THE CORONATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 103, 21 June 1911, Page 5

THE CORONATION.

o A GREAT PAGEANT. AN IDEA OF THE DECORATIONS. By Electric Telegraph—Copyright United Press Association. (Received 21, 8.55 a.in.) London, June 20. The decorations and illuminations in preparation lor the Coronation aic being completed, and winged statues of uctorys, carrying the shields ol British Kings. Near the New Zealand arch, the province of Ontario has, elected a handsome platform showing a rainier shearing a sheep, and tin, word “prosperity,” with tiic horn ol plenty. Fleet Street is decorated and wreathed, many masts carrying festoons ol evergreens with alternate lions and unicorns. , The" newspaper offices in particular have elaborate decorations. Alain banks, insurance companies, and clubs are spending £SOO each. Iho Westminster City Council is spending £IO,OOO in the decorations of Whitehall, including the transplanting of the electric standard iu order not to obstruct the precession. Whitehall is being decorated with columns 35 feet high, surmounted with while lions, and caiiyuig a portcullis and griffins and illuminations. ’ St. Paul's. Church Ward is decorated with the shields and banners of patron saints of Ike United Kingdom. In the city, lingo flower bolls are hung at Chcapside, recalling’ Bow Bells. i'iio Bank of England is outlining its columns to the roof and its architectural hues with five thousand lamps. The Mansion House is similarly outlined with amber and green lights. .Mansion House Square is decorated with Corinthian columns, bearing the Ciiflihs (Arms of London). The business houses in the city are decorated with crystal crowns and Royal monogiaplis,' some costing as much as £2UL each. There is a beautiful labur-num-colour scheme in King William Street, leading to London Bridge, wl c-re an elaborate scheme of lattice .pilasters is connected by festoons of purple urstaria STRATFORD’S CELEBRATIONS. Mr J. Masters, Mayor of Stratford, asks us to specially remind our readers that the Coronation service will lie held in the Town Hall if the weather is wet. Ho also requests that the Coronation decorations he kept up until after Saturday next, that day being Hospital Saturday. (“Illustrated London Nows.”) KING GEORGE V. The Arc of Petrol. ' The reign of George V., whoso coronation will take place to-morrow, will be known as the Ago of Petrol, fo; that motive power bids fair to see extraordinary developments in the immediate future. Applied first to the service of luxurious travel it is being extended to every depart.went r F loco* motion. Not only for +t -crfcctlynponintod Daimler car of the monarch, but for the farm-waggon and the motor noat, the military transport-waggon and -iC commercial delivery-van, not to mention the taxi-cab, petrol is the driving-power. .More wonderful and important still to the progress oi science is the fact that petrol hagiven ns the key to the conquest o the air; for it has made it possibl to construct an engine sufficiently light, vet sufficiently powerful, to solve the problem of flight. Before many years are over, wo may see a practical realisation of Kipling’s dream—the flight of the night mail (a compromise between the aeroplane and the dirigible baloon) from London to Quebec in twelve hours. Tho Lcgond of Westminster Abbey. The main interest of English Coronations centres in Westminster Abbey, the epitome and focus of our national history. Its origin is veiled in fantastic but pleasing myths, but its name is clearly a distinction from the eastern Cathedral, St. Paul’s. There are legends of one Sebcrt, a pious founder, first Christian King of the East Saxons; but lie is confused with one Scbert, a plain citizen of London, whoso tomb is still to ho seen. It is, however, with Sebert’s monastery on Thorncy Island that the story or the miraculous consecration of St. Peter’s Church is associated. In the year (310, Sebert’s church was ready for consecration by Mellitus, Bishop of London. On the Sunday night the evo of the ceremony, a poor fisherman, Edric, casting Ids nets, heard a voice calling him from file Lambeth shore, and found a man in foreign garb, who begged to bo ferried over. Edric landed ids passenger, and while waiting to row him back, lie saw lights streaming from the windows of the new church and heard angelic singing. Thereupon bo saw a vision of angels ascending and descending i ladder, which stretched from heaven to earth, and in due time the stranger reappeared and revealed himself as St. Peter, come to consecrate his church. Edric, who had toiled all night and caught nothing, was biddc\n to let down his nets again, and he would have a plentiful haul of sal mon. -St. Peter further bade him take a salmon in bis hand as a gift to Mellitus when ho should come next day jto consecrate the church. Edric wa’s to tell the Bishop St. Peter had already done tiio -vie, and according to one version ... Uie legend the Saint appointed a tithe of salmon to the Abbot, and