The Sun.
London, England, 1868-04-20 00:00:00

THE CATHEDRAL

At 2.45 p.m. the Cathedral was nearly filled, and the
spectators only awaited the arrival of the principals in the
grand ceremony. The effect was exceedingly fine, for
just what was wanting to relieve the coldness of the grey
walls was lent by a brilliant crowd which glittered with
lace and bright colours, with gold and sils7er and
many-hued silks. The view down the aisle from the
great west porch was singularly fine. The spectators are
in their places, and on each side of the scarlet cloth, which
tapers away to a mere riband in the distance of the
choir, there was a broad belt of women in their best, at
a time " when the spring fashions are in," and on a
day when the sun shone and gave an insurance against
treacherous rainfall, and of men the highest in the land, in
all the splendour of official, military, judicial, or State
uniform ; for the plain black coat which the Americans
declare the new nation which is to conquer the world must
wear was not in vogue. It was a long strip of brilliare
flowers bordering a scarlet walk below the grey wal:
Looking straight clown as well as might he through th,
shifting colour, the eye was arrested rather abruptly b:
two scarlet platforms on each side of the aisle below th(
transept. These were filled with white-robed chorister!
and gaily-dressed ladies, who would be angry, perhaps, it
they were called choristeresses ; and up in the arches of
the triforium were assembled still more of the singers who
lent such a potent aid to the ceremonial. The effect woule
have been better still, perhaps, if circumstances had not
obliged the directors to put them up so high, for the supreme
efforts of the singers wandered aloft, and were lost on the
cold groinings of the roof, though there was much snatched
by those below which was very effective and beautiful. Al
the angle of the aisle with the transept on the left, looking
towards the east, were placed the chairs of state of the
Princess and the wife of the Lord-Lieutenant the Mar-
quis of Abercorn. Behind these were the chairs of the
ladies of the Court, and then the transept to the left was
filled by a crowd of illustrious personages. At the corre.
sponding angle on the right were placed the judges,
Beyond the transept on each side and under the choir
balconies were the stalls of the knights, with their
helmets and banners overhead, and then beyond the
screen could be caught a glimpse of the beautiful little
chapel, with its mauve and blue colouring, and the
light from its painted windows falling on many faces.
At a few minutes before four o'clock the heads of the
procession appeared in the choir, and " God save the
Queen " of many voices rose to the groined roof. Enter-
ing from the arched gate, the well-ordered crowd poured
on, parti-robed and many-coloured, but there were only
two bright points in the stream which attracted the
eye of the multitude—the Prince and Princess ; and
that is much to say, when there are so many bright
particular stars. None ever bore statelier presence in
any press of knights than the Grand Master of the
Order, the Marquis of Abercorn. and surely no more
gracious gentle lady ever stood by the side of
princess or queen than the Marchioness of Abercorn.
There were marvels of colour and effect everywhere as the
flood poured on, and it was quite a comfort that the hasty
preparations or the good taste of the knights prevented a
general adoption of the prescribed uniform for the esquires,
because the best uniforms of the British army in all their
diversity of uniform happened to be represented. Knights
and esquires moved on to the Chapter House, and the
Princess, led by the Earl of Waterford—there are unused
titles getting up in the world, for the people called the
Princess "Countess of Malahide"—ascended to her throne,
and by her side sat the Marchioness of Abercorn, on
whose left stood the Prince Teck. The current as it ad-
vanced
slowly filled up the space between the gay banks
of flower-like spectators, and rippled against the firm-set
lines outside their seats, gradually absorbing every creek
and playing in eddies around the blocks of chairs.
The Princess watched the proceedings of the ceremonial
with the liveliest interest, and we may be sure the spec-
tators shared in her feelings. A better ordered multitude
never was seen. There were no " hushings," no pressings
forward, no standing on chairs or seats. The decorum
was all the more commendable, because many persons
were debarred from seeing the investiture by the form of
the building and by the pillars intervening, and it may be
doubted if even the Princess could fully command the
interior of the Chapter Chapel, but all could see the pro-
cession, and, what was of most consequence, the Prince and
Princess. Ills Excellency the Grand Master, his Royal
highness the Prince of Wales, and his Royal Highness
the Duke of Cambridge were received at the cathedral by
the dean and chapter, and conducted to the chapter-room.
As soon as the procession had passed into the cathedral
her Royal highness the Princess of Wales and her Ex-
cellency the Marchioness of Abercorn, attended by their
respective suites, were received by the Hereditary Great
Seneschal of Ireland, the Earl of Waterford (the Earl of
Shrewsbury and Talbot), and conducted up the middle aisle
to the dais prepared for her Royal Highness and her Excel-
lency, and the prt,ces,,ion went on to the chapter-room, on
entering which the dean conducted his Excellency the
Grand Master to his throne, and the installed knights took
their seats, their esquires standing behind them. The
knight to be installed, his Royal Highness the Prince of
Wales, stood at his seat, the first at the table ; and
his esquires deposited on the table his mantle and sword
and fixed his banner. The dean retired to robe, and,
returning to the chapter as Registrar of the Order, made
his reverence to the Grand Master, read her Majesty's
direction that the installation be held, and informed hie
that there was no other business before the

