The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-19
MISS PAGE WEDDED IN HISTORIC CHAPEL
Few Americans Have Been
 Married at St. James
EXCEPTIONAL HONOR
Many of English Royalty Have Been Married in Royal Chapel in St. James Palace-Is Especially
 Noted for Beautiful Choir

London, August 15.-(Special)-The fla nous Chapel Royal of St James palace, where, for the second time in recent years daughter of an American ambassador to the court of St. James vas married is easily one of the most historic and interesting places in London. Within it. kings and princes have been married and have worshipped for hundreds of years, and many babies of high degree have been baptized It was in this chapel too, that King Charles l attended service before walking through St. James park to the headsman's block in Whitehall
 It is mark of exceptional honor to receive permission from the King to be welded in the Chapel Royal, which is one of the peculiar and "extra paroch hial' palaces of worship in the realm, and not often is the little edifice used for the celebration of the nuptials of a subject The late Whitelaw Reids daughter, Jean, was married there to the Hon. John Ward, equerry to the King and brother of Lord Dudley, and to the royalties who honored that marriage with their presenc. the chapel must have been fraught with many intimate memories.
 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were married In the Chapel Royal, and their daughter. the Princess. Royal, was mar. ried there to the Grown Prince of Prus- sia, afterwards the Emperor Frederick The present King and Queen were also married within the small precincts. Tn former reigns Prince George of Denmark and the Princess Anne (afterward oueen Frederick, Prince of Wales, and the laughter of the Duke of Coburg, S we'll a s George " and Queen Caroline wera united there. Of recent years several in- fants of artistocratic lineage have been baptized in the Chapel Royal, among them being the little son of Mr and Mrs. John Ward, and the twin sons of Lord and Lady Dudley, to whom the present and the late King stood sponsor.
 Thousands of Visitors
 Thousands of Americans visit the Chap el Royal in normal times. eager to take in the scene of so much history and so many important marriages and christ eninGs, but most eager of all to hear the exquisite singing of the gentlemen and children" of the chapel, which can scarcely be bettered in all England The
 
 fashioned royal uniform of gold and scar let. with white ruffs and bands, knee brooches and stockings, and their uniuue appearance adds to the pictorial attribute cf the historic edihce. The chief of the latter is the Holbein ceiling. with it's ex- ouisitely colored paneling, among which a short description and the date 1541 with the name of Heny VIII. who built the chapel, are discernble. Small the chapel is-it measures only 62 feet long and seats only about POO persons-but so well proportioned despite its galleries that the ultimate impression conveyed is that of stateliest dignity.
 The royal gallery faces the altar; at one side Is the organ gallery, and there are galleries for peers and peeresses mem- bers of Parliament and other privileged persons. On the floor of the chapel there are old-fashioned pews and the quaintest are those reserved as seats of honor at the sides of the altar. Even for morn ing service the chapel quite frequently has to be lighted throughout and when from each sconce candle gleams the eff :. feet is truly beautiful. Even more so when to the candle flowers are added in glorious profusion.
 For a royal wedding the pews are re- moved. and low seats take their place This was done for the marriage of the present King and Queen. When Queen NlCtOI1d was IndTT1eQ over $oU,WU was spent upon the initial preparations.
 Bishop Burnett lodged a complaint in his day to the Princess Anne (afterward Queen) against the "ogling and signing which was ever being indulged in at the Chapel Royal" begging that the pews might be raised higher and made into closets. as. in fact, they afterwards were It was Queen Anne who. in the first year of her reign, ordered the yeoman of her majesty's removing wardrobe" to provide three umbrellas for the Chapel Royal and two for the Ante-Chapel
 Curious Warrants Regarding Chapel
 Curious royal warrants and orders in connection with the conduct of services and attendance in the Chapel Royal are in existence. In 1892 1t was decreed by James I that Noe man whatsoever pre- sume to wayte upon us to the chappell in hootes and spurs' The Merry Monarch. Charles II, also ordered for the chapel through Lord Sandwich. the Master of cur Great wardrobe" the following ar ticlcs, connected doubtless with the up- hostery and heating arrangements of the sacred edifice, well as with the serv- ices:
 "Item-Two ba re hydes of OK leather
 "ltem-Three thousand of tenterhoolss three hamers, one fire shovle, one pare of tongs, three black jacks, three gispens. two brushes, one pertaining pan of iron, six houre glasses and paire of strong iron andirons, and that you content and pay for making the premisses.'
 In explanation of these curious appli- ances 1t may be added that black jacks were large mugs made of leather, used in those days for the serving of small beer, and that a gispen was a small pot or cup, also made of leather. The per. fumng pan of iron would be used for the incense burnt upon special occasions in the Chapel Royal, and the houre glass probably to regulate the length of the sermons.
 III. who was a regular attendant at the services. used tn be left alone at the con clusion of them, according to an old story with his eQuerry and the parson, "to freeze it out together" the queen and the royal family having dropped out one by one from the chapel It is narrated of the same monarch that he used 70 beat time with his music roll while the anthem was being sung, and incidentally bang the powdered heads of his pages when they were inattentive.
 There Is q record of the continuance of extremely long and emphatic sermons in later years in repartee uttered by Queen Victoria during the first years of her reign Upon being asked by Lord Nor manby if she had not found the chapel very hot, the Queen answered. "Yes, and the sermon was very hot, too.''
 Children Provided For
 The children of the famous choir are boarded clothed and educated under the supervision of the master of the children, or master of the song, an office that can ha traced hack far a the reign of