New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-05-10
ROYAL PRIEST DOOMED
Price MarimiIian Returns Home to
Dresden to Die.
- -. IL the - 80


Prince Macmillan. youngest brother OF lle ms
o< saxo3v has returned home 70 Dresden 10 ole
among the members Of his family He IS suIIet-
ing from very advanced stage OF TUBERCULOSIS "a
the lungs: 50 much that there Is no nope Va
n. recovery. or even Of prOiongng his days Tor
many weeks. He has been obliged TO resign MS
-,-,se,.o-sh,u q, csnonical Law and Of liturgy
al the great Rouzn Catholic University o. III
burg IN Switzerland and since he reaIlzes 1ia' ne
1. doomed he prefers 70 spend the eFentce o. ms
nfe in his old home. with those most near anu
Gear 70 him
No trace Of resemblance can be found between
che diving priest and the dashing cavalry officer OF
1885 who was q the gayest and most peas
7I-e-loving az the golden youth OF the Saxon caEl
tai The little that remains Of his hair and his
beard IS Amos: white. although he IS barely
th.rty-nlne years Of age His form IS bent IL
q very pronounced degree. and his voice IS wear
and reduced almost 10 whisper in iacL' MS
entire aspect denotes overwhelming fatigue
O. mind and body: n fatigue that VIII only ma
rest In the tomb. OF course, this Is largely due
IN the fell rnalady 70 which he IS succurnbing
reut Il IS doubtful whether the latter would ever
have succeeded in obtaining 50 strong a hoid upon
hin had Il not tor the extraordinarily ascetlc
MODE OF life which he has adopted ever since ne
entered holy orders. restricting himself 70 me
most elementary necessaries.
The reasons which Jed Prince Macmillan 10 sud
denly enter the Church. and 70 thus become tile
only prince Of the blood at present in the ranks
- Is cle
81 10 secret at the court Of Dresden that II vas
Cue 10 romance 70 an unhappy infatgation Al
te- receiving ordination he served for NUMBER
Of years as missionary priest in the worst s'ili7
OF London. attached TO Catholic church' 'he
name OF which 7 forget. IN Whtechapel 20 cOii-
x1letelv vas his existence there ignored by the
English authorities that it was not until Empress
Frederick happened TO visit London that her
mother Queen Yictoria-s. attention was called oy
her 10 his presence. with tie result that ne was
asked 10 lunch with them at windsor he re-
sponded 20 their invitation, but gave them SO
thoroughly 20 understand that he wished TO be
left 20 his work a priest, and not to be treated
as prince of the blood. that no further attempt
vas made to disturb him Afterward ne maze
= prolonged missionary through Central Asia,
and It is SAID that the hardships which he was
called UPON 10 undergo there had the effect OF
sowing the seeds Of the disease which is now
drawing him the grave On his return ne was
for a time one of the curates Of church at NJ
-eroburE but found f. difficult TO escape there
tte attentions which the authorities and the peo-
ME insisted In pressing upon him royal prince
that as soon as the opportunity presented itself ne
gladly accepted the offer Of a professoTshp OF
canon law at the Catholic University OF Frlourg'
where he is known to have suffered greatly from
the disgrace brought upon his family in general
and his eldest brother in particular. by the IN
savorv scandals relating to the ex-Crown Prln-
cess, low Nine Toseh
The rr1nce has repeatedly received offers Of pre-
ferr7ent TO the episcopscy, both from Rome ana
from the German government Bishoprics, such Tor
instance as that Of Strasburg. and even archbish-
orrics have been pressed upon him. as vel as oilers
Of a seat in the Sacred College, but he has per
sistently declined them ALL expressing his desire 70
remain a mere priest. He has never been allowed
TO renounce his rights Of succession TO the throne
nor even his official status prince Of the blood
though as have mentioned above, he has made no
use of his prerogatives. and were he to survive a
curious situation might arise For he Is htth IN
line Of succession to the throne. and his second
brother John is childess. that specuations have
sometimes been INDUCED in just what would
have happened had he as priest been called upon
70 succeed 10 the throne King Of SaXony as the
only remaining heir.