A Strange Sermon.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 216, 20 August 1887, Page 3

A Strange Sermon.

On Sunday morning', that ancient London nuht.uy body known as the Honourable Aitillevy Company went to church, accompanied by their Captain-Ceneral and Colonel (Hi-, R i> al Highness the Prince of Wale») and the Duke of Cambridge. Shortly after ten o'clock the corps which comprised a mihtor of all tliree arms, cavalry, artillery, and infantry, was formed in line on the giav-eo\eied square facing the Armoury Hmi^e, Finsbuiy. The regiment was under the cuminand of Colonel the Duke of Portland. The Prince of Wales arrived about a quarter to eleven, and was loudly cheered ;i-> lie drove up by a large crowd which had gathered in the street. His Royal Highne-~, who was dressed in the uniform of the Aitilleiy Company, together with the Duke of Cambridge, who wore a Field- Marshal's uniform, then in.-pected the force, passing and repaying down the lines. Subsequently His Ro\al Highness expiessed himself much gratified at the .smart soldierly beai ing of the regiment. On the completion of the inspection the Prince of \Vales and the Duke of Cambridge Jdrove or. to ehiirch, and, preceded by their band playing a lively air, the force marched towauls St. Botolph'-', hihhopsgate, where the Jubilee Church ])arade .service wa-< to take place. The streets along- the line of march were lined v, ith spectator, who saluted and chi'Pted the Piince as he went by. His Royal Highness and his escort together with Lord Randolph Churchill and one or two other gentlemen who had assembled, .stood in the churchyaul until j ho force filed into dim eh, when they followed, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge being accommodated with seats in the churchwarden.-' pov. . The .sermon was preached by the aged roctor, the Rev. William Rogers, M.A., who is also chaplain to tho regiment. Alluding to tho Prince of Wales in his capacity of Captain-General of the Honourable Artillery Company, the rev. gentleman '-.poke highly of His Royal Highness's good qualities, laying emphasis upon his being a good .sportsman and an admirable paterfamilias. In reference to the Prince's encouragement of sport, the rev. gentleman exclaimed, " We are proud of him ; we like to see him on the Epsom Downs, enjoying himself among the people ; we like to see him at the great cricket matches at Lord^s. " The reference to the Derby provoked laughter among the congregation. As if making an apology for his freedom of utterance, the rev. gentleman proceeded, " If I ha 1 c spoken too plainly I have done so as a Ei,hop>gate boy. We are not fitst in laws of etiquette here ; we aye honest anS true men."