The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-27

L
all the people and still before the altar,
his head. Then taking his scspter, in
which blazed the famous Orloff diamond,
in his right hand and the globe of the en-
pire in his left, he assembled the dais and
took his seat upon the throne, the EN-
press still standing in her former place.
This was the supreme moment OF all,
and when gazing around the church and
seeing representatives from nearly every
district of this mighty empire, and behold
ing the Gear sitting on his throne of state,
with the symbols of power given to him by
the highest authority in the land, one had
a realizing sense of the great power welded
by the man in whose honor this great
function was held.
At the moment of taking his seat on the
throne the cannon of the arsenal thun-
dered forth, the bells rang and the bands
massed outside playing the national an
them. The Emperor, after merely occu-
pying the throne for few seconds, rose,
and, placing the scepter and the globe on
the table by his side, turned to the En-
press, and, taking off his crown, touched
her forehead with it. She then knelt be-
fore him on a crimson velvet cushion,
when the Emperor placed upon her head
her own crown, which is surmounted by a
large sapphire.
The Empress ladies of honor fixed the
crown on her head with q gold comb and
robed in her mantle of cloth of gold,
ermine lined, like the Emperor's. She was
also invested with the collar of st. Andrew
and was led to the throne by the Emperor
L. Il.
The Emperor then resumed his scepter
and orb and the clergy broke forth into the
magnificent anthem, "Domine salvum fac
1mperatorem," and Domino salvum fac
Imperatricem," of course in the old
Slavonic tongue, the choir answering, "Ad
Muitos Amos"
The members of the imperial family and
the foreign princes now advanced and con-
graduated the imperial couple, while
others in the church bowed thrice toward
the throne, thus expressing their felicita-
tons. Suddenly the cannon, bells and
bands ceased and solemn silence ensued
when the Gear knelt and solemnly
uttered a fervent prayer. When the
Gear rose from his knees the Metropolitan
of st. Petersburg began a prayer for the
En- peror, at which every one in the cathe-
dral knelt. with the exception of the EN-
peror, who stood erect, wearing his crown.
The Metropolitan then stepped forward
to the foot of the dais and made a short
address to the Gear ON the Importance and
duties of his Office. After the Emperor
had taken the scepter from the Metropoli-
tan of st. Petersburg the choir sang the
TIE Deum and the bells of the Kremlin
again rang out.
Mass was then begun and after the con-
secration of the elements, the Emperor,
the train of his coronation robe being
borne by the clergy, entered the sanctuary
behind the ikonastas and received COM
munion. The Empress likewise received
communion, but kneeGng at the sanctuary,
as women are not allowed within the
ikonastas.
After the communion the Emperor and
Empress reascended their thrones, their
insignia being borne before them and all
of the court dignitsries being grouped
around them. The Czark chief almoner
then recited the prayers which follow the
communion.
The ceremony vas concluded by each of
the anointed kissing 9 golden crucifix
containing a sacred relic, v hseh vas held
by the Metropolitan Of Kteff.
The Emperor aud Eznpre subseq uently
dined in state IL the sa2qpetiug hall OF
the Grauoyitaya 2esaes, seErisig their i'm
perial crowns and nznties.
| Among those Nho were privileged to
enter the cathedral snd witness the cere.
monies were: Hon, Clifton? ?. Breckin-
ridge, United States 9zSAr, and Mrs,
Breckinridge; Gone-sl <. Mob. McCook,
United States relreaen tative at the coro.
nation, and Mrs. HeCook. ana Admiral
Thomas O. selfriage. q. s. N.
Among those Il the tribune near the
cathedral we're Potter Palmer and his wife
and Mr.. and Mrs. John a. Logan Jr.
The whole city tonight was one blaze o.
light. The Kremlin was outlined in flame
and everywhere the illumination was the
grandest ever seen here.
1t is believed that there was not single
house in the entire city that did not dis
play illuminations in honor of the crown
ing of the Gar. Thousands upon thou.
sands of electric and other lights were
used, and the scene was most beautiful
one.
The coronation banquet, which wa,
given at the Granovitaya Palace tonight
was most brilliant affair.
1t was attended by the highest nobility
the representatives of foreign powers and
the Ministers of State. The Gear, Csarins
and Dowager Czarina sat in kind of loge
and were waited upon by exalted state of
! ficials.
THE LOCAL CELEBRATION.