GREAT SCENE AT ABBEY

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 99, 27 April 1923, Page 7

GREAT SCENE AT ABBEY

OVATIONS FROM THE CROWDS

BELLS PEAL AS NEVER BEFORE.

MJNIIBD PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPMIOHT.) (AUSTRALIAN - HEW ZEALAND CABIS ABBOCIATIOJU LONDON, 26th April. For the second time within fourteen months the Abbey was the scene of a Eoyal wedding. Three thousand guests attended the brilliant spectacle, while outside was a scene of animation and enthusiasm along the route between the Abbey and the Palace, where from an early hour sightseers began to occupy coigns of vantage. During the past weeks the Duke of York and his Scottish bride have become increasingly popular, and the selection of a bride from the Duke's own land has won the entire approval of the ' people. In most respects the wedding ceremonial closely followed that of Princess Mary. The route was lined by the first battalions respectively of Grenadiers, Coldstreams, Scots, and ■ Welsh, while the various Guards' bands were stationed at points of the route. At the Abbey were a dismounted party of the Eleventh Hussars, and detaohments of the Somerset Light Infantry, East Yorkshires, and Army Ordnance Corps lined the pavements. The Duke of York's connection with the Navy and Air Force was marked by guards of honour, the Abbey doors being furnished from them. In addition to the military nine thousand police were stationed along the route. Queen Alexandra preceded the King and Queen to the Abbey by a few minutes, while the Puke of York, accompanied by the. Prince of Wales and Prince Henry, left the palace shortly after his parents. The bride, accompanied by her father, left her home at Bruton Place just after 11 o'clock. The procession of royalties was along a gailydecorated route down the Mall, across the Horse Guards Parade into Whitehall, thence to the Abbey, which was entered by the west door. While the congregation .was assembling, Mr. Sydney H. Nicholson, the Abbey organist, played Purcell's Suite, Basil Harwood's Andante and Finale from the Sonata in C Sharp Minor, Handel's Minuet from "Berenice," ancL Saint Saen's "Benediction Nuptiale." A great ovation was accorded Their Majesties as they alighted at the Abbey. As the King moved in the procession to his appointed place, the organist played Elgar's "Imperial March." For the bridegroom's prdcesr sion Parry's March in 0 was played. When the Duke of York, accompanied, by his brothers, took his allotted place, the bride, escorted by her father, walked to the altar, preceded by the choir singing the hymn, "Lead Us, Heavenly Father." As the young couple took their places before the altar, the Dean of Westminster read the exhortation, after which the Archbishop vof Canterbury began the service. With him were the Archbishop of York, the Primus of Scotland, and the Abbey clergy. The scene was -impressive, the great congregation being hushed to silence as the Arohbishop began the marriage service. When he had finished, the choir chanted the psalm, "God, be Merciful Unto Us," to Wesley's setting. Then followed- prayers, after which the Archbishop of York delivered' an address to the newlymar- :- rietl couple. . ' ■ TO THE PEOPLE'S HEARTS. The Archbishop of York eaid: "To this great, this crowning day of your lives, you have come, attended by the autrust moyinjc memories of this hallowed place, a.nd by the kindly thoughts and wishes of the nation. Before this host of witnesses, seen and unseen, you have offered your love to one '^another and to God. You have received from Him at this altar new life, _ wherein your separate lives are now till death made one. Will you take and keep this gift of wed.ded life as a aacrejj trust? Sacfed it must be, for your loye and God's love are within it. With all our hearts we wish that it may tie happy; but you cannot reeplve that it shall be happy. You can. and will resolve that it ahall be noble. You will think not so much of enjoyment as of, achievement. You will have the great ambition to make this one life now given to you something rich, true, and beautiful. The inspiration and strength to fulfil this sacred trust will come to you from God Who gave it. You will, we are assured, resolve to make this wedded life of yours a blessing, not only ■to yourselves., but to others,- not least to those who in the world of toil and struggle have most need of help and cheer. The waim, generous heart of this people takes you to-day into itself. Will you not in response take that heart, with all its joys and sorrows, into your own? You, sir, have already given many ' proofs of your care for the welfare of I our working people. You have made yourself home in their mines, shipyards, and factories. You have brought the boys of the workshop and the public school together in free and frank companionship. You have done much i to show your own . sense a.nd to in- | crease the public sense of the honour and dignity of labour. SIMPLE MAN AND MAID! ' "And you, dear bride, in your old J Scottish home, have grown up from childhood among country, folk and friendship; with them has been your native air. So you have both been fitted for your place in the people's life. The nations and classes which make up our Commonwealth too often live their lives apart. ■ It is therefore a great thing that there should be in our midst one family which is regarded by all as in the true sense their own. It makes the whole Empire kin and helps to sive it the spirit of one family life. Let the example be ever'before you of Him Who, though Lord of all men, is yet their Brother, and Who was and is content to be among His brethren as one that serves. There are some of the hopes that we cherish for you. But after all it is to yourselves as simple man and maid, now husband and wife, that our Jieart turns as you go forth to meet the veare to come. On behalf of the nation, happy in your joy, we bid you God speed, and wish you good luck in the name of the Lord."Through all changes and chances, in this mortal life may God's love ever shadow you, His power protect you, His Spirit guide, you, His peace enfold you."

After the address the bridal party retired to the vestry to sisrn the register, the hymn "Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven" being sung, followed by the choir singing Orlando Gibbon's "Amen," and the anthem. "Beloved, l*t. Us Love," composed specially for Princess Mary's wedding. When the party emerged from the vestry Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" and Stanford's "Marcia Eroica" were played. As the Royal procession moved from the Abbey, its bells pealed as never before. About five thousand changes were rung, lasting- three and a half hours. The 1 crowd vied with the bells in giving the wedded couple a warm sendoff. The bridal pair returned to the palace by a route extended through the Mall to St. James street, Piccadilly, Hyde Park, and Constitution Hill. There

was one long-continued ovation as the ■ King and Queen, accompanied by field officers and an escort of Life Guards, and Queen Alexandra, with an escort of Life Guards, returned to tho palace by a shorter route to welcome their son and daughter-in-law. The Abbey guests included every phase of society, and a strong representation of foreign diplomatic corps, and representatives of all overseas Dominions and Agents-General. A WHOLE DAY'S RAIN. After a.whole day's vain came a brief faiV... interval late last evening, but from midnight the downpour continued hour after hour. For this reason there were fewer night assemblers outside the Abbey and along the route than on the occasion of Princess Mary's wedding. It is surprising that there were any at all. Little groups, including women, sheltered in doorways iv Whitehall, in the vicinity of the Abbey. The weather forecast was for fairer intervals, but there was no sign of them. The decorations were drenched, but many were withheld till early this morning. Crowds, undeterred by the rain, waited outside Buckingham Palace yesterday to see the Duke of York, the bride, and her mother, who left late in the afternoon, the Duke escorting them to the doorway, chatting in full view of the crowd.