CORONATION DAY.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1346, 19 June 1911, Page 5

CORONATION DAY.

RELIGIOUS SERVICES.

Iu addition to the general service at the Baud Rotunda on Coronation Day there will he speolnl services by the Anglican and Roman Catholic congregations at their respective churches.

HOW WE GROWN THE KING.

INTERESTING DESCRIPTION OF THE CEREMONIAL.

In the course of a s?rmon, the text of which was ''Houour the King," the Rev. H. 0. Roslier, at All Saints' yesterday morning, gave a mnst;iuter'esting demonstration of the actual ceremouy which wiU be performed at Westminster on June 22nd. Mr Rcsher said tnat tne ceremony oommenoed upon his Majesty entering St. Peter's Abbey Uhuroh at Westminster, with the presentation of his Majesty to the people by the Arohbishop of Oantarbury in "these words: "Sirs, I here prrseat unto yon King George the undoubted King of this realm. Wherefore all you who are oome tlm day to do your homage, are you willing to do the same? Ho has the claim and the prerogative, but shall he have the willing assent of the people? Shall he have our sanction to wear the orown, to bear the sword, to sit on the throne, to be annoiuted with the saoied oil. Sirs, are you willing." " This," said Mr Rosher," is not the language of a mere idle ceremonial; it is not merely an aifair of cringing and adulation The words recall the large freedom of rougher days, whether Saxon or Ncrman, when tie chiefs of the people looked the king in the face before they gave him their allegiance, and he hart to prove himself the man of the hour, if he was to have and hold his own, So on Thnrsday it will not be till after the people have signified their willingness by loud and repeated acclamations that the trumpets will sound and the Chief Uitizau, the dear old Arohbißhop of Canterbury, will prooeed with the majeatio titual. He is there to ohallenge in England's name the man who undertakes tu be her king." Next come the questions to the king and his replies, in which he solemnly swears'' to govern the people of the United Kingdom acoording to the statutea in Parliament agreed upon and the laws and oustom of the same," "that he will to his power oause law and justice in raeroy to be executed in all his judgments," Having replied, the king rißes and goes to the altar and there makes his solemn oath in the sight of the people, laying his hand upon the Holy Gospsl in the Great Bible brought from the altar by the Archbishop and tendered to him as he kneels upon the steps, saying "the things whioh I have herebet'ore promised I will perform and keep, ss help me, God."

"This is the eoeno as the Coronation opens" (continued Mr Kosher), "and all ninst admit that for such au hour Westminster Abbey and a coped Arohbiahop of Oanterbary are a great national possession. After all, history Fis something, and symbolism has its value, and a nation ueeds the organ to gather np the fnll story of the past, and to pledge the continuity of the centuries to follow. After the singing of the Litany and the Veni Creator, the Archbishop oocsecratas and annoints his Majesty with holy oil, making the sign of the Gross upon his head, breaat and hands, and the king then sits or the ancient ohair of St. Edward, robed in linen vestment and liltten 'tunio, and is in tarn handed the sword for the defence of the Ohmoh, the spws for the defence of the oppressed, the ring as the eusiga of kingly dignity and of defence of the Oatholio faitb, the sceptre of mercy and the rod "f eqnitv, the golden orb, and finally the Bible, and then as the Royal ensignas are oue and all delivered and the orown is set npon the head, and when all the aoolamations cease, the Archbishop cries in lond cones:

"Be strong and of good oonrage; light the good tight of faith, and lay hold of eternal life." .

Finally the Arohbishop and assistant bishops lift the sing 'into his throne, and, whilo these that bear swords and soeptre stand round, the Arohbishop as lie stands before the King says: "Stand firm and hold fust from henceforth the seat and stats of Royal and Imperial dignity which is this day delivered nnto yon by tlin hands, though unworthy, of as the Bishops and servants of Qcri iu the name, and bv the authority of Almighty God."

"It is a high and honourable ceremony, fall of noble ntaal," continued Mr Rosher, "but through itall the solemn tone of moral challenge is sustained, the challenge of a people face to face with him who presents himself to them for their free witness to his olaime. It is with the gte»t and glorious memories in oar hearts of Victoria the Good and Edward the Peatiemfiker, that we weloome Coronation Day, oonoluued Mr Kosher, and as the question is pot to the nation, "Wherefore all you who aro come this day to do your homage are you willing to do the suine?" we will gladly answer with ihe prayer "God Save King George."

AT ST. PATRICK'S,

At St. Patrick's yeFterday the Rev. Father Ocstello rand the follow ing*—

Circular of the Catholic Archbishops and Bishops of New Zealand.

"It is right and propor that, as lnyal and grateful snjects of his Majesty Kine George V., the Catholics in New Zealand should heartily join their fellow-snbjscts throughout the Empire in duly celebrating his Coronation Day, by taking part in tho publia festivities and by religions services, in order t-i bring down the Almighty's copious blessings on the new reigu and all the Empire. It is nlso becoming that uniformity should prevail in our celebrations throughout tli9 four dioofSiS of this Ecclesiastical Provinoe. Accordingly, wa horeby request every priest in each dioceße ta oelebrate a votive Mass of the Holy Ghrst pro ro gravi on Coronation Day for the purposes aforesaid. Wo also recommend that the exact boor in New Zealand corresponding to the hour of the Coronation at Westminstpr be ascertained, and that for at least half an hour tho Olnuoh bell I in eaoh locality bo rung in token of

joy and thanksgiving,-Frauds Redwood, S.M., Arohbisliou cf Wellington ; H. W, Uleary, Bishop of Auokland; J. J. Grimes, 8.M., Bishop of Ohrisfcohnroli: JU. Verdou, Bishop of Dunediu."

_ The Rev. Father OoefcoJlo said that in aooordauoe with the above oironlar there would be High Mms at St. Patriot's at 9 a.m. on Thursday, which would bo cfftred up ior the King that he might govoru his Empire wisely, i.ud tor his people. Romar u.clioiics wore loyal, but they did not, like the Pharisees of old, go about parading their loyalty, but they were a cooil deal mote loyal than some people who were loud' of making a noi'y profession of it. The Ohuroti taught obedienoe to lawful rulers, as St. Paul enjoined, ami they would join their uraym and their offerings for bhs.iugs on the raign of King Qeorga. ARRIVAL OF VISITORS. (Press Association.—By Telegraph.— Copyright). London, Saturday. _ Aimcmg many daily arriving to participate in tlio Coronation airo (the Abyssn'mimi delegation, the Sultans of Kodali and Perak. Westminster Abbey lias been arranged to accomodate 8000. Though tlio route is short, it is expected there will be two million spectators. COLONIAL TROOPS. INSPECTED BY LORD ROBERTS Received June 18,5.5 p.m. London, Last Night. Lord Roberts inspected 1400 Colonials at the Dnk'e of York's Sohool at Chelsea, chiefly Canadians and South Afriuans. He recognised a number as fighters in the Boer War. Major Buokley took a party of troops, inoluding some New Zealanders, to Birmingham, and visited the Small Arms factory and afterwards Warwick Castle.