THE LAST RITES AT WINDSOR

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 823, 23 May 1910, Page 7

THE LAST RITES AT WINDSOR

AN AFFECTING SERVICE. THE PROCESSION IN THE METROPOLIS.

13y Telesrrapli—Press Association—CoTi.vricht London, May 20. The funeral of the lato King Edward the Seventh took piaco to-day, in fine weather. The processional and ceremonial arrangements were carried out without a. hitch. It is estimated that tho crowd exceeded a million. _ Tho time-table of the .funeral procession was as follows:— 9.10 a.m., leaves Buckingham Palace. 9.30 a.m., arrives Westminster Hall. 9.50 a.m., leaves Wostminster Hall. 12 noon, arrives Paddington Station. 12.50 p.m., arrives Windsor. 2.15 p.m., the service begins. Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall. There was an imposing scene in Buckingham Palace courtyarH, where the Royalties assembled. As tho Queen Mother Alexandra, in a glassed-in carriage, took her place in the procession} all tho monarchs and princes saluted, and her Majesty made hor acknowledgments. There were many brilliant spectacles. A splendid cavalcade, circling Parliament Square, entered the new Palace Yard, where King Edward's charger and his favourite ,fox terrier Caesar wore standing behind tho gun-carriage. On arriving at Westminster Hall, where the body had been lying in state, King George, the Kaiser, and the Duke of Connauglit dismounted, and Quoen Alexandra and Princess Victoria alighted. The Kaiser kissed his aunt (Queen Alexandra), and accompanied her to tho Hall, King George, the Duke of Connaught, and Prinress Victoria following. A distinguished group, including Mr. Asquith (Prime Minister), the Earl of Crowe (Secretary of State for the Colonies), other Ministers, and Lord Rosebery, witnessed the arrival of the Royal personages at the porch of Westminster Hall. Queen Alexandra wore the brilliant jewel of the Garter. From the Hall to Paddington. A short service was held in Westminster Hall. The coffin was then borne through the porch, the Archbishpp of Canterbury (Most Rev. Dr. Davidson) and a chaplain, with the Primatial cross, preceding it.

The coffin was placed on the guncarriage, and the proccssion left Westminster Hall for Paddingten Railway station. Its head was a mile and a half away. The inscription on the coffin-plate includes tho phrase " Britanniarum et tcrrarum trsmsmarinaTum quae in ditiono sunt Britarmici Regis" ("of the Britains and tho oversea territories which are under the sway of the British King").

As the procession left Westminster, every train and all vehicles in the metropolis stopped for two minutes, and at ono o'clock tlie whole traffic of the United Kingdom ceased for ten minutes. Every urban industry and rural occupation also came to a sympathotic standstill.

[Tho state of the route and order of tho procession, in which King Georgo was accompanied by tho German Emperor on his right hand, and tho Duke of Connaught on his left, were published on Saturday.]

There was intense roverential silence along the ontire route of the procession to Paddington. The crowd was deeply touched by tho sight of the riderless charger behind tho gun-car-riage, followed by a stalwart Highlander (in the Royal Stuarts' tartan), leading tho terrier Caesar. v Thore wore splendid renderings of the impressive funeral marches. The progress to Paddington station was absolutely without hitch.

