to his amazenlent received a. re-
&C by wire 70 his telegram to the effect that
- chief magistrate Of the ancient town or Don
60 would be unable TO avail himself OF the
filtered honor In due course letter arrived at
1n.o-s Abbey from the Mayor, fntimating that
- se,,,- 6enlored not having been able 10 accept
~ invitation since the presentation to his sover-
.irn would have been a great honor, Nhlch ne
lid have looked back upon all MS nte with the
--latest qualification, and expressing his profound
-esnec: ana loyal regard anc oeFouon Tor ms
-. gracious King: but he added that, although
= IS "a native of Doncaster and had lived there
Al hts lie he had never once visited the race
curse being a Quaker, and that he did not feel
=, coslls consistently break through the rule of
..e Society OF Friends even Tor great an honor.
-p,s somewhat unusual letter reached the King
.s, as he was leaving Rufford Abbey for the North;
=. he was so much pleased with the old Quakers
,.,t, 70 his religious convictions and with his in
ss,e,dence that he sent him a message in reply
So he fully understood and appreciated the rea-
=. which had actuated his conduct in the matter,
= ,.s+ on his return from the North to London
lid he glad 10 have him presented TO him at
,.,gbarn Palace. Although the good people of
-,.estsr derive large portion of their revenue
- NJ their prosperity from the various interests
a-.ad with the Doncaster racecourse they
80 not IN any way taken exception to the atti-
.5s n, their chief magistrate In the affair. but
.be- on the contrary, seem 10 be gratiffed with
.to a+teaton of a pleasant kind which he has
,,e+t upon their town by a manifestation of
-4-r,rle and Independence rare in these times of
saobbery-
~ an,so6e serves TO recall the difficulties raised
=. 1ohn bright when he first became a Cabinet
11,,Istar and Prfvy Councillor. and such was
osra5 ,,pon 10 don the uniform of his rank. He
t-5s3 hard TO be relieved Of the obligation of wear
t- the cold embroidered uniform declaring II TO
he absolutely contrary the ideas Of the religious
da,o-,fnation TO which he belonged and TO Quaker
s-b;cs Queen Victoria, however, declined to give
ny and finally & compromise was effected, by
cans Of which he wore the gold laced blue coat
sn5 trousers and cooked hat. but was dispensed
Err, ne necessity Of wearing the sword. which
to-r,s an integral part of the costume. In fact,
.. 1s+e John Bright furnished, 1 believe. the only
Instance on record OF Privy Councillors uniform
Saving heen worn at court and state functions
Without the otherwise Indispensable completion of
tie sword