charged the good man to fish no more on Sunday. Next morning, when Mellitus and Sober! arrived, Edric presented Ids lisii, and showed the astonished King and Prolate the consecration crosses on the walls, the moisture of tho holy water, the'Greek alphabet traced noon the sand, and the remains of the candles —proofs of the Saint’s visit. Tho Legend of the Stone; and tbs Coronation. Chair. Nearly everyone, whether ho has visited the Abbey or not, must be familiar with the appearance of this remarkable relic, for onr earliest his tory-books, however barren otherwise of illustration, nearly always contain a picture of the Coronation Chair and Stone. The Chair, of a (plaint Gothic design, would lie venerable enough for its ago and' associations; but the Stone of Destiny, which it encloses, is far more romantic in its suggestion. The popular legand that it was Jacob’s pillow at. Bethel is a comparatively young and foolish story, which seems to have been invented in fulsome flattery of James (Jacobus) I. But the history of the Stone takes us back to the dim twilight of Celtic myth and oven far earlier. The story is this: Gatliclus, son of Cocrops, builder of Athens, took to wilt Pharaoh’s daughter Scota, whose ncart had been touched by Moses’ preaching. To escape the Egyptian plagues they removed to Spain, talcing with them the stone on which Jacob slept at Bethel. Some hold that the Stone resembles that o' Porapey’s Pillar at Alexandria; others that it came from the neighbourhood ol Dimstafi’nago Castle. Obviously Bethel is, as wo have shown, a late interpolation. To continue, Gathelus built Compostella (the association with St. James is at least remark-

able), and “sale as King upon his marble chair in Brigantia.” His son Hybcrus carried the Stone into Inland, and it served for ages as the inauguration scat of Irish monarchs at Tara. Fergus took it to Argyllshire, as a bond of union with the Scots of the mainland, and in lona it was again used as an inaugural throne. The history of the Stone after its arrival at lona may bo taken as in tho main authentic. Tho dying Columbia laid his head upon it, and in 850 A.n. Kenneth found it at Dun stall'll age and brought it to Scone. Enclosed in a wooden chair, it served for four centuries and a half as the Coronation-seat of Scottish Kings. But in 1296 Edward Longshanks, “besyde mony othir crucltis,” took the “said chair of morby 11 out of Scone to Loudon, and put (it) into Wcstmonistar, quhaor it remains to onr dayis.” It is said that tho Stone groans when a rightful Sovereign sits'on it, and that it is silent under a iisuper, Tho Seoul, on losing their mystical emblem, obtained from Rome a Coronation Order, first used for David I. Although the ietnrn of the Stone was ardently desired, the Londoners would never permit it to bo ’sent North again. Edward I. dedicated it to the Confissor, and set it beside his hilar in tile Abbey. In 1300 lie had a chair made intended to be of bronze, but the -wooden model still retains tho Stone. 0::ee elaborately ornamented wtb diaper and gcssDwork and heraldic blazonry, the Chair, is now sadly defaced with the carvon names of obscure Vandals. The most interesting of these outrages is that recording how a Westminster Schoolboy, locked up all night, in the Abbey, slept in the Chair. Jit Coronations It is covered with cloth-of-gold. A smaller replica of the Chair was made for tho use of Mary 11. at her Coronation as joint-Sovoreign with William 111. It should be noted that the verse given in tiio border of the page dealing with tho Legend of tiio Stone is from a manuscript in tho Bodleian Library, and implies that’ the possessor of tho Stone will ho conqueror of many strange lands, a prophecy the truth of which lias been proved by the number of the lands over which the King rules. The Indian Army. The Indian Army represents 300,000 men, one to every thousand of the population. And of this number there arc but 78,000 British soldiers —in tho midst of a population different in blood, characteristics, religion, thought, and 300 millions strong. This army is made up, in addition to tho British Regulars, of 160,000 natives, 35,000 efficient Reserves, 20,000 Imperial Service troops furnished by the rulers of tho Native States, 37,000 and odd European and Eurasian Volunteers. It is a different; army from that which King Edward, as Prince of Wales, saw. • Lord Kitchener has left bis impress upon it, •ad the King will bo the first of our 'loyal House to see for himself what ih, changes moan which tho man of iron has introduced. .ij King’s Robes. On the morning of his Coronation tho King in former times was dressed by the Lord Great Chamberlain in a siiirt of white silk and a close-fitting coat of red sarcenet. r liio shirt vas at first close and was torn open for tho Anointing, but later it was made with slits and loops at the breast, alb. ws, and.