Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1896-05-12
GROW NING THE CAR.
THE IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES IN THE
 MOSCOW CATHEDRAL.

ths Coronation sf the Late Car of
 Russia.
 Miss Mary Grace Thornton, daughter of Sir Edward Thornton, describes the crowning of czar i'll The Century for May. Miss Thornton writes as fol- lows:
 The service began with the emperor's confession of faith, which was so like our own that I could follow it easily. The metropolitan came forward to hear him make it and responded at the end, May the grace of the Holy Ghost abide with thee understood comparative ly little of the rite, but they say that the prayers are wonderfully beautiful. From the first moment to the last the emperor was the central figure. If one looked away, it was only to sec how every one was watching him. His voice certainly trembled when he began to read, but it gained confidence as he went on, and he looked Gas he always does, to my mind with or without crown) every inch an emperor. Through out the whole service he bore himself with great dignity and in manner worthy of such an occasion.
 After the creed and the reading of the epistle and the gospel, he ordered the imperial mantle to be brought, which was clasped round his neck with the col lar Of St. Andrew, lifted the magnif- cent crown from the cushion on which it was presented and receiving the benediction from rho metropolitan, ''in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, placed 1t on his head, and, holding the scepter in his right hand and the globe ill his left, seated himself upon his throne, looking a very noble presentment of czar of all the Russias The empress seemed to have caught something of his air, for that day certain stateliness was add ed to all her charm. She was very pale, but thought that I had never seen her look more sympathetic She now left her place and went to kneel before her husband on cushion which had been placed for her at his feet by Prince Waldemar
 The czar lifted his own crown from his head and placed it an instant on hers before replacing it. Then taking her crown from it's bearer, be held it in place while the four danes d d'honneur fastened it securely to her head These were Countess Adlerberg, Princess Via semski, Princess Kotchoubey and one did not know-the oldest ill rank in Russia, believe; and they also helped to fasten the imperial mantle of cloth of gold and ermine, of great weight. As the czarina returned to her place she turned a face full of emotion to her husband and held out her hand, and, he taking 1t and stepping down, they kiss ed each other His majesty now receiv- ed the scepter aud glove again, and em perof and empress stood crowned before their thrones and wearing the imperial mantles, while the priests proclaimed the titles of the aHtocrat of all the Rus- sias at full length, and the beautiful chants that followed were drowned in & changing of bells and noise that seem ed loud enough to announce the corona tion to the whole of Russia. During the singing the imperial family left their places to come and congratulate the em- peror and empress, the little czarowitz first. There were much embracing and plenty of tears.
 It was after this that, as the noise of the bells and cannon died away, the emperor took the book from the metro politan and knelt to pray, reading the prescribed words, he alone kneeling, while priests and congregation stood
 AS the emperor rose from his knees we all knelt down, and then followed the prayer of priests and congregation for him, led, by the metropolitan, tEe emperor alone standing in the crowded church. As have said before, this was the most impressive moment of all.
 The choirs now sang again-that beautiful, unaceompanied singing of the Greek church, though here it had an accompaniment Of all the Kremlin bells. After magnificent Te Deum" the mass began in which, before communicate ing, the czar was to be anointed with the holy chrisn (the "seal of the gift of the Holy Ghost'' on forehead, eyelids, nostrils, lips, ears, breast and hands. The oil for this amounting is prepared by the priests with the greatest care in vessels of silver, and they themselves fast absolutely for Is hours before coronation, spending the time in prayer After the emperor the empress is anointed at the holy doors, but only on the forehead. Also in the holy com munion she receives as an ordinary member of the Greek church, but the emperor on the day of bis coronation, "in view of the sovereignty that resides in bis person, receives as the priests receive, in both kinds separately.
 Of all this l saw nothing because of the intervening pillar But I did see their majesties leave their thrones and go down the steps of the platform to the holy doors of the screen. closely at tended by the colonel of the cheyalier guards with his drawn sword and pre- ceded and followed by endless high dig nitaries. returning in the same order affar the anoiutiuer and inc holy oa,,,