The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-01-02
ELECTING A LORD MAYOR.
HOW THE cH1EF MAGISTRATE OF
LONDON IS CHOSEN.

Ceremonies That Are Interesting,
But Have Medieval Flavor
Taking Office in the GuilduaIi
The Lord Mayor is elected from the
twenty-six Alderman 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 st. Michael, the Archangel.
Few more interesting ceremonies are tV
be seen in England. A wooden screen
is erected outside the Guildhall, with
many doorways in it. At each is
stationed the Beadle of guild, who is
expected to know all the Liverymen of
his company, and so to prevent all un-
authorized persons from entering. The
floor Of the Guildhall is strewn with
sweet herbs, perhaps the last surviving
instance of the medieval method of
carpeting hall. The twenty-six Alder
men 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 little
speech, declaring how from the time of
King John they have had grants of GER
tain rights of election. The Lord
Mayor and Aldermen then go out; an
other law officer, the common Sergeant,
repeats what the Recorder has already
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, aud there
upon the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen
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
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 thereupon takes off the
fur tippet of the lord mayor to be, and
puts chain around his neck. On the
eth of November there is another meet
ing in the Guildhall. The old lord
mayor rises and gives the new one his
seat. The chamberlain of the city then
approaches with three solemn bows, and
hands to the new lord mayor jeweled
scepter, the common seal of the city, and
an ancient purse. The sword bearer
next advances, and, bowling three times,
each time with increasing 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 profoundly to those of the sword
bearer, next approaches, and presents
the mace. The aldermen and sherifls
then congratulate their new chief, who
proceeds to sign certain documents,
and among them a receipt for the city
plate. Last of all, he is presented with
the keys of the standard weights and
measures, deposited 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 eth Of November,
is known in London as Lord Mayors
Day, because on that morning the new
lord mayor takes Office in the Guildhall
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. Be-
fore his coach are running footmen, and
there is a long procession Of the car
riages of the aldermen and of the heads
of the several guilds, and of the main
body of his own guild, all In their bes,
Official gowns. The banners OF the
guilds, their beadles and pageants,
which vary according to each lord
mayors taste, make up wonderful
show, which, as it winds in and out the
narrow streets of the city, enlivens
them with brilliant color. Though often
declied 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.
The lord mayor is presented to the
lord chief justice of England, takes an
oath of fidelity, and calls on the judges
Of the several divisions of the high
court of justice and invites them to din
ner. The judges always reply somewhat
haughtily that some of them will at
tend, and the lord mayor then returns to
the city, in which for year he is to be
the greatest person, obliged to give place
only when the Queen herself comes. =
Istlfgly.D