On arriving at Paddington station, ten non-commissioned officers of tho Grenadier Guards, in which regiment King Edward was a lieutenant and captain, carried tho casket to the train, which was draped. There were nine saloons, upholstered in purple draperies and crepe. The coffin was placed in the first saloon, upon a purple catafalque guarded by Grenadiers, as during the lying-in-state at Buckingham Palace. • King George and the other monarchs stood with bowed heads as the Guardsmen reverently transferred tho coffin to tho train, the massed bands playing "The Dead March" ("Saul"). King George and most of tho Royalties travelled in the saloon carriage next the mortuary earriago. Tho train was tho samo as that used at Queen Victoria's funeral.' The engine was hoavily draped with purple and white. By Railway to Windsor. Along the railway every bridge and station was guarded. _ Windsor station was guarded by bluejackets from tho Excellent gunnery school, 0110 hundred of whom were ready to draw tho guncarriage, forty others acting as checkers of the gun-carriage. ■When tho coffin arrived at Windsor station, earlier portions of the procession between Westminster Hall and Paddington—having arrived already by special trains, and re-formed—were in waiting. Tho coffin was placed on the gun-carriage and drawn, by bluejackets through High Street and Park Street, through the Sovereign's entrance to the great quadrangle, and thence by the Long Walk to the west door of St. George's Chapel. The Kiugs and Princes, after a brief stay in the Royal waiting-room, followed afoot, as before, except that the Duke of Cornwall (Heir-Apparent) and his brother Prinoe Albert wero immediately behind King George. Queen Alexandra and the Dowager-Empress of Russia drove bohind tho foreign royalties, and Queen Mary and the Queen of Norway followed. Tho procession was as before, but without Army and Navy detachments, and with tho addition of Heralds Pursuivants, tho Duko of Argyle, tho Governor of Windsor Castle. High Street ancl Park Street were draped with purple and black, and were lined by Soots Guards, and local Territorials. Minute guns wore lired. The bells in tho Round Tower and Curfew Tower were tolled, and in all the churches of tho town and neighbourhood. The bands of tho Blues, Horso Guards, and Scots Guards played Chopin's and Beethoven's marches. Windsor was densely crowded. Many persons had taken up positions at 6 o'clock, and the streets wero impassable by 10 o'clock. Polico and military cleared tho routo by 11 0 clock. At St. Ceorge's Chapel. Tho coffin was received at the west door of St. George s Ohajx'l by tho Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Bishop of Winchester, tho Dean of Windsor, canons, minor canons, lay.

A distinguished congregation, numbering 700, had been seated early in St. Georgo's Chapel. Nine tiers of soats on either side of tho nave were covered with violet cloth, and a sloping gangway led from tho nave to the choir, railed off with standards and violet ropes.

The Military Knights of Windsor stood on either side of the gangway, and members of the Royal Household on the right side of the altar. The Yeomen of the Guard were on duty in the nave, with partizans reversed, and Gentlemen-at-Arms in the choir with halberds reversed.

The Royal ladies occupied the Royal closet, overlooking the altar, while a choir of 1100 voices, with Sir Walter Parratt at the organ, rendored Schubert's "March Solennelle."

St. George's Chapel was undraped, the only decorations being the banners of the Knights of the Garters over the choir. Thoso occupying the tiers in the aisles included the Agents-General. The choir-stalls were filled by Ministers and ox-Ministers, including Mr. Asquith, Mr. Balfoor (Leader of the Opposition), Lord Lansdowno, Mr. Churchill (Homo Secretary), Mr. Lloyd-George (Chancellor of the Exchequer), Sir E. Grey (Foreign Secretary), and Mr. Austen Chamborlain.

