SOME ASPECTS OF CHE CEREMONY: THE NOTE OF EMPIRE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7871, 5 August 1911, Page 17

SOME ASPECTS OF CHE CEREMONY: THE NOTE OF EMPIRE

The Royal Carriage passing under the New Zealand Arch in Whitehall, in the Coronation Procession

Supreme Act of Sacred and Stately Ritual

God Save King George.”

But ono could admiro the dignity and simplicity of the antique phrasing of the ritual. Our forefathers could say things simply yet proudly. "Sirs, I here prei sent unto you King George, the undoubted King of this Realm, Therefore all you who are come this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do the same?" This challenge, four times recited in. ringing tones by the Archbishop of Canterbury in copo of white and gold, was answered with shouts of "God Save King George" from the boys of Westminster School, who mad© the old rafters resound with their acclamation. The anointing of tho King, the donning of the Royal robes, tho presentation of tho Spurs, Swords and Ring, and other mediaeval insignia, were interesting rather than impressive to eyes unused to elaborate and archaic ritual. But the supremo act of Coronation, the placing of the Crown upon the sovereign's head, was the moment of thrilling interest and significance. The stillness deepened over tho great assemblage as tho Archbishop, after reciting tho fine old prayer beginning "O God the Crown of tho faithful/-’ held up the Crown and reverently placed it on the head of the King. Instantly each peer rose to his feet and placed his gleaming coronet upon his head. The Kings of Arms put on their crowns. Trumpets sounded and drums were beaten, and then with a burst of sound great shouts of "God Save the King" rang through the Abbey. At the instant of tho crowning also tho signal went forth to tho outer world. The guns in tho Tower of London and in the parks were fired. Joy-bells clashed in all tho churches. To all parts of the King’s dominions ran the message of

his crowning, calling forth paean after paean of acclamation, until tho whole Empire spoke with one groat voice. That was the one supremely dramatic moment of a memorable day. ' . The Human Note.

Then, followed the homage, with its quaint ritual of feudalism. The Archbishop knelt to render homage to tho King, and the bishops knelt with him, repeating after him the words of the Submission, a formula centuries old. Tho prelates were followed by tho young Prince of Wales.

The homage of the Prince brought with it a genuine human note into tho service. Ono forgot for the moment that these two were King and Prince; one saw them there as father and son. Tho Prince in his heavy'robes of State knelt before his father and repeated with boyish diffidence tho Piantagenct oath: I, Edward, Prince of Wales, do become your liege man of life and limb, and of earthly worship, and faith and truth I will bear unto you, to live and die. against all manner of folks ... So help me God.

A thrill of sympathy sufficing to bring tears to many eyes ran through those who saw and heard him. Tho Prince should hav-e leaned forward, os the Archbishop had done, to salute the King, but the King at this moment, with an impulse of fatherly affection, kissed tho boy and dismissed him with a little pat on the cheek. It gave to tho whole service just that touch of humanity and tenderness which would otherwise have been lost to view in all the splendour of kingly ‘pomp and circumstance. It detracted nothing from the splendour, but it made tho King more real.