THE SCENE AT ST. GEORGE'S CHAPEL.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10882, 5 February 1901, Page 5

THE SCENE AT ST. GEORGE'S CHAPEL.

A GRAND AND MEMORABLE SPECTACLE. (Received February 4th, 9.2 a.m.) LONDON, February 3. Statesmen, peers, foreign representatives, and men of science, arts, and letters began to arrive at St. George's Chapel at eleven o'clock. When the Chapel was full ther-a was a perfect harmony of colour, which made a wonderful sight. The altar was dimly lighted, showing the foliage of palms. The stalls of the Knights of the Order of ths Garter were occupied by their owners, all wearing their insignia with crape loopings. The stalls of the Sovereigns were curtained with purple velvet. On tiers of purple-covered seats, erected in the aisles, sat the Marquess of Salisbury and Lady Gwendoline Cecil, the Rt. Hon. W. C. Gully, Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt. Hon. Sir Wm. Harcourt, the Earl of Rosebery, the Rt. Hon. J. Chamberlain, the Duke of Devonshire, the Rt. Hon. Sir Henry CampbellBannerman. the Rt. Hon. A. J. Balfour, the Rt. Hon. John Morley, the Hon. N. C. Lecky, and Lord Carrington. Most of the members of the Ministry and Privy Councillors were attired in uniforms of gold and black. The Ebrd Mayor and Sheriffs wore State robes. The Indian Prince Thakore Sahib, of Marvi, resplendent in a rich dress of white satin surmounted with _. huge golden embroidered turban, was a notable figure. Lord Alverstone, Lord Chief Justice, appeared in rob*_ of crimson and ermine, and the Earl Halsbury, Lord High Chancellor, in a State dress of black and gold. The Provost and Bailliet of Edinburgh wore brilliant red c_o_Jcs with -rain* tippctt. yr__ich lent

colour to the scene. Behind the military and Court representatives, Ambassadors, Privy Councillors, and Agents-General, sat the ladies, making a sombre background to these broader stretches of gold and crimson. The Queen-Consort was seated right in the general congregation, and near her was Prince Edward (eldest son of the Duke of York) wearing a sailor suit and looking bright and interested. He was observed byall.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, with attendent choristers holding his robe, and accompanied by the Archbishop of York, ths Bishops of Winchester, Windsor, and the clergy proceeded to the western entrance to receive the coffin. The Bishop of Oxford, the Chancellor of the Order cf the Garter, wore a gorgeous cardinal silk mantle; the Dean of Windsor, Registrar of tho Order of the Garter, a long, dark, rich velvet mantle. Behind the prelates, the choir stretched in two lines nearly up to the chancel screen. The tension overcame one chorister, who had to be removed. Behind the choir stood the Yeomen of tho Guard. Tho whole scene was a grand and memorable spectacle. On either side of the marble steps leading to the west door were numbers of wreaths of the choicest flowers.