The prooession passed into the choir, the Earl Marshal, the Lord Steward, and tho Lord Chamberlain immediately preceding the coffin. King George's wreath was on tlie coffin. It was a cross of white Alexandra orchids. Queeu Mary's wreath was of white may. Procession and Service. The procession preceded the coffin from the west door to the bier. King George led Queen Alexandra by the hand, lite Duke of Connaught and the Emperor of Germany followed, with the Dowager-Empress of Russia on the Kaiser's right arm. Other Royalties and ambassadors came next. It was a brilliant spectacle, sdnbeams illuminating the chapel through the side windows. The coffin rested at tho end of the nave, King George standing at tho head. Queen Alexandra and tho Dowa-ger-Empress Marie stood on one side at tho head of the coffin. The service proceeded. ThePsalmwas 90 ("Lord, Thou hast been our refuge from one generation to another"), and tho hymns were: "My God, My Father, Whilo 1 Stray," and "Now the Labourer's Task is O'er." Anthems: Goss's "I Heard a Voice," and Handel's "His Body is Buried in Peace." ' Tho Bishop of Winchester read the lesson, and the Dean of Windsor pronounced the sentence: — ** "I heard a voice from Heaven, saying unto me, write from henceforth blessed are tho dead which die in the Lord: Even so saith tho Spirit; for they rest from.their labours." Tho Archbishop of Canterbury read tho prayers and pronounced King Edward's styles and the Benediction. . Sir Walter Parratt played as an organ solo Beethoven's "Eunoral March," (A. flat minor) as the sentence was pronounced : "Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust: to dust." Prior to the committal of the body, the crown, orb, and sceptre were removed, but the coffin was left covered by the Royal Standard. King George advanced, and placod thereon a miniature of the Standard carried by the King's Company of Grenadiers. Closing Scenes. While tho Archbishop of Canterbury, was reading the .words, "Earth to earth," the bier, and coffin gradually and silently descended to the vault. Afterwards, it was wheeled to its final resting-place, a massive stone table, directly beneath tho tomb of the late King's eldest son, the Duke of Clarence and Avondalc. After the Benediction, King George and Queen Alexandra knelt together at tho graveside and took a last look at the coffin. They then retired to the Chapter room. The other Royal mourners followed; then the entire assembly passed through tho choir, and took a farewell look at the grave. That was the end. . MESSAGES AND WREATHS. (Rec. May 22, 5 p.m.) London, May 21. King George in a grateful message to the men of the Navy and marines says he felt that tho bluejackets manning the gun-carriage at Windsor was the most fitting tribute that could be paid to his beloved father. Ho highly appreciated the conduct and bearing of all ranks and ratings. His Majesty was much pleased with the appearance and steadiness of tho troops, and tho work of tho police, whose task was made easier by the reverent demeanour and orderly spirit of the enormous masses of people. London, May 20. The United Grand Lodge of English Freemasons forwarded an address to King Georgo expressing profound sympathy with him and eulogising King Edward's work on behalf of Freemasonry. It also sent addresses of sympathy to the Queen Mother Alexandra and condolences with tho Grand Master (tho Duke of Connaught). The latter was asked to lay tho address at tho foot of tho Throne.

Fifty men worked night and day unpacking GOOO wreaths. Half-a-dozon v-ans plied ceaselessly between the Castle and tho station. Three marquees were filled. Ono wreath was from members of the Shackleton Antarctic Expedition. Practically every regiment in the Army sent a wreath. Captains Phyllips (New South Wales Lancers) and Pounds (Australian Light Horse), Lieutcnaut Fox (New South Wales Artillery) and two lion-commis-sioned officers represented the Australian forces at the Horso Guards' Parade. SERVICES ABROAD. (11 ec. May 22, 5 p.m.) London, May 21. Memorial services on Friday wero world-wide. Services were held at Berlin (the Crown Prince attending), Rome, Paris, Washington (President 'J':,ft and his Ministers attending), at sis cluuxhos in New York, at St.

Petersburg (the Tsar and the Tsarina being present), Buonos Ayros, Vienna, San Francisco, Peking, Khartum, Constantinople,. Brussels, Aden, Monte Video, Sierra Leone, Bermuda, Moscow, Tokio, Tangier, Jamaica, Corfu, Perim, and in all British dependencies. London, May 20. Anglican memorial services were infliientially attended in the European capitals. Many were held elsewhere 011 the Continent, and also in the oolonics. Work was suspended in the Johannesburg mines for foor hours during the funeral. Melbourne, May 21. The view from Parliament House at yesterday's ceremonial was striking. People were densely packed in the form of a gigantic cross. An outstanding feature of the gathering was tho silence. Perth, May 21. Yesterday was observed with more than Sabbath quietude. Memorial services were held in all the churches, which were crowded. Hobart, May 21. Special Teligious services wore hejd in all the churches. The German gunboat I Condor fired sixty-eight guns. INCIDENT AT PADDINGTON. (Bee. May 22, 5 p.m.) London, May 21. While the procession was at Paddington station, a crash of glass was heard from the roof, and pieces of broken glass fell among the Indian officers. The alarm was intensified by a second, and louder, smashing of glass. Some women screamed, but there was no panic, tho officials pointing out that tho oause of the commotion was a man on the roof. CAPTAINS AND KINCS DEPART. THE KAISER. (Rec. May 22, 5 p.m.) London, May 21. Many of the Royalties who attended the funeral have left for their respective countries. The Emperor of Germany will return on Monday. " DINNER AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE. London, May 21. At a dinner party in Buckingham Palace, sixty guests were present, all being Royalties except M. Pichon (French Minister for Foreign Affairs), and Mr. Roosevelt (Special Representative of the United States). Afterwards King George gave an audience to the visiting suites. The lying-in-stato at Westminster Hal! concluded on Thursday night, when the last of the public filed past tho coffin. The proceedings were orderly and quiet. ' LABOUR M.P. AND ROYALTY. QUEEN MOTHER'S THANKS. London, May 20. The Queen Mother Alexandra lias written to Mr. Enoch Edwards, Labour M.P., stating that she was much touched by his speech in the House of Commons in supporting the address of condolence. Her Majesty expresses her sincere thanks for his kind words.

