AN OLD ENGLISH RITE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22391, 11 April 1936, Page 6 (Supplement)

AN OLD ENGLISH RITE

THE DAY OF A LIFETIME ROYAL MAUNDY CEREMONY A NEW ZEALANDER IN LONDON BY JOYCE MILLAB "Distribution of the Boyal Maundy by the Lord High Almoner to the King. > . . . Admit one Person by the Great North Door, Westminster Abbey, at 11.30 o'clock." Surely no other invitation was lingered so eagerly! A stranger in London, one did not realise that this was not altogether a public ceremony and that a special ticket must be procured long beforehand, from Buckingham Palace. At 10 'a.m. last Maundy Thursday, the vergers at the Abbey, after firmly ejecting all sightseers to make ready" for the ceremony, were amazed to find a small iigure still lingering hopefully in the Poets' Corner, trusting to the friendly bust of Bacon (or was it Shakespeare?) ■to act as a silent protector against vergers and their kind. The official-was deferential but firm. Young New Zealand almost tearfully explained that it was one 7 of the dreams of a lifetime to 'witness this age-old ceremony, and that the opportunity might never chance again. The official commiserated, in the easy way of officials with right on •their side, but remained adamant. Tbp iigure walked sadly down the aisle. Then a sudden helpful suggestion from the .verger. -e. ' " »•'" -<" ■ There were some labourers restoring the north wall, each of whom had a lioyal invitation,' and down in the crypt was a plumtey more interested - in plumbing than in" the Maundy Distribution. A small tip might perhaps persuade him to relinquish his seat —it did 1 The ticket was transferred and that was that The Aged Recipients Thus the ancient rite was witnessed, with all its pomp and glamour, its jewels and rich robes. The front pews of the North Transept were roped off for the recipients, who were quietly marshalled to their places. Very proud they were, dressed in their Sunday best, some clutching with tottering steps to the arm' of a younger relative, others with conspicuous dignity, walking alone. They were 70 old men and the same number of old ladies. This year there Will, of course, be only 43, and the Maundy Silver in the red-stringed white leather bags will be similarly reduced. The entrance to the Royal pew of the Duchess of York, accompanied by her eldest daughter, little Princess Elipbeth, created an eager stir, but behind

the masses ot white lilies and roses that bowered the pew, only the tip of the little Princess' hat was visible. This year the new King himself will be present, to witness, for the first time, the presentation of his Maundy Pence. One read as though it were something out of. a dairy-tale, the Order of the Procession —the .Beadle of the Abbey bearing the Mace, the Cross of Westminster, the Minor Canons, the Canons' Verger, the Canons, Verger, the SubAlmoner, Verger, the Lord High Almoner, the Dean's Verger, the Dean, the Receiver-General, the SergeantMajpr of the Yeomen of the Guard, the Yeoman carrying the Dish containing the Alms, the Children of the ltoyal Almonry, the Secretary of the Royal Almonry, the Assistant Secretary of the Royal Almonry, the Wandsmen and clergymen in academical robes, representing the recipients of the Royal Alms, and the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard. The magnificent pageantry cf Old England! The procession forms in the nave or the Abbey, passing from the nave-into the choir. The Dean, Lord High Almoner'and Sub-Almoner, Canons and Minor Canons, proceed to the Sacrarium. The Precentor reads the prayers, and a Minor Canon the lessons, lhe Alms are placed on a table at the foot of the steps leading to the Sacrarium. Four small children clad in spotless white towels stand at the foot or the steps—they represent the needy Once they came in beggars' rags but now symbolic towels have been substituted.

The Red and White Purses The Office for the Royal Maundy is read. It is direct and simple. One does not need to be book-wise to follow it. The 91st psalm, vcrsicle, response and prayer, a lesson, and an anthem precede the First Distribution. In lieu of the traditional gift of clothing, each woman receives £1 15s and each man £2 5s Then follow the second lesson and another anthem before the Second Distribution of the Red and White Purses, which «irc sniull Iccttiier bogs, The Red with its long white strings contains £l, representing part of the Maundy and £1 10s as allowance in lieu of Provisions, formerly given in kind. The White (with red strings) contains as many Pence as the King is years of age and is given in the quaint traditional Silver Pennies, Twopences, Threepences and Fourpences, being the balance of the Maundy. While the red and white purses are being passed with due and solemn pomp from Dean to Almoner, and from Almoner to Snb-Almoner, and so to the excited recipients, the exquisite beauty of another anthem floods the Abbey with an ecstacy of sound. The service closes <vith the Old Hundredth, a blessing by the Dean of Westminster and the National Anthem. The lovely echoes of the last amen, remotely, strangely beautiful, quiver through the stillness

"Please may I see?" But outside the old people are being solicitously helped through the turbulent stream of traffic, or with occasional tremendous triumph, assisted into the somewhat questionable comfort of a London taxi. They clutch with the habitual suspicion of the Londoner at their precious red and whito bags. Maybe the inquirer is a dealer or souvenir-hunter from America —or New Zealand 1 Perhaps the precious treasure ■will be snatched away. With a final determined shake of the head, they vanish from sight. For them it has been the day of a lifetime.