-shoulders. The King ilso wore silk brooches and stockings, iml over all a Royal Crimson Robe if State'. The undergarments aro jomewhat modified to-day,- but the Crimson State Robe is still worn on fclie way to the Abbey. There is no change of raiment until just before the annoiiiting* when the Sovereign is ■tripped of his Crimson Robe of State. Artur the Anointing the King used to wear a doif of fine.lawn on ids bead for eight days and a pair of linen gloves. Tho Colobinni Sindonis or Linen Alb, is how put on, and over it tiic Suportunica, or Dalmatic, or close pall, and tho Girdle witn angers. Tissue hose or buskins and Sandals of Cloth-of-Gold should follow, but these have not boon worn since George 11. 'lho nex vestment to bo delivered (after tho King has been girt with the sword) is tho Arndl (not to bo confused with the “Armilioe” or bracelets), of cloth-of-gold, shaped like a stole. Queen Victoria’s was adorned with eagles. Last of all the King is arrayed in tec imperial Mantle or Pallium, a garment four-square and buckled in front like a cope. It is of rich cloth-of-gold. The Pallium of George V. will ho that worn by King George IV. at his Coronation. This mantle is changed for the Royal Robe of Purple Velvet when the Sovereign leaves the Abbey. LOOK ING BACK WARDS. KING EDWARD’S CORONATION. Tho late King Edward VII. was crowned in June, 1902, and in some respects tho great ceremony of tomorrow will greatly resemble the function referred to. Then tiio Earl Marshall of England the Duke of Norfolk was primarily responsible for all the arrangements .and claims for privileges or services at tho Coronation had been considered by a Court presided over by tho Lord Chancellor, and specially constituted for the p.iruosc. All claims wore to bo sent <’n before Oct. 31st, and it was intimated by the Lord Chancellor that any claim admitted at the Coronation of the Into Queen Victoria would bo admitted at once on proper evidence of succesyoa to the right. Westminster Abney will bo closed for some months before tho Coronation, while tho preparations in tho interior are being made; uid the King and Queen will rehearse with tho Dean and Chapter the parts they aro to take. Details as to the composition and order of tho Coronation procession from Buckingham Falaco to tho Abbey, and back after the ceremonies, will bo published m duo course. II the precedent of the last three Coronations—and especially that of William IV. and bis Consort in 1831—are . followed (as it is slated on the host authority they will bo), tho ceremony may ho fairly coricctly forecasted.

'I lit; an angomcnts in the interior of the Abbey were ;it tlio throe Inst Coronations practically tlio same. A platform 20 feet in width will extend .dong tlio nave from near the west cntiance to the choir. (Cilleries will be erected in the side aisles, and seats will be placed in the “vaultings” or ‘'mimicries” above those aisles. In ’.‘VI those were built by private speculators on contract with tlio Doan and Chapter. I'Vmn the choir all the stalls ind reading-desks will ho removed and the platfonr. continued down the c \- tre, and five rows of seats will he raised on each side lor (.he reception ol the judges, Knights of the Hath, tiic Lord Mayor and City Corpora Lion, and some of those who Lock put in tiio procession. Ahovo dieso, in HI, were two other galleries, one even with the organ loft and the oilier ahovo it. In the space in front of the chancel, and where the •Turn is intersected by the north and south transepts, will ha a raised dais 01 platform, called the “theatre,” and on this will he the thrones—the King’s elevated on five steps and the Queen’s on three steps, and covered with cloth-of-gnld. The transepts v, ill contain galleries for peers and

peeresses. Iu ’3l tho number of piivilcgcd scats was calculated to be S;’UII. Above tho organ will bo a galleiy for the members or the House ol Commons, tho Speaker, with Ins emblems of office, being seated iu a state chair in tho centre. _ A gallery lor Foicign Ministers will also be provided in the north transept. I’uruio, blue, crimson, and gold cloth will no freely used for drapery. In ’3l pages of the Earl Marshall, about lolly in number, conducted privileged visitors to their scats. They were gentlemen who volunteered their services, and wore costumed at their own expense, each being provided with a gold stall bearing the arms of the Earl Marshall-. Heralds were also in attendance to marshal tiio procession and precede it. On the arrival of their Majesties at the western entrance, they will be received by the great officers of State, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the noblemen bearing tb- regalia, and the bishops. The lathe* and officers of tho Royal HouschoL to whom duties are not assigned il tho solemnity will pass at once to the places prepared For them in the choir. Their Majesties, having put on their robes of crimson ami ermine, will pass up the nave from tiic west door to the choir and thence to the “theatre” in a procession which will lie uniqpe in its grandeur nod magnificence, the choirs of tho Chapel Royal, of