The Cape Girardeau Democrat., 1897-06-26
THE GOOD QUEEN VIC.
Her Sixty Years Reign Appro-
priately Celebrated
BY City, United Kingdom and Empire
Simple and Impressive Thanksgiving
Services in St. Georges Chapel
and st. Paurs Cathedral.

the altar of her faith. Throughout
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 royal
family, prevented the gathering of a
large crowd. The scene was most i'm
preSsive and the service most simple.
Her majesty sat in the chair of state
Immediately before the communion
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 house
hold entered first, followed by the
Military Knights of Windsor in t full
costume of cooked hats and scarlet
coats.
The duke of Devonshire and Lord
Roseberry 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 in
sigma of chaplain of the order Of the
garter, officiated, assisted by the lord
bishop of Barry, and several canons.
Punctually 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 stand
ing. She was dressed all in black. ex-
cept for a white tuft in her bonnet.
Empress Frederick of Germany, at
tired in deep mourning, took the seat
at the right of the queen, while the
duke of Connaught, wearing his Wind
sor uniform, seated himself at her left.
The others grouped closely behind
and looked like Il simple family of wor-
shippers. Among them were the duchess
OF Connaught Prince Henry of Prus
sia and Princess Henry. Prince Chris
tian and Princess Christian with their
children, Princess Henry of Batten-
berg, Grand Duke Sergius and the
grand duchess.
Ordinary morning prayers began
with short eXortation from First
Timothy. and the suffrages after the
creed contained these sentences:
Priest-Oh Lord, save the queen,
Rcsponse-WhO putteth her trust in
Thee.
Priest-Send her help from Thy
holy place.
Response-And evermore nightly
defend her.
Priest-Let her enemies have no ad-
vantage over her;
Response-Let not the wicked ap-
proach to hurt her.
After the first collect, a special col
lect was read and Instead of the usual
prayer for the queen and royal family,
two special prayers were substituted,
containing the following:
Almighty God. who ever rulest over all the
kings of the world and diSpOseSt of them ac-
cording to Thy good pleasure. We yield Tnee
unfeigned thanks for that Thou vast pleased to
place Iny SERVANT our SOVeFlxn lazy. llueen
Victoria, upon the throne OF this realm. Let
Thy wisdom be her aid and let Thine 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 her people; let her reign
be long and prosperous, and crown her with i'm
mortality in the life to come
A special prayer for unity was said,
and there were special psalms and gos-
pels used instead of those for the day,
the Gospel being the sixteenth verse of
the twenty-second chapter of Mat
thewS:
Render therefore, unto Caesar the things
which are CpSar'S.
There was no sermon. but a special
hymn, written by .Rt. Rev. William
Walsham, lord bishop of Wakefield,
with music by Sir Arthur sullivan, was
sung at her majesty's request. The
third verse was as follows:
o. royal heart with wide embrace,
For all her children yearnng,
o. happy realm, such mother grace,
With royal love returning.
Where England's flaS flies wide unfurled
All tSrant wrongs repelIing:
God make the world "a better world
For mans brief earthly dwelling.
Before the benediction the following
pecial thanksgiving was offered:
o Lord, our Heavenly Father we give Thee
hearty thanks for the many blessings which
thou has bestowed upon us during the 90
years of the happy reign of our gracious Queen
Victoria We thank Thee for progress made
in knowledge OF Thy marvellous works. for in
,raaSe of comfort given to human life. for
K .ndlier feeling between rich and poor. for
Tondrous preaching of the Gospel to many na-
tons and pray Thee that these and Thy
many gifts be continued to us aad our queen
to the glory Of Thy holy name through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
The choir of st. Georges chapel
rendered the musical portion of the
service, Sir Walter Parrett presiding
at the organ. The service lasted 40
minutes. the queen remaining seated
throughout and following closely the
special prayers and hymn.
At the end there was a pause. The
queer with bowed head. continued in
silent prayer. Then followed q touch
ing scene which will ever linger in the
memory of those vino witnessed it
Summoning Empress Frederick. who
bowed low at her side. the queen
kissed her on both cheeks. The duke
0: Connaught and the others of the
family followed, receiving on bended
knee a similar token of affection. In