An Empire’s King'.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3251, 23 June 1911, Page 5

An Empire’s King'.

CORONATION OF GEORGE V. AND MARY. A PAGEANT OF UNPARALLELED SPLENDOR. MEMORABLE ROYALTY AND THE NOBILITY. THE WORLD’S METROPOLIS EN FETE IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIAL AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

.[UNITED PRESS June 2Q .

The decorations and illuminations in preparation for the Coronation are be %Z7ltni, insurance companies, and clubs are spending £SOO each on deCO Tta o Westa,nlrr'«rCouneil is spending £lO 000 on the d«oratian of Fl t e h et a Strert o ha? l bcen decorated with wreathed masts, carrying festoons 0t “STewVper otcest !Scito'have "elaborate decorations and illummßt°Paul’s Church-yard has been decorated with shields and banners of flip natron saints of tiro TTmtod Kingdom and tlis ci 3* -n^ne Huae flower bells have been hung in Cheapside, recalling the Bow Bells. Thoßank of England is outlining its columns, roof, and architectural lines " House is similarly outlined with amber and green lights. Mansion House Square is decorated with Corinthian columns, bear“g Business houses in the ci* a™ decocted with crystal mid rojal ."'hmne'from King William Street leading to London bridge, where there is an elaborate scheme of lattice plasters connected by festoons of purple w,steiiaThe King held a reception at Buckingham Palace for foreign envoys and deputations. § Sir Edward Grey and officers of the household were also present. It was a brilliant assembly. Representatives of Japan, China. Tuikey, and Persia brought the King orders. m , v , ‘ A full musical ceremonial rehearsal was held at the Abbey to-day. Three hundred Indian troops inspected the fleet at Spithead and dockyardLondoners' are crowding the sixpenny ’buses for an inspection of the gtar Coronation liner, the Adriatic, lias arrived with 400 New York and Washington society leaders. MILLIONS GATHER IN LONDON. LONDON, June 22. No language can exaggerate the splendor and effect of the great spectacles London “vitnessed to-day. Besides its own population, half as many millions have gathered in to this great city to see the pageant of the Coronation or to take part in the sacred ceremony at Westminster Abbey, as venerations have done before for 800 . , •* • 8 The people of England have been joined m their reverence and rejoicings by Royal princes and Envoys from every part of the world by representatives of venerable empires like China, Japan, by delegates of the East, by the actual presence of Indian princes with pedigrees reaching further back than those of the Guelphs or Stuarts, by representatives of the youngest and advanced democracies, besides those of alien blood who had come to honoi th

