Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23rd., 1937. CORONATION OATH.

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 February 1937, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23rd., 1937. CORONATION OATH.

THE Empire will become in-

creasingly Coronation-minded as May 12 approaches. Except in I official circles, Overseas lands are [remaining calm, meanwhile, but in Britain the' preliminary preparations are well in hand, and many are kept busy in arranging for the Abbey ceremony, the Royal processions and visits, and the numerous items of the festivities programme. Ships from all parts of the Empire are faking visitors to witness what will be historic spectacles, and once again will the world be impressed by the demonstration of Empire unity, despite diversity of race, and climate. The New Zealand contingent is being carefully chosen, and the members will help to maintain the popularity and reputation of the Dominion. whilst in the Motherland. The chief news-item, this week, in connection with the Coronation, was the change in the wording of the Oath taken by the King at his crowning. This may seem a small matter to the general pub-! lie, but is of constitutional impor-| tanee, and it is well that Britain! and the Dominions were able to

agree speedily on an issue that might have been controversial. Generally, Overseas people are not so much concerned as are the Homeland dwellers, with the religious aspect of the Oath, but

there should be wide approval of the new wording that whilst protecting the Protestant succession, is not offensive to those of other Churches. The King’s subjects include those of all Faiths—and none, —and it was neither wise, nor just to ask the King to express hostility to many whose loyalty to him and the Empire is not questioned. (Extremists may rant, but these have little support, and their protestations may be safely ignored. Another reform that is overdue regarding the monarch’s Coronation, is a change in procedure that would enable non-Anglieans to take a prominent part in the proceedings. The fact of being the Established Church gives Anglicans certain rights at State ceremonies, but there seems to be little justification for continuing an Anglican monopoly on these occasions.