New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-19
CLERK OF THE CLOSET
Kinq Georges Spiritual AID"
wiser Arrives Tomorrow.

rconvright. 1912. by the Brentwood COMPANY
King Georges Clerk of the Closet and
or,ncipal spiritual adviser. the Right Rev.
Dr. William Boyd Carpenter, for more
than score Of years Bishop Of Ripon
and now new Canon of Westminster
,bhev. arrives in New York Friday from
r,neIand on the Baltic for stay of some
duration in this country. during the course
81 which he viii visit the principal cities
q, the United States. He is a prelate OF
,orticularly small stature. but blessed
with a remarkably musical voice, sunny
temperament and happy wit, which lat
tor led him TO explain to an old friend
who commented on the demand for his
services at the weddings of the great:
You see, it is because 1 am not only
A Carpenter, but also a joiner"
The Clerk Of the Closet was in pre-
Reformation times the father cOnfessor
of the sovereign, but since the establish
nent of the present Church OF England
the Office has always been filled by
bishop. His duty subsequent TO the
Reformation and until the end OF the
oIgbteenth century used to consist III
saving grace before the sovereign's dinner
and In attending him OF her in the royal
gallery or pew during divine service, oc-
cupyiug a place Immediately behind the
chair OF the monarch in order to resolve
any doubts that might arise III his maJes-
tvs mind concerning spiritual matters In
the case OF Charles III all the clerk OF
the Closet was called upon 10 do was TO
arouse him from his slumbers at the close
Of the sermon.
DR. BOYD Carpenter the present clerk
Of the Closet, was appointed 10 the once
by King Edward in 1898, Just about the
time when he was over here 10 deliver
series Of lectures at Harvard University.
Rut he had been connected with the
rival household as chaplain 70 queen
Victoria ever since 1880, and throughout
that period, until the present day ne
has prepared the younger members OF
Tho reignlng family for confirmation anu
has ministered to the older ones lncIuu-
ing Queen Victoria, Empress FREDERICK
aud King Edward, on their deathbeds'
This has naturally brought him into very
close intimacy with the reigning House.
But the bishop is nothing Of a cOurter'
and once. when Canon OF Windsor and as
such frequently selected to preach before
Queen Victoria, who was very fond OF
It's sermons, on being asked; Don't
Won feel nervous when preaching before
tho Queen" replied; Il never address
the Queen. ! know there will be present
The Queen. the princes and Processes, the
yoyal household and the servants. down
20 the scullery maitland l preach to the
scullery maid" Now, az Clerk of the
Closet II falls to his task to select those
d,yines who are TO preach on Sunday be-
fore the King and Queen in the royal
chapels Of Buckingham Palace ana OF
Windsor 4 few months ago he resigned
the Bishopric Of Ripon, with its salary Of
$1,000 O year and palace, In order to
accept in lieu thereof canonry Of West
minister Abbey. with d residence within
the abbey precincts and a stipend Of 5000
year
DR.. Boyd Carpenter-and this Is impor-
tant TO note as indicating the religious
views Of King George and Queen Mary
IS very broadminded. lie usually wears
trousers I'm lieu Of knee breechcs and
CATERS, and a turned down collar and
white tie In preference to the usual sim
clerical stock. In short. he has rightly
been described as "a bishop without
starch