EmP The S oSmon brought back to the Homeland those sturdy children of the British race who had built up new States, and new institutions of the parent type wherever the British flag is flown. To forty odd princes, who came from foreign lands, the King’s Coronation was a pageant more magnificent than anv of them could ever have seen. But to thousands of representatives and members of the colonies who are now in London, to-day’s ceremony was not only an act of religious consecration, but of recognition of the kingly tie which welds the Empire together. , „ ~ , London has been preparing for this event for many months, and the experience of the late King Edward’s crowning nine years ago afforded many precedents of detail, but owing to King Edward s serious health the ceremony was somewhat curtailed. . . . . . The Coronation of George V. revealed many features m early usages and Coronation Happily, however, the Coronation banquet was not included. On most occasions when that feast was celebrated it became an orgie and an unworthy supplement to the religious 'ceremonial. The late King Edward’s Coronation offered many precedents for the honoring of visitors, for the street decorations, for the use of the military and police, and the control of the crowd, and these were adopted or improved upon to-day. The decorations were on a lavish scale. lor five miles of the Royal route, everv yard had been subjected to special adornment. There was one exception, the wall from the palace to the new Coronation arch, which gave access to Charing Cross. The north side of this long section was lined with stands, including one of large dimensions, opposite Stafford House, which was ■ mainly devoted to Colonials. WEALTH OF COLOR AND DECORATION. The whole avenue of trees were in their June verdure, and required only a few colored flags or masts to supplement the beauty of the Park, but from Charing Cross to the Abbey there was a wealth of ornamentation, .hrom Charing Cross to the War Office there were masts bearing shields, amid the National flags connected by garlands. In Whitehall, Coronation pillars carrying the armorial bearings of all the Sovereigns from William the. Conqueror, were connected with green festoons, and in the centre of Whitehall New Zealand’s triumphal arch, designed by Mr: Frank Brangwyn, was gay with the Dominion’s new coat of arms, capped by an Imperial Crown decorated with pilanters, bearing medallions of King George and Queen .Mary, the late 1 ing Edward and Queen Victoria, Captain Cook, and Sir Joseph Ward. it is handsome in design, but suffers through being only 35 feet high. A little further south, Ontario had erected two pylons similarly decorated. All Whitehall was a broad sanctuary of masts, festoons, strings of flao-s and bunting of every design flying everywhere. Parliament Square and St.°Margaret’s Churchyard were completely covered by stands, whose sturdy businesslike designs were concealed under scarlet .cloth, flags and floral decoratl°Going back to Charing Cross, on the return journey, the route was along Cockspur Street, Pall Mall Street., James Street, Piccadilly, Constitution Hall to the Palace. In Pall Mall masts had been erected with crowns on them, and carrying the names of the Dominions, and hanging flower baskets arid festoons. This section' of clubland was not so handsome as St. James Street, where there was a fine scheme of .festoons, similar to the decorations in 1902. Picadilly was illuminatad as well as decorated for its entire length, on designs by Mr William Richards, Mr Brangwyn and others. There was no special decoration along Constitution Hill beside above the general scheme, but there were thousands of individual decorations, and some of the bouses were completely garlanded with flowers. There were illuminations on all the - principal buildings and clubhouses on the route, and all the stands were decorated with bunting. ■ _ x . .. , . The public began taking their places at daylight, and by 7 o clock the thoroughfares were becoming impassable. The troops, of whom 60,000 were moving to the line of route, bands of music, with carriages and motors for privileged visitors, made up a scene of striking animation. Not all the peers and peeresses went to the Abbey by vehicle, many of them travelling by special steamer from Chelsea, where they made a strange boatload of brilliant color, for all wore their robes or court suits, and carried their coronets in their Lands. These landed at Westminster pier, and traversed to. the Palace yard. , The entire soldiery were in gala costume, their brilliant uniforms contributing to the pictorial effect. Twenty-five thousand police also helped to preserve order, arid to avoid fatal crushings of people. All the streets debouching upon the route were strongly barricaded, but still the pressure was enormous. Quite twri millions of people came in by road, railway, and steamship for many days before. ' , ... , , ■ . „ Hundreds were foodlesß during the long hours of waiting, but yet all were well behaved, and there were no scenes of vulgarity or violence as at George IV. ’s Coronation, when the very sanctuary at Westminster had to be protected by a bodyguard. ’ . “ * . . , . ‘ \ .. . Then the people, were divided m their allegiance, but everywhere to-day rritense loyalty and enthusiasm were displayed by the crowds, who cheered everybody of note, especially Lord Kitchener, who had control of all the military, and rode up and down the line, inspecting here and rearranging there before taking his most prominent place in the procession, and later fomin’o- in' the Westminster Abbey ceremonial. The Imperial Crown Prince of Germany, who has been more than ever popular with Englishmen since his Indian tour, was delighted with liis cheer, as were others whom the spectators recognised in the stately procession. The work of clearing the streets

and stopping the traffic, both foot and vehicular, was perfectly and completely carried out by 9 a.m. At that hour every part ol the route was a dense mass of color, the shimmer of steel, and expectant people. Those of the regal princes and distinguished representatives who had not been lodged in the Palace had been accommodated at many hotels, ancCsome at private mansions lent to the Crown. All these assembled at the Palace after an early breakfast, and precisely at 9.30 a.m. the procession started for the Abbey.

