Questions by C, Carter Blake | Response by H. P. B.
If King Henry VIII, the much-married King of England, stopped in some of his proceedings for divorce, or at least was stopped by the ecclesiastical authorities at the first of his acts, and was warned by them that his divorce with Catherine of Aragon was contrary to the laws of God, and could hardly be made by any sort of modus vivendi to fit in with the laws of men, King Milan of Servia has certainly sent in a greater amount of tickets to entitle him to a final “distribution of gifts.”
I wish that some authority from the editorial chair of Lucifer would tell me whether the recent action of King Milan of Servia will not entail upon him a Karma, a never-ending penalty of remorse, shame, and future sorrow, for the cruel and unjustifiable act which he has committed by the divorce of his Queen Nathalie.1
I would like to know whether the Russian Christian Church, as well as the West, considers marriage as a thing which may not be cast aside by the decision of a civil tribunal. . . .
Editor’s Note [H. P. B.]
1. There is no “authority” on ecclesiastical laws in the editorial chair of Lucifer. The present editor recognizes no such laws, rejects and cares very little about them. But there are laws of honour, and honour—“stands at another bar than that of laws,” whether social or ecclesiastical. And there is a woman in the said editorial chair, whose whole being revolts against such an infamous act of despotism and injustice as perpetrated by Milan of Servia, he who claims to reign “by the grace of God” and sticks fast to his throne only by the abject cowardice of his subjects. Of crowned despots, sots and even snobs, there were many; but hitherto even they had tried to preserve an appearance, at least, of honour. In our modern day, however, it becomes a matter for serious consideration whether honour is ever to be found, to a dead certainty, at home—anywhere, except perchance among thieves! We live in a strange world of incongruity and paradox. When one knows that, upon discovering a sharper in their midst, even the members of the poorest club would not fail to kick him out, one can only stare in finding all the modern sovereigns, great or small, remaining undisturbed and quite unconcerned before the perpetration of the most brutal act of licentiousness and abuse of power by one of their own fraternity. That Milan, the lineal descendant of swineherds, is no gentleman—though his late uncle Michael Obrenovitch was decidedly one—is no wonder. But that other Kings and Emperors, some of whom boast of a long lineage of knightly ancestors and “kings gentiluomini,” should allow such an unprecedented outrage upon a woman, a Queen—innocent and pure as few—go unpunished, is most marvellous, even in this age of depravity and crowns sold at auction.
“O, that estates, degrees, and offices,
Were not derived corruptly! and that dear honour
Were purchased by the merit of the wearer!”
But, since the day of Solon, to paraphrase him: “Honours created far exceed those that are achieved.”
To the second question of our correspondent, we answer—most decidedly, the Greek Church would countenance and permit no such breaking of her laws. Nor shall the St. Petersburg Metropolitan or his Synod ever recognize the act of the Servian Theodosius, who is officially branded by that Synod—hence by the press—as the “pseudo-Metropolitan.” The Orthodox Greek Church is greater than Milan, “King” of a kingdom from an opéra comique. But what of that? Russia does not recognize Ferdinand of Coburg; yet the Austrian usurpator rules to this day over Bulgaria, the land of brigands and Generals Boum-boum. The Synod of Russia is not what it was only thirty years ago, when no divorce could be obtained on any consideration, and divorce plans were smashed against the Synodical rock even when backed up by the Imperial will and protection. Now things have changed. One can obtain a divorce in Russia as easily as in the United States. Russia is getting civilised, you see. The government may protect and defend Queen Nathalie, but Russia will not go to war to punish—a Milan. Yet, the religious feeling is strong both in Russia and Servia.
It remains to be seen what the Servians will do. Ah, now is a fine and easy-going time for the Milans and—“Jack the Rippers.”