The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-11-22
The Lord Mayor of London.

From an article in the Ccntarq on
the Guilds of London" we quote the
following:
'.The Lord Mayor is elected from the
twenty six aldermen or heads of the
wards into which the city is divided by
the votes of the Livery; that is, of the
members of the several guilds of the
city. He is elected at the GuiIdha!l,
on the feast of st. Michael, the Arch
angel. Few more interesting cere-
! monies are to be seen in England. A
wooden screen is erected outside the
Guildhall, with many doorways in it.
! At each is stationed the beadle of a guild,
who is expected to know all the livery
men of his company, and so to prevent
unauthorized persons from entering.
The hall of the Guildhall is strewn
with sweet herbs, perhaps the last sur
viving Instance of the medieval method
of carpeting a hall. The twenty-six
aldermen come in, all in scarlet gowns.
The recorder, or law-officer of The city,
rises, bows to the Lord Mayor and the
assembled liverymen, and makes lit
tie speech. declaring how from the
time OF King John they have had
grants of certain rights of election.
The Lord Mayor and aldermen then
go out; another law-of1icer, the COM
mon sergeant, repeats what the re-
eorder has already said, and tells the
liyerymen that they must name two
for the Office of Lord Mayor, of whom
the Lord Mayor and aldermen will
select one. Two names are then
chosen, and are carried to the alder
men by the heads of some of the chief
guilds. One is selected, and thereupon
the Lord Mayor and the aldermen re-
turn to the Guildhall and sit down,
the chosen future Lord Mayor sitting
on the left of the actual Lord Mayor.
The recorder again rises and reads the
two names and the one selected, and
asks the liverymen if it is their free
election, Yea or No They shout
YEA and the sword-bearer thercupon
takes OFF the fur tippet of the Lord
Mayor to be, and puts chain around
his neck. On the 8th of November
there is another meeting in the Guild
hall. The old Lord Mayor rises and
gives the new one his seat. The
chamberlain of the city then ap-
proaches with three solemn bows, and
hands to the new Lord Mayor a jewel
ed Scepter, the common seal of the
city, and an ancient purse. The
sword-bearer next advances, and bow
ing three times, each time with increas-
ed reverence, gives the Lord Mayor
elect the great two-handed sword of
state. which symbolizes justice and
legal supremacy. The crier, with bows
equal in number and profundity to
those of the sword-bearer, next ap-
proaches, and presents the mace. The
aldermen and sheriffs then congratu-
late their new chief. who proceeds to
| sign certain documents, and among
them receipt for the city plate. Last
of all, he is presented with the keys of
the standard weights and measures de-
posted in his custody. The meeting
then breaks up, and the old Lord
Mayor goes back to the Mansion House,
his official residence, for the last
time.
"The next day, the 9th of Novem-
ber, is known in London as Lord
Mayors Day, beeaase'or that morning
the new Lord Mayer takes office in the
GnildhalI. He drives thence through
the ward of which he is alderman, and
proceeds in gaudy procession to the
courts of law within the bounds of
Westminster. Before his coach are
i running footmen, and there is long
procession of the carriages of the al
i dermen and of the heads of the several
] guilds, and of the main body of his
| own guild, all in their best official
gowns: The banners of the guilds,
their .beadles, and pageants, which
vary according to each Lord Mayors
! taste, make up a wonderful show,
which, as it winds in and out the mar
row streets of the city, enlivens them
! with brilliant color. Though often
decried because it obstructs business
for one day., should the progress of
modern times abolish the custom it
would be regretted by all who have
Witnessed it. - -
= "Ehe Lord Mayor is presented to the
! Lord Chief Justice of England. takes
an oath of fidelity. aud calls. on the
1 judges of the several divisions of the
High Court of Justice and invites them
to dinner. The judges always reply
somewhat haughtily that some of them
will attend. and the Lord Mayor then
| returns to the city, in which for yeaF
| be is to. be the. greatest person, obliged
to give place only when the Queen
herself comes"