HOW EDWARD VIII WILL BE CROWNED

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 291, 9 December 1936, Page 16

HOW EDWARD VIII WILL BE CROWNED

Complicated Ceremony Exposes the King to a Difficult 1 est of Endurance : Will the Stone of Jacob Chant Its Joy?

torbury placing himself in front of the King, questions him: “Does Your Majesty consent to take the oath?" On the sovereign’s affirmative reply, the prelate continues: ’ “Will you promise and swear to govern Great Britain and Ireland, also the dominions, protectorates and colonies according to the laws and statutes of Parliament and to respect and cause to be respected the law’s and custom, of our Empire?" “I swear it solemnly" declares the King. “Will you also promise and swear always to be inspired by the law of Mercy?" “I swear." A series of other similar questions are addressed by the Archbishop to the King who in reply promises and swears to protect the Church and to conform to the Protestant faith. Theso various promises made, he places his right hand on an old Bible and his beautiful glass coach alone to drive back to his home in Buckingham Palace.

repeats in a loud voice the words of the oath read by the Archbishop. The oath taken, he kisses the Bible and kneels before Che throne. At this moment the choir strike up a hymn, Veni Creator Spiritus, then the first thirty verses of the first chapter of the Book of Kings from the Old Testament. Then the King rises and seats himself on the throne under a canopy of .gold brocade held by four Knights'of-the Order of the Garter. It is at this moment that the stone of the patriarch Jacob ought to begin *0 chant its joy. Now we have the King seated on the stone on which Jacob saw the Lord appear. But, no matter how tired he may be, he is not allowed a moment of respite. After a shoit prayer, it is the Bishop of Westminster this time who stand up before him to anoint him. He pours a few drops of oil on his head, on his breast and, finally, in the hollow of his right hand. The unction on the head is administered in the form of a cross, that on the breast and in tho hollow T of the hand tho Bishop lightly rubs in while pronouncing: “Bo annointed, as were all our kings and the great prophets." . Then the princes of the Church invest the King with a robe of exquisitely, fine.tissue, embroidered with three flowers symbdlising England, Scotland and Ireland, after which they present to him the various emblems of his power: tho gold spurs, the royal sword, the orb of empire, the sceptre, the cloak and finally, tho crown. Then the clergy hand him his own particular gift, a very old Bible, the book which “contains all the wisdom of God." The King kisses the book and -places it on the ■ altar: he gives it back to the Church which will one day present it anew to his Successor, as custom ha decreed for nearly ten centuries.

QN MAT 14 NEXT, Edward VIII. will officially ascend the throne of liis ancestors. The seat of this throne is formed of a large stone on which, according to the Bible, Jacob sat when God appeared to him near the town of Bethel. This stone is supposed to have the mysterious faculty of emitting musical strains when its new royal occupant is distinguished by particularly noble qualities. Thus, it seems, that at the coronations of Queen Victoria and of George V. the throne was heard to sing. The numerous admirers of Edward VIII. are sure that it will do the same when he is crowned. It is difficult to imagine how complicated the ceremony is and to what a test of endurance it exposes the King. In England, more than anywhere else, a coronation is above all a grandiose spectacle, organised with the aim of dazzling the people. It is an immutablo rite, mado up of a thousand details to each of which are attached innumerable beliefs, legends, traditions, superstitions and prerogatives. At dawn tho Chief Chamberlain appears in the King's bed-chamber and after having awakened him makes a speech setting forth the importance of this historic day. In return the King will make the dignitary a present of his bedstead and bedding. The discourse finished, other high officials of the Court appear to assist His Majesty in dressing. The role of each of them is rigorously defined. One offers the King his socks, another his shoes. A third hands him his shirt, a fourth his breeches, and so on. On the following day each receives as a souvenir the garment that he handed. The chamberlain who places on tho King’s shoulders the sacred purple mantle receives a piece of purple velvet measuring not less than 36 yards. His toilet finished, the King takes his place in a magnificent glass coach, drawn by eight horses, and drives to Westminster Abbey. Unless he marries in tho meantime, he will occupy the coach alone. All the high prelates of England will wait for him in front of the church and present to him their homage. Then, preceded by the princes of the Church, the King will enter the Abbey to the strains of the 72nd Psalm of David. Before the high dignitaries and the assembled bishops, he will stand near his throne, facing tho altar. The Archbishop of Canterbury reads a prayer, then, accompanied by the Chief Knight of the Order of the Garter and preceded by. a herald, he will make a tour of the interior of the church, which, is occupied by about 8000 persons. During this tour tho Archbishop will not cease repeating in a sonorous voice: “Gentlemen, I present to you your nuw King, Ilis Very Gracious Majesty Edward VIII. Will you offer him your services and your devotion?’’ Tho “Yes’’ is naturally unanimous and this presentation finished, tho Archbishop pronounces these words which are repeated by all persons present: “God save our King, Edward VIII.’’ When this part of the ceremony is finished, one of the bishops gives an address more or less short, then the Archbishop of Can-

After another address by the Archbishop of Canterbury, all the bishops and other high prelates pass before the King and take the oath of fidelity to him. Their example is followed by the princes of the blood royalj then by tho members of the nobility, court functionaries, chief magistrates and others. The Archbishop of Canterbury and tho royal -princes kiss the left hand of the sovereign and with their right they lightly touch tho crown which is then resting on’ the head of the King. T.hese acts of homage occupy at a low estimate at least two hours.' "The coronation then being over, the heralds sound their trumpets while the crowd utters rries of “Long live the Kingl’? and “God save King Edward!” It is at this moment that normally the second act of the ceremony, the coronation of the Queen, would begin. However, in the absence of a queen, there will be no second ceremony. But London has not given up hope yet. The optimistic people of the capital cherish the dream of witnessing in the course of a single year the marriage of the King and the coronation of the royal couple. Nothing, however, in the attitude of King Edward VIII. lends support to such a hope. Therefore it is more probable that, the ceremony ended, we shall see the King step into