HISTORIC RELICS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 54, Issue 3899, 10 May 1937, Page 10 (Supplement)

HISTORIC RELICS

OUR CORONATION CHAIR AND STONE. (By H. A. M.) The eyes of the world are being focused upon an ancient Coronation chair. Now we of all people are most fortunate in possessing such a chair. On August 4, 1914, it was one of the many historic things singled out for destruction, dud it was upon that date that a time bomb was hung upon its side, but In some mysterious way the GOO year old chair suffered a violent fall instead of being blown to pieces. Over two years afterwards, when we had the privilege of visiting Westminster Abbey, the wall still bore visible evidence of the violence of that bomb. Our guide introduced us to the Coronation Stone, and commenced to rehearse in our ears some of the old legends associated with the same. “This, gentlemen (according to tradition) was the stone upon which Jacob's head was reposing when he had the marvellous dream of the ladder ascending up to heaven, and afterwards he anointed it with oil. It was taken down into Egypt, when he was compelled to leave Palestine through a. severe famine. It remained in Egypt for 400 years. When the Children of Israel left Egypt to reconquer Palestine the stone was carried with them, and on one occasion, when the Israelites were perishing for want of water, Moses received the Divine command to strike the rock they were carrying, and out of it flowed a bountiful supply of water.” • This old legend proved too much for one of our party, who asked our guide if he had ever read Mark Twain’s book on the “Innocents Abroad.” ft was then that we discovered that our guide was none other than a professor Irotn the London University who had most generously volunteered to show soldiers on leave some of the historic sights of London. The professor, in the most cordial manner, took up the challenge given by our comrade and showed from thp stone itself what evidence could be found thereon to prove that the tradition was not all myth. He drew from his pocket the most powerful magnifying glass we had ever seen, and foscusing it upon the stone, showed us its grain and colour, assuring us that some of the world s most noted geologists had done likewise; they had also brought stone from every conceivable part of Scotland, and had failed to find anything there geologically the same, and that it was not until they went back to Palestine—the place of Jacob’s dream —that they found stone of the same colour and texture. Our newly found friend next pointed to the roughly drilled holes, one in each end, explaining that it was into each of these holes a piece of steel had been thrust and the ends welded into rings. He assured us that it was recently discovered that these rings were made of mild rustless steel, and that experts were unanimous in declaring that those rings were not the workmanship of any Scotsman, for Scotland has never produced any steel of the same, quality. He went on to say that rustless steel was known to the ancient Egyptians, but had become a lost art, and that steel which corresponded with the rings in the stone had been found in the old tombs of Egypt. He further pointed out the size of the rings, and detailed how it was possible to place a pole two inches in diameter

through each of the rings along the top of the stone, allowing two men to carry the same with ease. Even without the aid of a magnifying glass we could - see that those rings showed positive evidence of wear. The professor told us that the stone hac not been carried by these rings for over 2000 years, so the possibility of the sacred record of the stone being carried through the wilderness was thrust home to our minds in a real way . One of our party asked the professor it he thought Scotland would ever assert herself and claim back the stone. He told us that it was not likely, for they would be unable to keep it; most of the agitation about Scotland claiming the stone came from Ireland. He further stated that the University of Dublin had ancient records (which he had had the privilege of handling) that gave to Ireland the prior right to the stone. These records gave the history of the bringing of the stone to Ireland by a Hebrew princess of royal blood about 600 B.C. He then went on to tell us that the stone had been in its present position for over 600 years, and prior to that it was 800 years in Soctland and 1100 years in Ireland. Our professor admitted that the stone was brought to Scotland by a progressive Irishman, who conquered some of the country made famous by tile birth of Robert Burns, and when ho had established himself he sent back to Ireland for the stone, and was crowned sitting upon the same. Many of the Kings of Scotland have done likewise until Edward the First, after his victory at Dunbar, inarched to the Abbey at Scone, and carrying away the stone had it built into the Royal chair which is to be used shortly at the Coronation.