The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-10
cRowxING OF THE GEAR.


Cathedral at Mos oW.
Niss Mary Grace Thornton. daughter Of
Sir Edward Thornton. describes The
Crowninx of a Car In the Century for
May. Miss Thornton writes as follows:
The service began with the enperor's
confession OF faith. which was 20 like our
own that I could follow II easily. The
metropolitan came forward to hear him
make il. and responded at the end. May
the grace OF the Hoiy Ghost abide with
thee" / understood comparatively little
OF the rest. but they say that the prayers
are wonderfully beautiful. From the first
moment 20 the last the emperor was tho
central figure. II one looked away II was
only to see how every one was watching
him His voice certainly trembied when
he began to read. but Il gained confidence
as he went on. and he looked Gas he always
does. TO my mind. with or without a CROWN
every inch an emperor. Throughout 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
epsstie and the Gospel. he ordered the I'M
perial mantle TO be brought. which was
clasped round his neck with the collar CT
81 Andrew. lifted the magnificent crown
from the cushion on which IL was present.
ed, and receiving the benefetion from the
metropolitan. in the Eame CO the Father,
and of the Son. and OF tbs Holy Ghost"
placed II on his head, and. holding The
scepser In his right hand end the globe IN
his left. seated himself upon his thrcne.
looking very noble presentnent OF a
car Of all the RUSSIA. The empress
seemed 10 have caught something OF his
air, for that day 4 ceriA i statenness was
added to all her charm She was very
pale. but l thought that l had never seen
her look more sympathetic She row left
her place. ara went 10 kreei before her
husband on n cushion which had been
placed for her at his feet by Prince Waldo
mar.
The Gear lifted his own erwin from his
head. and placed II an instant on hers be-
fore replacing IT, Then. taking her crown
from It's bearer. he held il in place while
the four danes dhonnea- fastened IL Sc
cureiy 10 her head These were Countess
Adlerberg. Princess viassmski. Prtncsrs
koichouebey, ard one I did no. known
the Oldest In rank In Russia. believe: and
they also helped TO saste1 tbs inreria.
mantle OF cloth-of-gcid and e-ml,e. OF grea.
weight. As the ezarina returned TO her
place. she turned a face full OF emotion
TO her husband and he'll out her hand,
ana he taking IL and STOPPING down. they
kissed each other. HIS majesty now re-
eeiyed the scepter and the slobe again,
and emperor and empress stood crowned
before their thrones and wearing the I'M
ed the titles OF the suto.rat Of all the Rus
sias at f;ll length. and the beautiful
chants that followed were drowned in a
changing OF bells and a noise that seemed
loud enough to announce the coronation
10 the whole OF Russia. During the sing
ING the imperial family left their places 70
come and congratulate the emperor and
empress. the little czarev..ch first There
was much embracing and plenty - tears
a hat . ~ -
the bells and cannon died away. the en-
peror took the book from the metropoii-
tan. and knelt TO pray, reading the pre-
scrlbcd words. be alone kneeiing, 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. the emperor
alone standing IN the crowded church A
have said before. this was the most I'M
pressive moment Of all.
The choir now sang again-that beauti-
full. unaccompan.ed singing OF the Greek
church. though here II had an accompani-
rent OF all the Krcxnlin bells. After a
magnificent TIE Deum the mass began. in
which. before communicating. the czer
was to be annolnted with the holy chrssfn
{the seal Of the gift OF the Holy Ghost'1
on forehead. eysllds. nostrils. lips. ears.
breast and hands. The oil for this anolut-
greatest care. IN vessels Of silver. and
they themselves fast absolutely for SIX
teen hours before q coronation. spending
the time in prayer. After the emperor.
the empress Is anosnted at the holy doors.
but only on the forehead Also In the
Holy Communion she receives as an or
dinary member Of the Greek church: but
the emperor. on the day Of his coronation.
in view OF tho sovereignty that resides
La his person." receives as the priests
receive. In both kinds separately.
OF ali this ! saw nothing because OF the
intervening pillar. But ] did see their
mases,ieS leave their thrones, and 20 down
the steps OF the platform TO the holy doors
OF the screen. closely attended by the
colonel OF the Cheyalisrs Garics with his
drawn sword. and preceded and followed
by endless high dignitaries. returning in
the same order after the amounting and
the Holy Communion. After this there
WAS very little more * the ceremonial n
the cathedral At the end OF the usual
service there were some special prayers
and chants for the newly crowned pair
Long life 20 the crowned of God"'-and
In the silence that followed the priests
held up the cross for their matestlcs TO
kiss. an. emperor replaced the crown,
which he had laid aside al the beginning