The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-06-21
Her Majesty Pays Her DeVotiOnS at st.
Georges Chapel, London.
The Services Were Only For Members
of the Royal Family.
The Scene Most Impressive and the
Service Simple, the Dean of Wind
sor, Wearing the Insignia of Chap
lain of the Order of the Garter,
Officiating.

Officiating.
LONDON, June 20.-Queen Victoria
began the celebration of her jubilee to-
day as was BETTING her entire career,
before the altar of her father. Through
out London, the United Kingdom and
the empire, in every cathedral, church
or chapel of the established Church OF
England was held services similar to
those at st. Georges Chapel, Windsor,
where her majesty paid her devotions
and offered solemn thanks to God.
The announcement that the services
at st. Georges Chapel would be pri-
vate, and for the members of the roy
al family, prevented the gathering OF
a large crowd. The scene was most
impressive and the service very simple
Her majesty sat in the chair of state
Immediately in front of the communion
rail, and just behind 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 house
hold entered first, followed by the mil
itary knights of Windsor, in the full
costume of cooked hats and scarlet
coats. The Duke of DeVonshire and
Lord ROsebery occupied their stalls as
knights Of the Garter. The rest of
the church was empty, the seats of the
royal family being near the Queens.
The Dean of Windsor, wearing the
insignia Of chaplain of the Order of the
Garter, officiated, assisted by the Lord
Bishop of Barry and several canons.
Principally at IL o'clock, amid the
soft strains of an organ voluntary, the
Queen arrived from the cloisters at the
entrance. Assisted by her Indian at
tendant, she walked slowly to the chair
of state, the congregation standing. She
was dressed all in black, except for a
white tuft in her bonnet. 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
closely behind and looked very like a
simple family of worshipers Among
them We're the Duchess ct fSonnaught
Prince Henry of Prussia and Princess
Henry, Prince and Princess Christian
with their children; Princess Henry of
Battenberg, the Grand Duke Sergius
and the Grand Duchess.
Ordinary morning prayers began with
short exhortation from First Timothy,
and the suffrages after the creed con-
tanned these sentences:
Presto Lord, save the Queen.
Answer-Who putteth her trust in
Thee
Priest-Send her help from Thy holy
place.
Answer-And evermore nightly de-
fend her.
Priest-Let her enemies have no adj
vantage over her.
Answer-Let not the wicked approach
TO hurt her.
After the first collect, special col
1ect was read, and instead of the pray
er for the Queen and royal family, two
special prayers We're substituted, con-
tanning the following:
Almighty God, who rules over all
the kings Of the world, and disposes of
them according to Thy good pleasure,
we yield Thee unfeigned thanks. for
that Thou vast pleased to place Thy
servant, our sovereign lady, Queen Vic
toria, upon the throne Of this realm.
Let Thy wisdom be her aid, and let
Thy arms strengthen her; let justice.
truth and holiness; let peace and love
flourish in her days. Direct all her
counsels and endeavors to Thy glory,
and the welfare of her people, and give
us grace to obey her cheerfully. Let
her always possess the hearts of the
people; let her reign be long and pros
porous, and crown her with immortality
in the life to come
A special prayer for unity was said,
and there were special psalms and
gospels used instead of those for the
day, the gospel being the sixteenth
verse of the 22d chapter of ST. Mat
thew: Render. therefore, unto Gaze
sar the things which are Caesars"
There was no sermon. but a special
hymn written by the Right Rev Will
liam Walsham, Lord Bishop of Wake
field, with music by Sir Arthur Sulli-
van, was sung at her majesty's request.
The third verse was as follows:
90 royal heart with wide embrace.
For all her children yearning,
Oh, happy realm, such mother grace
With loyal love returning.
Where England's flag flies wide unfurled
All tyrant wrongs repelhng;
God make the world a better world
For mans brief earthly dwelling.
Before the benediction, the following
Speclal tnankSS1NluS WIS OntTeU- ",
Lord. our Heavenly Father, We give
Thee hearty thanks for the many bless
ings which Thou hast bestowed upon
us during the sixty years of the happy
reign of our gracious Queen, Victoria.
We thank Thee for progress made in
knowledge of Thy marvellous works, for
kindlier feeling between rich and poor,
for wondrous preaching of the gospel
to many nations, and we pray Thee
that these and Thy many gifts be con-
tlnued to US and our Queen to the glory
of Thy holy name, through Jesus
Christ, our Lord, amen"
The choir of st. Georges Chapel rem
dered the musical portion of the ser
vice, Sir Walter Parrett presiding at
the organ. The service lasted forty
minutes, the Queen remaining 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 a touch
ing scene. which will ever linger in the
memory of those who witnessed it.
Summoning Empress Frederick. who
bowed low at her side, the Queen kissed
her on both cheeks. The Duke of Con-