LYING IN STATE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22346, 18 February 1936, Page 14

LYING IN STATE

" HALL OF MEMORIES" MONARCH'S SAD RETURN CEREMONY AT WESTMINSTER [from our own correspondent] By Air Mail LONDON, Jan. 25 In Westminster Hall six months ago, the King and Queen received congratulatory addresses from both Houses of Parliament on the occasion of their jubilee celebrations. In a resonant voice, His Majesty returned his heartfelt thanks to his Parliament and his people. On the steps of the hall, where Their Majesties Avero seated there is a brass plate recording tho historical event. Tho vast hall, built by William Rufus, and the place of many courtly festivals throughout the centuries, was the scene of another and quite different ceremony this week. Tho body of the King was brought to tho hall, and laid on a catafalque in tho centre of the building, &nd since then the public have been passing in an endless procession to pay their last respects to their late beloved King. The lights were dim. Most of them were arranged to cast their rays into the ornate timbers of the roof. Only at the far end, where a choir, arrayed in white, had assembled on the steps, did the lights shine downward. The whole expanse of the stone floor was covered for this occasion with grey carpeting. For an hour before the arrival of the procession there was a coming and going of uniformed men and of officials. A small group of blackgarbed men and veiled women wero at the foot of the steps. The Duchess of York, the Duchess of Kent, and tho Duchess of Gloucester, and a number of other ladies attached to the Court had passed down the hall to join this group. Peers and Commons Muster

In the centre of the hall was the catafalque. Purple steps led to it from all four sides. At each corner stood a great candle, the lights from which very weakly illuminated the top of the catafalque. The first sign of ceremony was when the three Kings of Arms, with pursuivants and heralds, passed down tho length of the hall and took station near the main door. Shortly afterwards tho Lord Chancellor appeared leading the Peers, who passed slowly down the steps and ranged themselves on tho right side of tho hall. Probably never before has there been such a great muster of the Peers. A little later tho Speaker, in the special robes of black and gold reserved for State occasions, entered at the head of the Commons, who took up their station along tho left of the hall. Tho Archbishop of Canterbury and the Dean of Westminster came down to tho maii> door and joined the Earl Marshal, the Lord Great Chamberlain, and the First Commissioner of Works. So the members of both Houses of Parliament and the other few within the hall waited in the half-light. Presently there were words of command: heard outside. The main doors of tho hall were thrown open and tho Archbishop of Canterbury, the Earl Marshal, and the Lord Groat Chamberlain went out to meet the little procession. A minute passed and again the doors opened. Mother and Son

Garter King-at-Arms gave a signal, and the heralds and pursuivants turned inward and started to walk slowly up the hall. Tho Earl Marshal and the Lord Great Chamberlain, the Archbishop and the Dean followed. Then Came the coffin. It rested on the shoulders of eight bearers from the King's - Company of the Grenadier Guards. It was covered with the Royal Standard. On a purple cushion, resting on the Royal Standard, was the Imperial Crown, its diamonds glittering even in the half-light of the hall. A bunch of roses and lilies, pink and white, had been placed at the head of the coffin by the Queen. Then through the doors came two black clad figures. To the left was King Edward. On his right was Queen Mary, heavily veiled,- so that it was hardly possible to recognise her features. For those who had seen the Prince of Wales on all ■> sorts of festive occasions, his appearance now as a King came somewhat as a shock. The strain of the past few days had left its mark. Ho was obviously holding out with sheer willpower until that evening brought him his first respite. Neither the King nor Queen Mary looked to right or left. Behind them came tho Princess Royal, in deepest mourning, with tho Duke of York on her right and the Duko of Gloucester on her loft. They were followed by the. Duke of Kent and the Earl of Harewood. Devotion To Duty

In dead silence the procession advanced, and tho individuals wero lost in the gloom of the hall. Tho bearers only could be seen as they placed the coffin in position, stood a moment at attention, and marched forward and away. The Archbishop read simple players. In a special prayer composed for the occasion, his voice faltered. When he reached tho words " tho example he set of unwearied devotion to duty; for his steadfast courage in years of war and manifold anxieties; and for tho love and loyalty borne him by a great family of people in' all parts of the world," ho seemed for a moment unable to proceed. Then tho choir broke into the solemn but exultant hymn, "Praise, My Soul, tho King of Heaven#" Finally, the Archbishop's voice could bo clearlyrheard as he pronounced the words of the Benediction, with its final message. " Tho Lord lift up the light of His countenance upon theo and give thee peace, now and for. evermore." '< ' ' ' '

There was another minute of absoluto silence, and then the Royal mourners walked slowly down the hall again and out through the main doors. The Lords and the Commons wheeled, and, two abreast, they passed the Royal bier and out of the hall by the way they camo. LAUREATE'S TRIBUTE SONNET FROM AMERICA "BEST AND MOST BELOVED" [rnOM OUR OWN corrkspondent] By Air Mail LONDON, Jan. 25 The tribute of the Poet Laureate, Mr. John Masefield, to King George was a sonnet, written at Los Angeles, where Mr. Masefield was staying, and cabled to England. It is as follows: This man was King in England's direst need. In the black-battled years when hope was gone His courage was a flag men rallied on. His steadfast spirit showed him Kins indeed. And when tho war was ended, whon the thought Of revolution took its hideous place. Hie courage and his kindness and his grace Scattered, or charmed, its ministers to naught. No King of all our many has been proved By times so savage to the thrones of kings. Nor won more eimple triumph over fato. He was most Ro7al among Royal things, Most thoughtful lot the meanest in his State, The be*t, the gentU«t md the awtt beloved.