THE HOUSE OF COMMONS MACE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17182, 27 October 1923, Page 7 (Supplement)

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS MACE.

The Rouse of Commons Mate has an interesting history attached to it, Vor a long time i,t was believed that, when Oliver Cromwell dissolved the Long Parliament and bade a soldier “ take away that fool's bauble,” the Mace had gone for good. It wn s said l to liavc been removed to -Jamacia and used in the Assembly there. The facts are that the Charles T. Mace, be nig an emblem of Royal authority, was removed within a few days aite*- the execution of that monarch.'and has not been heard of since. A new Mare was ordered to b» made bv nn« Thomas Maundy, and was first used o„ June Btli. 1649. and it was continued in use un.il Cromwell dissolved the Long Parliament on April 20th. 1653. Its reappearance was made during the Bareb6r.es Parliament, and probabW during other Commonwealth Parlia marts. On May 21st. 1660. at tb» Restoration, new Maces were ordered to be made for the two Houses But this order was not literallv carried out. The Commonwealth Maces were converted by carefully eliminating all the emblems and devices of Common wealih authority and adding the Roval emblems. The shaft of the Marc now in use is. therefore, identically the same as the one Cromwell ordered to lie removed in 1053. It is a tradition that the Mace should be jeuilt at the end of every Parliament. No business can be done in the Commons without the Mace. it goes away with the Speaker and comes hack with him When the Mace is on the table the Commons is a House : when under the table, it is a committee.