Wcstm.in.ctor Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral, who will ho stationed in an orchestra, singing the anthem “I was glad when they said unto mo. Wo will go into the house oi the Lord.” Tho procession will be headed by the Pursuivants of Arms and the Kings of Arms in their tabards,, and will include tho Archbishops and sonic Bishops, and the Lord Chancellors of England and Ireland, Royal Dukes in their robes, and the Prime Minister The Queen precedes tiio King rn theprocession. Besides her royal robes she wears a circlet of gold, and her train is borne by the Mistress oi the Robes, and six daughters of Earls, who aro followed by Ladies of the Bedchamber in Waiting and Maids of Honour. Before Her Majesty is carried the Queen’s regalia—viz. the ivory rod with the Dove and the seep lire with the Gross; and before the King, who follows after an interval, his regalia and the Sword of State, tho sceptre with the Dove, St. Edward’s Crown, the Orb (borne by nobles) and the Patina, the Bible, and the Chalice, each .carried by a bishop. His Majesty, besides bis crimson robes, wears his Cap of State, and his train is borne by marquises and carls, assisted by the Master'of the Robes. He is also attended by Gold Stick of fclio Life Guards in Waiting, the Master of tiio Horse, the Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard, the Master of the Buckhnunds, the Keeper or the Privy Purse, etc. The Quovn for her on the theatre until tho King reaches the similar chair reserved fci Inm, both chairs facing tho altar. Hie King has on his right tho grout. Officers of State, the nobleman bearing his regalia the Dean of Westminster Gaiter and Black Rod standing about tho, King’s chair and the train-bear-ers bcliinc: His Majesty. The Queen lias a similar group of supporters around her. The Archbishop of Canterbuiv I who next to the Sovereign plars lh» most prominent part in the Coronation ceremonies) then makes “The Recognition” of the King four times from the theatre, each demand being greeted with loud acclaims of “God save King George V.!” and at the last recognition trumpets sound and drums aro beaten. After the Litany has been said the King and Ouoom make, separately, and _ I-necling before the altar, their “first offering” —viz., an id tar-cloth of gold, and the King also an ingot of gold, 11b in weight, which the Archbishop of Canterbury places in the oblation basin, the pit]] of gold being laid on the altar.' His Grace meantime says the prayer, “O God, who dwebost in fch chairs. Tho communion serv.ma is high and holy place.” The King and Queen then return to ifio-r Stale commenced, and the sermon by the Bishop of London follows 4he Coronation Oath is then administered to the King by the Archbishop ol Canterbury, which he receives kneeling before the altar and with his hand upon tho holy Gospels. Ho appends to tho form of oath bis Royal sign mahuel. The hymn, “Come, Holy Ghost, onr souls inspire;” follows, tiio anthem “Zadok the Priest.” Then conies the ceremony of anointing. The King’s crimson robe and cap of State aro removed; ho is seated in King Edward’s Chair. Four Iv.G.’s hold over the King’s ho:'.d a pall of gold. Tho Doan pours from an ampulla some consortated nil iV.ro Alie anointing spoon, and the Archbishop, with appropriate words, Majesty on the head and banci- o tho form of a cross. After an interval the Queen, kneeling before Die altar, is similarly anointed, hut three noble ladies bold the pall ol golc. <>' ei her head. After the King has been anointed his heels arc touched v. M n the Golden Spurs, which are taken from the altar and replaced there The Sword of Kingship is then dolivored by tho Archbishop into ihc King’s right hand, with the words, “With this sword do justice. 1.-e King returns it to the A'mihish and it is laid upon the altar; and His Majesty is then invested by tnc Dean of Westminster with tiio Imperial mantle or Dalmatic robe ol cloth-of-gold. The orb is aU) placed in the !\lnc.’s right hand, ami on the li.urt.h huger -.1 that blind a ruby ring. The sceptre with tho cross is them put into lus right hand, and tbu with the Dove into lus lelt hand. Now comes tho central act ol the ceremonies-viz., the crowning «>J t-ic Kiti.r. Ibe ciown, winch has hem resting on Hw, altar is consecrated and blessed by the mArJiM.slicp • u placed on H : s Majesty b beau save the King!” will then be shouted by the assembly, trumpets will sound and drums lie beaten. Cannon will probably also be lirod m ddierent parts of London by signal. Ihe Ah hbishnp pronounces tho exhortation, “Hd strong and of good courage, ami “Tho King shall rejoice m Iby strength, O Lord” is rendered by tnc choirs. The crowning <>l the Queen follows, her anointment and tiic placing of a ruby ring by the Archbishop upon the fourth linger ol Ikm iighu hand. Tho sceptre with the Cross is placed in her right hand, and the ivory rod with the Dove in her lc.it. Tho"“Hallelujah Chorus” is sung, and tho Queen conducted back to her throne.

