Crowning of the Queen Ancient Custom of Maori Interest is Anointing with Oil at …. The Queen of England is the only monarch now ruling to be anointed with oil at her Coronation. This means the British monarchy is the only one now left which has a Coronation custom going back in direct line to the days of Saul who, when found by Samuel as he searched for his father's asses, was anointed by him in a city in the land of Zuph. Centuries ago, so it is told, Kings of England were anointed with oil given to St. Thomas of Canterbury by the Virgin Mary herself. This oil was contained in an ampulla shaped like a golden eagle, just as is the one used to-day. Why does a priest who wishes to pour the blessing and consecration of God over a King or Queen use oil? This question brings us back to very old days and ideas—ideas which are still very familiar to Maori leaders to-day. It was believed that the anointing oil had a healing power, and that the natural healing power believed to be possessed by Kings and Ampulla and anointing spoon used at the Coronation. Queens was stimulated and strengthened by the anointing. In the Middle Ages, several British Sovereigns gave a considerable amount of time and energy to the use of their healing powers. They cured by the laying on of hands. There were fixed times for doing it. The number of patients was so great that the strain on the King must have been very exhausting. Obviously, this institution could not have gone on if there had not been a good number of cures. One gland disease called scrofula seemed especially curable by royal power; it used to be known as the King's Evil. We are far away from London and were not able, most of us, to witness the sacred ceremonial of the Coronation. In England, many people were able to see the ceremony through television; this was allowed after, it seems, some protest by palace authorities who were reluctant to allow the sacred scene to be broadcast all over the world. In New Zealand, in place of television, films are being shown allowing us all to be present in spirit, at least. In addition, of course, local celebrations were held all over the country. Maoris were included in the New Zealand contingent attending the Coronation in London. Certain Maoris were selected specifically to represent their own race at the Coronation: one from K-Force, one from the Air Force, two Army territorials, one Maori ex-serviceman, and