PROCESSION TO THE ABBEY. There were twenty-four carriages in all, fourteen in the first group, conveying the Royal representatives and guests ranking in precedence, lrom front S to rear. The Prince of Monaco and the representatives of Egypt and Ethiopia led the van, and then came the German princelings, and China s o-ailv dressed ambassadors came next. The Prince and 1 rincess of Saxe Coburg and Baden, King George of Greece, the Duke Saxe Coburg, and Pnnce Henry of the Netherlands. In the seventh landau were the I rench and Bavirian representatives, with Mr. Hayes Hammond from W ashington, the one solitary person amid all the finery of the gala of uniforms who was in plain occupants G f the following carriages, Prince Henry of Prussia, the Kaiser’s brother, was the most conspicuous, and then came the hereditary and Crown princes and princesses; Prince Danibo of Montenegro, the Crown Princes of Sweden and Bavaria, Prince Chakrabonga of Siam, in native dress, and wearing splendid jewels; the Crown Prince of Roumania, Prince Alexander of Servia, and the Crown Prince of Denmark. In a carriage with the Prince and Princess Fushima of Japan were the Crown Prince and Princess of Greece, and next came Duke D Aosta, the Grand Duke Boris, and Spanish Infanta Fernando. In the fourteenth carriage were the German Imperial Prince and Princess, and the Archduke Charles Farneis Joseph of Austria; Prince Youssouf Izedin Effendi, who may some day be Sultan of Turkey. . A , The next section of the procession consisted of five State lanfr/ius, which contained members of our own Royal Family, the Duke and Lucliess of Schleswig Holstein, the Duke and Duchess of Teck, and Prince Henry of Battenburg the Dowager Duchess of Saxe Coburg Gotha, the Duchsss or Albany, the Duke of Connaught and Argyll, Princesses Patricia and Henry of Battenburg, Princess Christian of Schleswig Holstein, and the Pm less Royal, Queen Alexandra, and her daughter Victoria. . The Dowager Empress of Russia went to Sandringham early m the week to correct a silly suggestion that the Queen Mother had withdrawn herself ouf of jealousy or ill-will, an absolutely ridiculous idea it should be called. Crowned personages don’t attend Coronations, for all present must diiectly or indirectly make homage to the new Sovereign. The fifth carriage of tlie Royal section contained the Prince of Wales, and the Princes George, Henry, and Albert, with the Princess Mary. These young people were recognised along the entire route, and wildly cheered. Next to their parents none got such a tumultuous reception. The third, or King’s section of the procession left the Palace at 10.30 a.m., escorted by the Royal Horse Guards. After the four landaus containing the Maids of Honor, Grooms, Chamberlains, and Lords-in-Waiting, came the last, conveying Lord Spencer, the Lord Chamberlain, and laird Chesterfield ; the Lord Steward, the Countess of Minto, Lady-in-Waiting, the Duchess of Devonshire, • Mistress of the Robes, the most important officials in the Queen’s service, and who played a leading part at her Majesty’s right hand in all to-day’s ceremonies. The Colonial contributions to this part of the day’s proceedings was not very strong. Twenty-five Australian officers and non-commissioned officers formed the guards within the Palace or were on street duty, and the Australian cadets assisted in lining the route not far away. A strong Canadian contingent, over 600, lined part of the Mall, and sixteen officers on duty, under Colonel Baucliop, formed a guard near Queen Victoria’s new memorial, with a detachment of Australian bluejackets who are undergoing training here.

When the landaus swept by, there came into view the most picturesque section of the procession—a Navy and Army escort of nearly 200 men best known in the service. There were aides-de-camp, general officers, inspectorsgeneral, and Field-marshals Wood, Grenfell, and Roberts, members of the War Office, members of the Army Council, a crowd of marshallmen, equerries, and escorts of colonial cavalry and Indian cavalry. Colonel Heaton Rhodes, Major Percy Johnson, of New Zealand, was included in this brilliant cavalcade of brilliant uniforms, which made up a striking scene of color which stood markedly out, even amid the blaze and glitter of the surrounding scene, which was one of animation.

Behind this magnificent procession there rolled along the old Royal coach, immediately surrounded by an escort of guards, followed by the bronzed, manly figure of Lord Kitchener with the Royal Standard, occupying the place of honor next his Sovereign. The King wore a military uniform, and the Queen was in a Duchesse satin Coronation gown of the Princess pattern, and wearing the “Marys” gift, with The Garter on her arm. Their Majesties had a splendid ovation, which it is impossible to describe. Both looked radiantly happy. Lord Kitchener rode at the hind wheel of the State coach, with the Duke of Connaught and Prince Arthur of Connaught as their equerries. Then came Prince Louis of Battenburg, the Duke of Teck, the Earl of Granard, the Master of the Horse, and carrying silver sticks came the Royal Grooms.

