The Portland daily press., 1897-06-21
Queen Begins the Celebration Of
Her Jubilee.
TOUCHING SCENE AT THE CHAPEL
OF ST. GEORGES.
Queen Pays Her Devotions and Offers
Solemn Thanksgiving-S Most I'm
pressive and simple-Two Services at
st. Paurs Cathedral.

st. PauIs Cathedral.
| London, June 2O.-Queen Victoria be-
gan the celebration of her jubilee today
as was befitting her entire career, before
| the altar of her faith While throughout
London, the united kingdom and the en-
pire, in every cathedral, church or chapel
of the established Church of England
were held services similar to those at ST.
| Georges chapel Windsor, where Her
Majesty paid her devotions and offered
solemn thanksgiving
The announcement that the services at
st. Georges chapel would be private and
for the members of the royal family pre-
vented the gathering of large crowd.
The scene was most impressive and very
simple. Her Majesty sat in the chair of
state. Immediately in front of the COM
munion rail and just beside the brass
plate whose inscription designates the
spot which was the temporary place of in
terment Of the Prince Consort
| The ladies and gentlemen who are the
grand officers of the Queens household
entered first, followed by the military
knights of Windsor in the full costume Of
cooked hats and scarlet coats. The Duke
of Devonshire and Lord Roseberry occu-
pied their stalls as knights of the garter.
The rest of the choir was empty the seats
of the royal family being near the
Queens.
The Dean of Windsor, wearing the in
sigma of chaplain of the order of the
garter officiated, assisted by the Lord
Bishop of Barry and several canons.
| Punctually at II o'clock, amid the soft
strains OF an organ voluntary the Queen
arrived from the cloisters at the entrance.
Assisted by her Indian attendant she
walked slowly to the chair of state, the
congregation standing. She was dressed
all in black, except for white tuft in
her bonnet. The Empress Frederick of
Germany, attired in deep black took the
seat at the right of the Queen; while the
Duke of Connaught, wearing his Windsor
uniform, seated himself at her left. The
others grouped themselves closely behind
and looked very like a simple family of
Worshippers.
Ordinary morning prayers began with
a short exhortation from First Timothy.
After the first collect special collect was
read and instead Of the usual prayer for
the Queen and royal family, two special
prayers were substituted. A special prayer
for unity was said.
There was no sermon; but special
hymn written by the Right Rev. VIM.
| Walsham, Lord Bishop of Wakefield, with
music by Sir Arthur Sullivan was snug
at her Majesty's request. The service
lasted forty minutes, the Queen remain
| ing seated throughout and following
| closely the special prayers and hymn.
At the end there was a pause, the
| Queen, with bowed head, continued in
silent prayer. Then followed touching
scene which will ever linger in the
memory of those who witnessed it. Sum-
moning the Empress Frederick, who
bowed low at her side, the Queen kissed
her on both cheeks. The Duke of
Connaught and the others of the family
| followed, receiving similar token of
affection. In many cases the recipient
| was kissed several times.
The Queen was profoundly moved and
the tears rolled down her cheeks At last,
and evidently with great reluctance, she
beckoned her Indian attendant and lean
ing on his arm passed slowly out of the
chapel, the entire congregation standing,
the soft light falling through the multi
colored windows and the exquisite strains
of the organ swelling beneath the gothic
hammered roof.
There were two services at st. Paul S
cathedral at IL a. m. and p. m. I'm
mense crowds filled all the approaches to
the cathedral at the morning service.
Under the dome and behind the richly
crimsoned royal pews were the peers and
| peeresses in full robes, the foreign ENJOYS
and five colonial premiers, with their
families. Others seated in this portion of
the ediice were the special delegations
from the royal societies, the presidents of
the principal hospitals and colleges in
London, Sir Richard Webster, the at
torney general and two hundred Queens S
counsel, in their wigs and gowns.
| The members of the royal family ar
rived punctually and were received, as
they drove through the streets to the
cathedral with the profoundest respect.
The service was conducted by the Lord
Bishop of London. The form of service
| was the same as at ST. Georges chapel.
Holy communion was celebrated and
the sermon was preached by the Lord
Bishop of London, who touched upon
many of the events in the reign of Vic
toria and eloquently extolled her piety,
charity and motherly love for her people
| The national paen of praise and thanks
| giving found official expression at West
minister Abbey and at st. Margaret's S,
| Westminster. At the Abbey, Dean Brad
ley officiated before an immense congre-
cation. The venerable dean was assisted
| by the Lord Bishop of Durham and the
Abbey clergy and choir. The members of
| the Commons, who in accordance with a