CHANGES MADE IN. CORONATION OATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 44, 22 February 1937, Page 7

CHANGES MADE IN. CORONATION OATH.

KING GEORGE'S VOWS.\

Alteration to Suit Position

Of Dominions.

BELIGIOUS PART AS BEFORE.

British Official Wireless. (Received 1 p.m.) KI'OBY, February 21. Commenting on the changes in the coronation oath, the "Manchester Guardian" says they are another instance of tile way in which even the most historic of British constitutional usages are modified to meet new conditions and changes which have become necessary since 1911 owing to the new status of the Dominions under the Statute of Westminster. A new form of oath has been approved after discussion between the United Kingdom Government and the Dominion Governments. The text of the first portion, in order to meet the changed constitutional josition, is to be as lollows: — "Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the peoples of Great Britain, Ireland, Canada. Australia. Xew Zealand and the Union of South Africa, of your possessions and other territories to any of them belonging or pertaining, and of your Empire ot" India according to their respective laws and customs?''

In 1911 this part of the oath took this form: —"Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the people oi' this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the Dominions thereto belonging, according to statute in Parliament agreed on and the respective laws and customs of same ?"

No alteration has been made in the second part in which the King swears that he will, to his power, cause law and justice in mercy to be executed in all his judgments.

The religious part of the oath has been slightly modified so as to limit to the United Kingdom the King's undertaking to maintain the Protestant Reformed Religion established bv law.

Regarding this modification the "Manchester Guardian" remarks that it manifests that, though the Protestant character of the Monarchy, once its most vital characteristic, stands unshaken, it has ceased to be an irritant challenge to those of other faiths.

FEARS ALLAYED.

Religious Organisations and

Terms of Oath.

THE PRIMATE'S POSITION.

(Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, February 21. "Our fears that the King's pledge to maintain the Protestant Reformed Religion might be altered have been allayed," says Mr. J. A. Kensit, secretary of the Protestant Truth Society, "but should the phrasing be altered at Downing Street without debate in Parliament, while it is only reasonable to recognise in the oath the altered status of the Dominions, yet on a future occasion, because of this precedent. vital words might be altered.

"The Archbishop of Canterbury is in an anomalous position in exacting from the King an oath to do something he fails to do himself. I will write to the Archbishop of Canterbury asking him the question he asks the King, 'Will you to the utmost of your power, maintain the Protestant Reformed Religion established bv law ?' "

t Commenting on the Coronation oath, the "Observer" says the word "Dominions" is now less general in meaning than formerly. The Dominions do not belong to the United Kingdom as the old phraseology had it, but only to themselves.

"The guarantee for maintenance of the Protestant Reformed Religion," the paper says, "is now expressly limited to the United Kingdom where its historical significance resides." The "Sunday* Times" says the oath not merely accords with the fact of His Majesty's multiple kingship, but places it on record before the world.

At the Coronation of King George V. I in 1911 the Oath wa« administered by the I Archbishop of Canterbury as follows:— j The Archbishop: Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the people of this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Dominions thereto belonging, according to the statutes in Parliament agreed on, and the respective laws and customs of the same? King: I solemnly promise so to do. The Archbishop: Will you, to your power, cause law and justice, in mercy, to be executed in all your judgments? King: I will. The Archbishop: Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the laws of God. ! the true profession of the Gospel, and the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law? And will you maintain and preserve inviolably the settlement of the Church of England, and the doctrine, worship, discipline and government thereof, as by law established in England? And will you preserve unto the bishops and clergy of England, and to the Church therein committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges as by law do or shall appertain to them, or any of them? King: All this I promise to do.