"THEKING'S NEED"

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 134, 3 December 1936, Page 9

"THEKING'S NEED"

COMMENT IN ENGLISH PRESS

FATHER'S EXAMPLE

United Press Association—By Electric TelN . ... graph—Copyright. LONDON, December 1. In an editorial commenting on the Bishop of Bradford's speech referring to the King and the grace of the Sacrament at the Coronation ceremony, the "Yorkshire Post" says:— "Dr. Blunt rhust have had good reason for his pointed remark. '~Vfe hope the King is aware of his need.- Some of Us wish he gave more positive signs of such awareness.' Most people are by this time aware that a great deal of' rumour regarding the King has ~ been published in the more ■ sensational American newspapers. It is proper to treat; with contempt mere, gossip such as is frequently associated with the names. of European royal persons. The bishop would, certainly not condescend to recognise it. : But certain statements appearing in reputable United States journals and even,, we believe, in some Dominion newspapers, cannot be treated with' quite so much indifference, i .

"When, Ring Edward succeeded George, 'the Well-beloved/ the nation acclaimed him with' the glad conviction that he would, indeed, as he him=> self promised, follow in- his father's footsteps. Deep disappointment must necessarily result if, instead of this continuity, for. example* there should develop a dispute between the King and his Ministers, such :as must almost inevitably raise a constitutional issua of the gravest character." Other, provincial newspapers in theif editorial columns support »Dr. Blunt. GUIDANCE BY PKIME MINISTER, The "Manchester Guardian" said that the. issue is the King's readiness to be guided by the Prime Minister in all matters which may affect the welfare of the British Commonwealth. ''Of the validity of that principle there ia no doubt, nor can one think that the present King, mindful, as.he is of the' nationally-beloved example of' his father, would in .any way seek to disturb the relations between the monarch and his Ministers as they existed during the 25 years of King George's [reign.",/ .-'■ .; ■ : - : ■■:■;

Recalling the King's affection for his father, •■ the . paper says: "Few things brought the present Sovereign nearer the hearts of the British people than the unannounced and unobtrusive vigil he and' his brothers kept in Westminster Hall the night before the King's funeral: With the life of his father as an example, and the advice of ■ his Ministers as a. guide, King Edward, who came to the Throne supported by immense reserves of good will from people of this and'other countries of the Commonwealth*,' can hardly.fail in the always"onerous and responsible task of kingship?'

I The Bishop of Bradford, the Rt. Rev, | Alfred Blunt, speaking at a diocesan conference and criticising a suggestion by Bishop Barnes that the form of the Coronation service should be altered, I especially in regard to Holy Comj'munion, said: "To agree to the suggestion would be tantamount to a confes« .sion that the grace of the Sacrament is not so important as to be needed by the King, and would go a long way towards weakening the significance of the ceremony and; reduce it to the level of a mere piece of national pageantics like a revue. .The benefit of the Coronation depends firstly on faith in prayer and self-dedication of the - King himself. On that, it would be . improper to say anything except to commend him to God's grace,, which he will so abundantly need if he is to do his duty faithfully. We hope he is aware of this need. Some of us wish he gave more positive signs of such awareness. The King on this occasion holds avowedly a representative' posi« tion; His personal views and opinions are his own, and as an individual ha has the right that we all have to b« the keeper of his own private ; conscience, but in his public capacity at the Coronation' he stands for the English peoples-idea of Kingship. What» ever the ceremony may mean, much or little, to the individual who ia crowned, it means to the people as a whole their dedication of the English Monarchy to the care of God."