The following story is told of England’s Queen:
When Queen Victoria was but a girl they went to instruct her in
matters of court etiquette. “You are to go to hear ‘the Messiah’
to-morrow night, and when they sing through the oratorio and
come to the hallelujah chorus, we will all rise, but you are the
Queen; sit still.” So when they came to the hallelujah chorus
the Englishmen sprang to their feet and cheered, while the Queen
sat; but when they came to the place where they sang, “And King
of kings and Lord of lords,” she rose and bowed her head. That
was at the beginning of her reign.
But when she came almost to the end of her reign, and Canon
Farrar was preaching on the second coming of Christ, she sent
for him to enter the Queen’s box, and when he came in, Her
Majesty said:
“Dr. Farrar, I wish that the Savior might come while I am still
upon the throne, because,” she said, “I should like to take the
crown of England and lay it at His feet.” (Text.)
(1415)