Windsor, where I was allotted a place of honour in tho choir. It was a most impressive ceremony. There were enormous crowds both, in Lon-

[During the debate in the House of Comiuons on tho address of condolence, Mr. Enoch Edwards (Labour JI.P. for Hanley, speaking- on behalf of the Labour party) supported tho motion for the adoption of the address. He paid a tribute to King Edward's noble life and heroic services. The workers, he said, felt they had lost one of their best friends in tho person of tho great King.] GASES OF COLLAPSE. MR. HALL-JONES FAINTS AT WINDSOR/ REPORTED BETTER, London, May 20. There were many cases of collapse during the funeral procession and ceremonies. Tho whole route was packed to its utmost capacity. It 'is estimated that the crowd exceeded a ' million. Owing to the influx of Continental visitors, all the Calais-Dover, trains' have been run in duplicate since Monday. The crushing at many points was very severe, especially at Hyde Paik Corner and the Marble Arch. There were some broken limbs. The heat and the long standing caused many civilians and troops to faint. There were 1100 St. John Ambulance men in the streets, in addition to a large force of tho Army Medical Corps. Members of the St. John Ambulance Society treated 6144 cases, mostly women who fainted. ... Twenty cases were sufficiently serious to be taken to the hospital. At St. George's Chapel, Windsor, during the recital of the committal words over the body of King Edward, Mr. Hall-Jones, Now Zealand High Commissioner, who was ]Ust behind the Royal personages, fell in a faint. Those standing near fanned him and he partially recovered. He was carried out during the Benediction. Mr. Jolm Burns (President of the Board of Trade) and two constables promptly assisted Mr. Hall-Jones, and carried him on a stretcher to a neighbouring house, whore he recovered. A Territorial ambulance later conveyed Mr. Hall-Jones to tho Military Knights' quarters, where ho remained for the rest of the afternoon. King George and Queens Mary and Alexandra inquired as to his condition. Later reports state that he is better. Melbourne, May 21. About a hundred women fainted at the ceremonial yesterday, owing to the crush.' MESSAGE TO THE PRIME MINISTER. "QUITE RECOVERED."

When the news oame_ to hand' on Saturday morning, tho Prime Minister, Sir Joseph AVard, cabled to Mr. Hall-Jones expressing tho hopo that liis illness was only of a temporary nature, and that lie would soon bo restored to robust health. In reply, Mr. Hall-Jones cabled yesterday as follows:— "Thanhs for inquiry. Temporary faintness only. Quite tccovarcd."

Writing to a Wellington resident recently, Mr. Hall-Jones stated that as a result of tho operation which he underwent there was every reason to hope that he would in the future onjoy much better health. dominion representation. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S MESSAGE. In an official cablegram to the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, sent yesterday, thi; High Commissioner, Mr. HallJones, says:— ... "I have much' pleasure 111 informing yo« tliat tlle Now Zea " land representative was shown cverv courtesy and attention yester-. day "at the funeral of King Edward VII. I joined it at Buckingham Palace, and went in the procession to Westminster Hall and Paddington in the ninth Stato carriage with tho representatives of the Dominion of Canada and tho Commonwealth of ' Australia. Then jra wont on to

don and Windsor."