INSIDE WESTMINSTER ABBEY. Amid these stirring happenings in the streets, the Abbey was filling up with privileged ticket-holders, and before 9.30 a.m. nearly 4000 people entered the sacred building; The Peers in their State robes and scarlet ermine filled the whole of the south transcept, and the Peeresses in a similar gallery in the north transcept. .-The body of the nave was crowded with officials and favored persons, as it was given up to those who had formed the second section of the procession. This part of the building and galleries overflanking the choir was also devoted to Cabinet Ministers and past and pi-esent Judges, with the more prominent Colonial officials, Indian chiefs, and diplomats, the whole group being the most distinguished persons in the building after the Royalties and Peers. Sir Joseph Ward, in one of the choir stalls, was accompanied by Lady Ward, and, like Sir George Reid, wore his Privy Councillor’s uniform. Mr. Fisher and the Agents-General wore levee dress, and those who could not be placed elsewhere were sent either to the nave or with the press. The occupants of the nave only saw the procession going and returning to the east end of the church, for the choir screen shut off all view beyond it. The position assigned to Royalties was in the chancel adjoining, but overlooking the space before the altar on the south side, where there was a large Royal box and a small gallery, above where the King’s friends and most distinguished relations sit, being only a foot from those taking an actual part in the service.

On the north side was a similar recess called . “the Queen’s Box,” for specially favored guests of her Majesty. The Prince of Wales, whose train was borne by pages, was seated on the centre of three detached chairs on the floor of the theatre, at the foot of the Peers’ tribune in the south transcept. Tile one on-the right was occupied by the Duke of Connaught, and the one to the left by another Duke. The entire floor of the sacracifium, and the space under the lectern, was devoted to the day’s ceremony. In the middle of the lantern, near the Prince of Wales’ chair, were two homage thrones, the King’s slightly higher than the Queen’s. These were of handsome Jacobean design, after the pattern of the chair at the Knale Coronation. A few feet nearer the altar stands the Coronation chair, and before it a stool for the Queen’s crowning. To the right of these, on the south side, on the floor under the King’s box, are two chairs of State, with footstools. The altar and side table are loaded with plate, and the door on the north end of the altar gives access to Edward the Confessor’s chapel, part of which is being used for a small retiring room. The .first service of the day was actually commenced in Henry Vll.’s chapel, where the Crown was consecrated and taken by an ecclesiastical procession to an artificial structure or annexe put up adjoining the west end. This building was lavishly decorated with Royal armor and tapestries, and was used for marshalling the great procession up the church. It was no easy business to arrange the great stately show. The Duke of Norfolk, the Earl Marshall, had a staff of heralds with gold sticks, and every participator in the ceremony had been drilled by many rehearsals, and before 11.30 a.m. the Coronation service began. As the ecclesiastical procession advanced through the west doors, the Archbishops and Bishops, vested with,their capes and other dignitaries with their scarlet hood surplices, thrilling fanfares on silver trumpets, heralded their approach. Dr. Frederick Bridges played the organ magnificently, and a supplemented choir broke forth into Parry’s anthem, “I Was Glad.” . In the procession to the theatre Imperial significance was given to-day’s proceedings by the standards of the Overseas Dominions, of India, of Wales, and by those of England, Scotland, and Ireland. The Standard of Australia was borne by Lord Northoote. and that of New Zealand —new Standard —by Lord Plunket, South Africa’s by Lord Selbourne, Canada’s by-the 'Earl of Aberdeen, India’s by Lord Curzon, Wales by . Lord Mostyn. Ireland’s by Mr T. P. O’Connor. The Royal Standard was entrusted to Lord Lansdowne, and the Standard of the Union to the Duke of Wellington, England’s, Mr Frank Dymoke (the King’s Champion), Scotland’s, Mr Henry Scrymgour of Wedderburn. An historically interesting part of the procession was that related to the regalia. The Bishop of Bipon carried a Bible, and the Bishop of Winchester a chalice, the Bishop of London a patten, the Duke of Northumberland, Edward’s crown, the Duke of Somerset, the orb, the Duke of Richmond, the sceptre with the dove. Lord Beaufort, the Sword of State, the Duke of Beaufort, the curtaina; Lord Roberts, a second sword of State, Lord Kitchener, the third sword. The Earl of London and Lord Grey carried spurs, and the Duke of Argyll a sceptre with cross; Duke of Roxburgh, Edward’s venerable staff. The Queen’s regalia crown was entrusted to the Duke of Devonshire, and the sceptre with the cross to the Marquis of Waterford, the ivory rod to the Earl of Durham. The King’s canopy was borne by the Earls of Cadogan, Rosebery, Crewe and Minto, and the Queen’s canopy by the four tall and handsome Duchesses of Hamilton, Portland, Montrose and (Sutherland. The King had eight young train-bearers, and the Queen six earls’ daughters. In this stately procession nearly four hundred took their allotted places. When the King walked along the nave, and the choir of Westminster boys in Tri-forum, shouted’“Vivat Rex, Vivat Regina,” everybody else in the Abbey was standing and silent as the King swept past the Prince of Wales’ seat. The Prince a deep obeisance. The King and Queen had donned trains in the annexe. Queen Mary’s was of the royal shade of silk, wearing an over silk velvet, and was eighteen feet long. It was lined with ermine, the whole covering over sixty square feot. Its great weight required dexterous managing by the hearers in order to enable the Queen to walk comfortably. . When tlie King and Queen reached their chairs of State, they made their private prayers first. Scarcely had the Archbishop of Canterbury finished his presentation to the four sides of the theatre, than the people signified their willingness to (repeat tlieir acclamations, and shouted “God Save the King.” : The. regalia was placed .on tlie altar, and the Litany: sung by the Bishops of Oxford Bath and Wells. A sermon by the Archbishop of York followed, thereby ending the introductory portion of the ceremony.. • . , : 7 , \ The Archbishop of Canterbury then administered the Coronation oath, promising to maintain the laws of God’s Protestant reformed religion, and the rights and privileges of the Bishops and clergy. > The King advanced from his chair to the altar, knelt on the stops, and kissed the book'- He declared he would perforin his solemn promise. His Majesty, who received cheers and ovations, addressed his people and his Lords. He said he had been hailed as accepted to rule the greatest Empire the world had. ever seen. He now presented his own homage, like any ordinary mortal, to the King of Kings