When tho King has been crowned, the Princes of the Blood Royal and the Peers pnt on their coronets, the Bishops their caps, and tho Kings ol Arms their crowns. i he crowning ol the Queen is the signal For a similar action on the part of Royal and noble ladies.' After the King has boon crowned tho Bible is placed in Jus hand. Tho To Deuvn Is sung, and tho King is formally enthroned. Homage is then paid to Mis Majesty by the Archbishops and Bishops (who kiss his left check), by tho Princes of tho Blood Royal, and by Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Viscounts, and Barons. The Holy Sacrament is then administered to the King and Queen; fclio Archbishop reads tho rest of tho Communion service, and pronounces the Messing. Trumpets again sound, and drums are beaten. The King ar?cl Queen now descend from their thrones and in St. Edward’s Chapel tho King is disrobed of his crimson velvet robe,

which is replaced hy a Royal robe oi purple velvet. The leaving oi the Chapel hy .tueir Majesties will he the signal for the procession which had escorted them to the Abbey to trove on its return. On leaving the Abbey their Majesties will wear their crowns, tho J King will hear in his right hand fj'fl r.coptre with the Cross and the orb, and the Queen the sceptre with the Cross and the ivory rod with the dove, the Royal Princes and Princesses and Peers and Peeresses wearing their coronets. On the arrival of the King and Queen outside the western entrance to the Abbey the King’s stylo and titles will ho proclaimed as foil iws“Georgius Y. Dei gratia Britanuianim ct terrarnm transmarir.arum qnao in ditiono sunt Pritannica Rex. hide! Defensor, Indiao Jmpcrator.” EARLIER CERE?* 1 !OKIES. 'RICHARD 11. Th? Coronation of Richard 11. took place i. *t mo IGtii .Inly, 1377, and a brier description of the ceremony may illustrate the customs of those times. The Prince, then in his twelfth year, passed from the 'lower of London to the Abbey under a canopy of bine silk, borne on spears of silver by the barons of the Cinque Ports. In tlio market at Chcapside was erected by the merchants a building in the form of a castle, out of which ran two streams of wine. On each of the four turrets of the tower was placed a girl dressed isi white, and of the came age as the King. As tire monarch approached, the girls blew towards him shreds of gold-leaf; then showered upon him (lowers made of j>apcr; and, coming down, helped him and his attendants to vine out of cups of gold. To conclude this loyal exhibition, a female representing an angel descended from the summit of the castle and offered to the King a golden crown. QUEEN ELIZABETH. On Sunday, January 15, 1559, the Coronation of Queen Elisabeth took place, and her progress through the city was marked hy superb pageants. On her arrival at Temple Bar “Gogmagng,” and “Flcorinaous”—two historical giants—wore seen over the gate, with a label, whereon was written in Latin verso “The effect, of-all the pageants which the city had he-, fore erected.” 'Alien the Queen was being solemnly conducted through the city of London, a boy, who personated “Truth,” was let down from one of tiio triumphal arches and presented her with a copy of the Bible. When, upon her having given liberty to the prisoners who had been eonlined on account of their religions belief, she was, told hy one Rainsford that lie had a petition to present on behalf of other prisoners, called Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, she said she must consult the men themselves and learn ol them whether they desired the liberty which had been asked for them. ' Queen Elizabeth refused to lie called the head oi the church, as she contended it was a title that could not be given to any mortal. An early writer states that, the reigns of Elizabeth and Anno formed the brightest annals of English literature, and a hope was expressed that the reign of Queen \ ict.oria would he as resplendent in the advancement of knowledge, and as glorious and happy in the prosperity of her people. That this hope was more than justified is now history.