Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-09
THE LORD MAYOR OF LONDON.


From the November Century
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 Guildhall, ON
the feast OF 81. Michael, the Archangel Few
more interesting ceremonies are 10 be seen in
England wooden screen is erected outside
the Guildhall, with many doorways in IT, At
each Is stationed the beadle Of the guild. who
sexpeoted TO know all the liverymen Of his
company, and so to prevent unauthorized per-
sons from entering. The floor of the Guild
hall l. strewn with sweet herbs, perhaps
the last surviving instance of the medieval
method OF carpeting hall. The twenty-six
Aldermen come in. all in scarlet gowns. Tho
recorder, or law officer OF the city. rises, bows
70 the lord mayor and the assembled livery
from the time of King John they have had
grants OF certain rights of election The lord
mayor and aldermen then 90 out; another law
ofncer the common sergeant. repeats what the
recorder has also said, and tells the liverymen
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 aldermen by the heads
of some OF the chief guilds. One Is selected
and thoreupon the lord mayor and the alder
men return 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 pames and the one Sc
lected, and asks the lverymen II Il Is their free
election, Yea or No." They shout
YEA" and the sword-bearer thcreupon
mayor to be and puts a chain around
his neck. On the sth OF November
there Is another meeting in the Guildhall
ihe old lord mayor rises and gives the new one
bis seat The chamberlain Of the city then ap-
proaches with three solemn bows, apd hands to
the new lord mayor jeweled scepter, the COM
mon seal OF the city. and on ancient purse
The sword-bearer next advances. and bowling
three times zach time with increasing rever-
ence. gives the lord mayor elect the great two
handed sword OF state, which symbolkes justice
and legal supremacy The crier, with bows
sword-bearer. next approaches and presents
the mace. The aldermen and sheriffs then
congratulate their new chief, who proceeds TO
sign certain documents, and anon; thom re-
ceipt for the city plate. Last Of al, he IL pre-
scented with the KEYS Of the standard weights
and measures, deposited in his custody. The
meeting then breaks up, and the old lordmayor
goes back to the Mansion House, his official
residence, for the last time.
The next day, the 9th of November, is known
in London as the Lord Mayors Day, because
on that morning the new lord MAYOR takes
through the ward of which be is alderman. and
proceeds in gaudy procession to the courts OF
law within the bounds of Westminster Before
his coach are running footmen, aud there is a
long procession of the carriages Of the alder
men 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 bcadles and pageants. which vary
according to each lord mayors taste, make Up
swonderful show. which, as it winds in ana
out the narrow streets Of the city, enliveus
them with brilliant color. Though often de-
cried because it Obstructs business FOR one day,
should the progress Of modern times abolish
the custom II would be regretted by all who
have witnessed Ii.
The lord mayor ia presented to the lord chief
justice Of England. takes an oath of iidolity.
and calls on the judges Of the several divisions
OF the high court of justice and invites them 20
dinner. The judges always reply somewhat
haughttly that some OF them viii attend, and
the lord mayor then returns to the CITY, in
which Tor year he is to be the greatest person,
obliged TO give place only when the queen her
self comes.