LONOON'S NEW LORD MAYOR.

Grey River Argus, 24 November 1910, Page 1

LONOON'S NEW LORD MAYOR.

ANCIENT ELECTION CEREMON-

IES

SIR VEZEY STRONG ELECTED

Duties of the most important character will devolve upon the Lord Mayor of London next year, and more than usual interest , accordingly attached to the election of a successor to Sir John Knill. The election was conducted wirh all the elaborate ceremonial which has been - handed down in the city for .centuries. A large crowd assembled near the Guildhall, outside which was a wooden erection wi;h a series of gates. Only liverymen entitled \o vote and Other privileged persons were admitted to the building, and each livery man had to pass through his proper gateway, where the beadle of his company) in ■robco of office, was present to identify him. Inside the greet hall were the hustlings. The platform at the end was barricaded, and the boarding and steps were strewn with herbs, a sanitary precaution dating- back from- the yeir of the plague. Heralded by a fanfare by the city trumpeters, the civic procession arrived at about aquarter to eleven from the Mansion House, th c Lord Mayor, Alderman, recorder, and isheriffs being in black' Couic suits and scarlet gowns. After

a reception another procession was formed, the city officials in full dress being followed by sheriffs, the aldermin below the chair, the aldermen above the chair, and, finally, the Lord Mayor's representative (Sir Joseph Savory) each wuh. a nosegay. The Lord Mayor, being a Roman Catholic, was not present. The procession .walked "to the Church of St. Lawrence Jewry, where a service was conducted by the rector, the Rev J. Stephen Barrass. The sermon ■ was preached ny the -Lord Mayor's chaplain (Canon Rhodes Bristow) on the text, "Let not him- that girdeth on his armour boast himself as he .that putteth at off." The "Common Hall" for the election of Lord Mayor opened at noon, the Lord > May or presiding. The chief crier having ordered "all those who are not liverymen to depart the hall on pain of imprisonment," the proceedings were formally opened "for the election of "a fit and able person to be Lord Mayor' of this ■ city for the year ensuing:." Two names were submitted, namely, those of Sir Vezey Strong and Sir Thomas Crosby. Sir Robert Rogers, a common councilman., rose from the ranks of the liverymen, and said that this tti e last year he put some questions" to the Lord Mayor as to attendance at St. Paul's Cathedral and' otner places of worship according to custom. His lordship refused to attend except at the command of the Sovereign, but he did in full civic state attend 'Roman Catholic places of worship. That fact had given, great pain' and dissatsf action to liverymen and citizens generally. In these days of too readily surrenderjng. great , and valuable principles . by

compromises .and .evasions, it was quite time. that 'the liverymen and citize.a§ spoke out an clear and unmistakable terms. They must insist on the. Lord Mayor acting in accord with the '"..-."