MISSIONS AFIELD

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19462, 29 December 1934, Page 7

MISSIONS AFIELD

ENVOY OF THE KING t DUKE’S MANY DUTIES JAPAN AND AFRICA VISITED THE DUTIES LAID -BY TIIE KiNG -niton the Duke 'Of Gloucester have i'll him lo picturesque -scenes wil'nin iiK'l wiMiouL Die Empire. Tiio Duke i;.:- acquired a particularly thorough knowledge of Africa, paving visited iiTT-ially Kenya and Die adjoming Stale o> Abyssinia, and having paid an unofficial visit to the Sudan to liunt big fame. He has traversed Canada, and visited Japan as- Hie King's representative to present the Emper -r with Hie Insignia of a Knight of Hie Carter. In July. 102-4, -Prince Henry made his first offl'Cia'l visit overseas, going to France. The Prince’s personality made Die -liappies-t impression upon Hie people of Paris, who admired his fine physique-, his pleasant manners, and Ills obvious appreciation of all he saw. Visit to Kenya. In September. 1028, the Duke of Gloucester, as Prince Henry bad become on 'll is 2 Sil.li birthday, set sail for Kenya (British East Africa), accompanied by Hie Prince of Wales. In Kenya they wore lo -pari company, -the Duke selling out on a limiting expedition. whilst Hie Prince ail.l ended lo various official mailers. At Nairobi Hie ■Princes were greeted by Hie greales-t 'gathering of native cliids ever seen in Africa, and wil-iiessp-d 'g-reait native dances. When at length Hie Duke set, out an safari his whole -parly, purlers inirliideid, numbered no -more Ilian Ihirly. Nevertheless, Hie Duke bad greater sii-rres's Ilian many Who hail -set out with more ambitious expeditions. Uu-

ortunately, Hie safari was cut short >y the news of the King’s illness. Mission to Japan. in Marc-li, 1929, the Duke of Gloucester went to Japan as the King’s representative to present the Emperor with the Insignia of a Knight of the Garter. The Emperor of Japan was already the senior General Officer on the active 'list of the British Army, and he held the Grand! 'Gross of Hie Bath and I lie Grand Gross of the Victorian Order. The Knighthood of Hie Garter is the highest decoration the Sovereign of England ran bestow upon a-foreign monarch. It is always given in person, either 'by l-be Sovereign, or toy a member of the Royal Family acting for the Sovereign. Tokyo did its utmost to welcome Hie Duke, and was draped with (lags and banners bearing'messages of welcome and of friendship towards Great Britain. Sometimes knowledge-of the English language was not quite 'equal ‘to the warmth of Hie sentiments expressed, and the Duke still tells with amusement of one banner bearing Hie words: ‘‘God Help Hie Duke.” The -principal ceremony had been fixed for the day after his arrival, and shortly after .10 o’clock the Duke and his suite set out for the Imperial Palace. Punctually at 1 i o’clock the door of Hie Throne-room was Hung open, and Hie Emperor entered, preceded toy Hie Master of Ceremonies and accompanied by the Grand Chamberlain and oilier members of bis suite. His Majesty wore the traditional dress for such or cars ions, kivco-broe-ches, white -c-filc hose, and white shoes wild red heels. , , , „ .Vs soon as the Emperor had- ascended the Throne, a hand began very slowly ;md solemnly to play the British National Anthem ami Hie Duke ol Glo-urewler and his suite made I heir ent-ranre. Duo by one Sir John I ill ex presented lliein to Hie Emperor, Hie Duke lining the last to approach Ihe Throne, When be was '.six -pares 'distant lie bowed low, again making a pro fan ini obeisance at the steps of the Throne. Presentation of Order. Standing -before the. Emperor, the Duke read an autograph tetter from

•King G&orge, which was interpreted iby a high Court official and afterwards (handed toy ithe Duke to His Majesty, who expressed deep appreciation of the high honour bestowed upon him. Then the Duke, having explained the meaning and history of the Order, knelt with one knee upon a ■cushion and placed' the Garter on His Majesty’s left leg, afterward presenting the other Insignia.

After” formal messages had been exchanged, the Duke drove back to the Kasumigasekl Palace, and there awaited the visit of the Emperor. Less than ■half an hour later the Emperor set out to confer upon the Duke the highest Japanese decoration, that of the Grand Order” of the Chrysanthemum with collar. Coronation In Abyssinia. In 1930 the Duke of Gloucester un» dertook one (of the strangest, most arduous, and yet most Interesting of ■the duties he had been called upon to execute up to that date- The occasion was the 'Coronation of Ras Tatar!, King of _'Abyssinia,' King of Ethopla, "the Conquering Lion of Juda, and the 'Elect of God,” at which the Duke was to represent the King. i The Duke was housed in a palace, magniflcient from the point of view of Its ancient architecture, but as regards comfort and convenience rather behind the times. 1 The domestic arrangements were in charge of a German cook, and, using a cook’s prerogative, she quarrelled with the Abyssinian 'servants.' On ihe morning after the Duke’s arrival there was a tremendous uproar .in the kitchen, and the quarrel even spread into the Duke’s dining-room, where he was patiently waiting for something to eat. The Duke tried to make, peace, •tout it was without avail, and in spite of all entreaties the .cook packed and ‘left. As there appeared to be no prospect of a meal, the Duke called his car, took his gun, and went, out into the 'bush to shoot something for the pot:

Sceptre Presented,

.Cta the day of the coronation RaS Tafari and Queen Waizairo drove to,, the Cathedral in a -coach drawn toy six white Arab horses, the Queen in a robe of silver, and the escort, on mules, , wearing lions’ skins over their shoulders. The ceremony -occupied an hour, and then the Emperor was presented with the orb, sp-urs, sword and spear which are the emblems of lii-s high office. Then, as Ras Tafari sat on his throne, homage was done to him < ,V by the Ministers and dignitaries of his country. Presents were given. Oo behalf of Great Britain Hie Duke ot Gloucester handed to the Eim-peror a ■sceptre of solid gold, 27 inches long. Dn one side was inscribed, ‘‘Etlicpia. shall make tier hands reach unto God," and on Hie oilier, “The Sceptre of the King of the Kings of Etho-pia.” The top of the shaft was finished) with a seat, and above was a golden cross, in which a single carbuncle was set. The Duke also handed to the Empress a present from Queen Mary. This was a sceptre of gold and ivory, the shaft being in the form of a spray of lilies, viHi a spray of lilies in bloom at the op.'