As an introduction to the anointing, the entire congregation knelt and S,me \Vldlo ni Se 6a c?oir was singing Handel's Zadok the Priest, the kord Chamberlain took off the King’s outer robe. His Majesty seated lam self on King Edward’s chair, under a pall of cloth of gold, supported by Knights of the Garter. , „ . , „ The Dean of Westminster poured oil from the ampulla into a spoon, and the Archbishon of Canterlmrv anointed his head, breast, and hands, while the Kin«- knelt. The Archbisnou, standing over him, pronounced a blessing. The Dean of Westminster then clothed King George with the cololium sindoris, like a surplice or shirt, and supervinice of cloth of gold; also a girdle recently presented to His Majesty by the Girdlers Company. The Chamberlain then touched the King’s heels with the spurs; girdling with the sword followed, and the King’s ungirding with his own hand, and. laying the weapon on the altar. It was immediately redeemed by the sword bearer, and during the rest of the service carried before the King. After another change in the Royal dress, when the Lord Great Chamberlair clother with the armell or stole, into which had been worked for tinsCoronatio.symbols of the dominions, the maple leaf of Canada, the wattle of South Africa, and stars for Australia and New Zealand. In the present case the pallium was the same as worn by King George IV. It was a magnificent piece of decorated fabric, littered with emblems like sunlight and as fresh as when made. Thus clothed the Archbishop of Canterbury presented the Orb with the cross, and after the orb the ring and two sceptres, each with an appropriate admonitation, and a prayer.

THE DAY’S GREAT CEREMONIAL.

