DUKE OF YORK’S MARRIAGE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 27 April 1923, Page 5

DUKE OF YORK’S MARRIAGE

HISTORIC SCENES AT THE ABBEY (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association). LONDON, April 26. For tho .second time within 14 months, tho Abbey was tho scene of a (Royal wedding. Three thousand guests attended tho brilliant .spectacle, while outside there was a scene of animation and enthusiasm, and along tho route between the Abbey and the Palace, where, from an early hour, sightseers began to occupy coigns of ’vantage. (During the past weeks the Duke of York and Iris Scottish bride have become increasingly popular, and the selection of a bride, from his own land won tho entire approval of the people. In most respects tho wedding ceremonial closely followed that of the Princess Mary’s. The route was lined Uy the First Battalions respectively of tho Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, and Welsh Guards, while the various Guards bands wore stationed at points along the route. At the Abbey a dismounted party of the Eleventh. Hussars, detachments of the Somerset Light Infantry, East Yorkshire, and Army Ordnance Corps lined the pavements.

The Duke of York’s connection with the Navy and Air Force was marked by guards of honour at the Abbey dnoifc lieing furnished from them. In addition to the military, 9000 police were stationed along the route. Queen Alexandra, preceded the King arid Queen to tho Abbey by. a few minutes, while the Duke of York, accompanied by the Prince of Wales and Prince Henry, left the Palace shortly after their parents. Tlie bride, accompanied by her father, left her home at Bruton Place, just after eleven. The procession of royalties was along a gaily decorated route down the Mall, across the Hovsegnards Parade, into Whitehall, thence to the Abbey, which was entered by the west door.

While the congregation was assembling, Mr Nicholson, Alley organist, played Purcell’s “Suite,” Basil Harwood’s “Andante,” and the Finale from the Sonata in “C Sharp Minor,” Handel’s Minuet from “Berenice” and Saint Snen’s “Benediction Nuptiale.” A great ovation was accorded Tlieir (Majesties as they alighted at tho Abbey and as they moved in procession to their appointed place. The organist played Elgar’s “Impel hi March” for the bridegroom procdssoii, and Parry’s “March in C” was played when the Duke of York, accompanied by his brothers, took the allotted places. Tho bride, escorted by her father, walked to the altar preceded by tlio Choir singing the hymn, “Lead Us, Heavenly Father.” As the young couple took their places before the altar, tho Dean of Westminster read nr. exhortation, whereafter the Archbishop of Canterbury began the service. With him were the Archbishop of York', Primus of Scotland, and the Abbey clergy. The scene was impressive. The great.' congregation was .in hushed silence as tho' Archbishop began the marriage service. When lie had finished, the Choir chanted the Psalm, “God he Merciful Unto Us,” to Wesley’s setting. Then followed prayers, n.’i( i- jwlucli the Archbishop of York delivered"an address to the newly married couple. The Archbishop said, “To this great, this crowning clay of your lives, you have come attended by august morning memories of this hallowed place and by tlio kindly thoughts and wishes of the nation. Before this host of witnesses, seen and unseen, you have offered your love to one another and to God. You have received from Him, at this altar, new life wherein your separate lives, are now, till death, made one. Will you t'Ke and keep this gift of wedded life as a sacred trust, sacred it must be, for your love, and God’s love are within it With all our hearts, we wish that; it may he happy, hut you cannot resolve that at shall IJo happy. You can and will resolve that it shall he noble. You will think not so much of enjoyment as of achievement, you will have great ambition to make this onq li'"o now given to you something rich, true, and beautiful. Inspiration and strength to fulfil this sacred trust, will come to you from God who gave it. You will, wo are assured, resolve to make this wedded life of yours a blessing, noht only to yourselves, but to others—not the least to those who, in a world of toil and struggle, have most need of help and cheer. The warm, generous heart of this people, takes you to-day into itself, in response, take that heart with all its joys and sorrows into your own. You, Sir, have already given many pi oofs of your care for tho welfare of our working people. You made yourself at homo in their mines, shipyards, and factories. You brought hoys working in shop and public school together (in free, frank companionship. You have done much to show your own sense and to increase tho public sense of tho honour and dignity of labour, and your dear bride, in your old Scottk'li homo, have grown up from childhood among country folk and friendship with them, so you have both been fitted for your place in the people’s life. Nations and classes, which make up our commonwealth, too often live their lives apart. It is, therefore, a great thing that there should he, in our midst, one family which is regarded by all as in a true sense their own. It, makes the wholo' Empire kin and helps to give it the spirit of ono family life.. Let the example he eter before you of Him who, though Lord of all men, is yet their brother and who was, and is, content to be among his brethren, as one that serves. Tlieso are some of the hopes we cherish for you, hut after all, it is to yourselves, as a simple man and maid, new husband and wife, that on rliearts turn, as you go forth to meet the years to come.

“On behalf of Llio nation, happy in your joy, wo bid you God speed and wish you good luck in tho name of the Lord. Through all the changes and chances in this mortal life, may God’s love over shadow you, His power protect you, His spirit guide you, His peace enfold you.” After the address tho bridal party retired to tho vestry to sign the register. The hymn of praise, “My Soul, King of Heaven,” was sung, followed by tho Choir singing Orlando Gibbons’s “Amen’ ’and the anthem, Let. IJs Love,” composed specially for Princess Mary’s wedding. When the party emerged from the vestry Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March” and Stanford’s “Marcia Eroica” were played. As the Royal procession moved from the Abbey its hells pealed as never before. About five thousand changes wero rung, lasting throe and a half hours. The crowd vied with the bells an living tho wedded couple a warm

semi-off. Tho bridal pair relumed to the Palaco by "a route which extended through tho Mall to St. James’s Street, Piccadilly, Hyde Park, and Constitution Hill. There was ono long, continued ovation.

The King and Queen, accompanied by a field officers’ escort of Life Guards, and Queen Alexandra, with a captains’ escort of Life Guards, returned to tho Palace by a shorter route to welcome tlieir son and daugh-ter-in-law.

Tlio Abbey guests included every phase of society and a strong representation of the Foreign Diplomatic Corps, representatives of all the overseas dominions, and Agonts-Generals.