cbapter but to carry into effect the sovereign's commands
by installing his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.
His Excellency then rose and signified his pleasure
that it be forthwith done, whereupon a procession
from the chapter -room to the choir was formed.
On entering the choir, the officers of the Order and others
fell to the right and left, taking the places assigned to
them, and the knights proceeded to their stalls, and re-
mained standing under their banners until the Grand
Master reached his stall. His Excellency, then making
his reverence, took his seat, and the senior installed knight,
with due reverence, also took his seat ; and the same form
was gone through by each of the other installed knights in
succession. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, in
like manner, with due reverence, took his seat in front of
his stall.

The Prelate, Chancellor, Registrar, Secretary, Genes,
logist, Usher, and " Ulster," with like reverences, seated
themselves. Then was sting the anthem, and at its con-
clusion followed the Installation.
" Ulster," the heralds, the pursuivants, and the
esquires of his Royal Highness proceeded to the Chapter-
room for the insignia, and re-entered. When this proces-
sion arrived at the table in the choir, Ulster made his
reverence, and delivered kneeling to the Grand Master
the collar of the Order. The Usher, the Genealogist,
and the Secretary then went to the front of the
Prince's stall, and conducted his Royal Highness to
the table. The Grand Master commanding the
cwo senior knights to descend from their stalls,
his Royal Highness was by them girt with the sword
Ind robed with the mantle. At each ceremony of the
girding with the sword and robing with the mantle the
prelate read the prescribed admonition. The Prince then
advanced to the stall of the Grand Master, and his Excel-
lency invested him with the collar, which being done the
Prince was reconducted to his stall, making his reverence
to the Grand Master, and standing with his hat on.
Thereupon the senior esquire to his Royal Highness
unfurled the Prince's banner, and " Ulster," with a
flourish of trumpets, declared his Royal Highness's titles.
At the conclusion of the proclamation all resumed their
seats except the officers of arms and the esquires ; the
principal esquire presented the offering in a purse to the
registrar, and " Ulster" received the banner from the
esquire and delivered it to the registrar, who deposited it
within the rails, after which the esquires and officers of
arms, with due reverences, returned to their places, and a
grand anthem was performed. At its conclusion "Ulster"
made three reverences to the Grand Master and waved
his sceptre, whereupon the procession, marshalled as on
entering the cathedral, moved down the middle aisle, the
choir singing the Hallelujah Chorus, towards the great
west entrance, whence the procession returned to the
Castle.

The ceremonial terminated at five o'clock. The Prince
was belted with the same sword wdrn by George IV. All
the knights were present except the following, prevented
by illness and infirmity : —Lords Roden, Gough, Fingal,
Londonderry, Wicklow, and Donegan.