Next followed the great ceremony of the day which had brought all those present. . . After the Archbishop of Canterbury’s brief and earnest prayers, the King still sitting in King Edward’s chair, the Dean of Westminster handed the crown from the altar to the Archbishop, who reverently placed it on the King s head. Instantly the electric lights were turned up, the whole congregation shouted “God .Slave the King.” Peers, who up to thin stage had sat through the service without their coronets, simultaneously raised them in their hands. The acclamations over, the Archbishop of Canterbury presented the King with the Bible describing it as “The most valuable thing which this world affords. After the Archbishop’s benediction, all the bishops and clergy joined in a loud “Amen,” which was followed by the roaring of cannon, the dashing of bells, and the suppressed sounds of cheers from outside. This first stage ended, then followed the enthronation on the King’s homage seat under the lantern. 'ln the old times the King was lifted or chaired by the physical force of his subjects, but to-day the ceremony was figurative, all the bishops assembling at the altar to surround His Majesty in the Chair: of State. - . The Archbishop was the first to do homage, kissing the King on the left cheek. It was at this stage where Archbishop Temple nine years ago nearly fell at the late King Edward’s feet. Next the Prince of Wales advanced to the top step of the dais, took off his coronet and knelt before his father. Others of the blood Royal in the Abbey also knelt in their places and joined the Prince in each declaring himself: “I do become your liege man of life and limb.” The peers next did their homage, the senior only of each order. The Duke of Norfolk acted for the dukes, the Marquis of Winchester for the marquises, and the Earl of Shrewsbury for the earls, Viscount Devereaux for the viscounts. Each touched the King’s Crown and kissed him on the cheek. When the homage ended with an anthem, there were once more loud cheers. Up to this stage the Queen had been seated in the Chair of State as when she first arrived. The Archbishop now proceeded with a coronation on a smaller and less impressive scale. She stood between King Edward’s chair and the altar, and four peeresses held her canopy, while the Archbishop of Canterbury poured oil on her head and placed the ring on her finger. He then took the newly made crown as already described from the altar and reverently placed it on the Queen’s head. All the peeresses, mostly in the north transept, or wherever else they were seated, then put on their crowns. They were dressed in gowns of their own choice, and wore trains with bars of ermine, showing their rank, and the trains were longer and shorter according to the status of their peerage. Their jewels were most resplendent, and as they raised their right arms to adjust their coronets, the light flashed from their tribune like sunshine on the ripples of the sea. The Archbishop of Canterbury then placed the sceptre in the Queen’s right hand and an ivory rod with a dove in her left. Suitable prayers followed for Her Majesty, who was supported by her two Bishops of Oxford and Peterborough. She arose from her place of anointing and passed by the King on the throne to do homage, making a deep obeisance, to which the King bowed acknowledgment, and then sat on her own chair of homage close by the King’s, but two steps lower. Thus the King and the Queen sat together, crowned, sceptred and enthroned.

The next stage in this magnificent ceremony was the acknowledgment as the first act, of both the Sovereigns of their duty to Almighty God as members ot Christ’s Church here below. .Accompanied by their Officers of State, they advanced from the dais under the lantern, to the altar, and humbly removed their crowns, to partake of the Holy Communion. The King personally, with his own hand, offered bread and wine for consecration. The King and Queen, through their officers, also presented a frontal and dossal for the altar. The King also presented a w'edge of gold, weighing a pound, and Queen Mary, too. presented a piece of gold. The Communion service then proceeded, and at its close, and after the benediction, the service closed with the singing of the “Te Deum.” After a brief retirement in Edward the Confessor’s Chapel, for refreshment, the King and Queen emerged wearing fresh crowns. The King’s was known as the “Royal,” and the Queen’s as a “Small” crown. These are worn always through the streets. They continued their procession and returned down the Abbey amidst the cheers of the audience, and via the Westminster School; in reverse order, and so through the streets to Buckingham Palace, the route changing from Charing Cross, along Cockspur Street, Pall Mall, as above described.. The whole line of progress was densely packed with people, many of whom had been patiently waiting for from nine to ten hours. A wave of cheering accompanied the Royal carriage all the way, and after six hours their Majesties concluded this momentous day’s ordeal.