The times., 1897-03-21

be held in Westminster bbey on June / 8
next.
They are the Earl Nelson, who, as a
thirteen -year-oId peer donned his silver
corcnet for the only time in his life at
the moment when the Archbishop Of Can
terbury solemnly placed the crown Of
Great Britain upon tie head Of the queen;
the paInarchal Ear of Leicester, who acted
on that occasion as pa ge Of honor and train
bearer to the sovereign S uncle, the old
Duke of Sussex; Mr. Gladstone, now in
his eighty-eighth year, and Mr. Nilliers.
''the Father OF tie House, who 1t the
age of ninetv-five still takes part ! Il the
deliberations Of Parliament
Both MIR Gladstone and Mr.. Yillisrs Nit
messed the queens coronation FROM II at
portion of Westminster Abbey reserved for
the accommodation OF the members Of the
first Parliament OF the present reign.
With these four notable exceptions,
all those who stood near the sovereign
during the first moiety of her occupan-
cy OF the throne have departed for an
other world, preceding her to that land
from whence no traveler-not even the
"Annointed Of the Lord ever retarns.
The archbishop who crowned her, the
ministers and statesmen from whom she
sought counsel in her youthful ineXperl-
ence. the great soldier. Arthur, Duke OF
wellington. who performing the functions
of Lord High Constable OF the Realm,
carried the great sword Of state before
ner. nav even the very titled maidens Who
bore hertrain. all twelve ofthem daughters
of dukes, have every one of them gone
down to the grave before her
This IN itself cannot fall TO enduw the
gorgeous spectacle i'll Westminster Abbey
few weeks hence with a certain degree
Of pathus, especially when the venerable
sovereign Of the British empire Will lie
seen making her slow and difficult way
up the nave-so truly alone and Lonesome
IN the midst of the vast and magnificently
attired tnrong-to the thousand year Old
throne Of Edward the Confessor.
Few who have seen Westminster Abbey
on ordinary occasions would recognize the
ancient fame on that day For tier upon
tier of seats thronged with beautifully
attired women. and men arrayed in uni-
Forms glittering with every degree of |
magnificenoe VIII fillevery available space.
The participants ID this unique pageant, |
Indeed, win be SO closely packed together |
that each gothic frame of stone viii have !
Its dazzling, living picture, while The |
hoary walls OF England's grand old metro |
politan minister VIII seem hidden by a
species of living curtain. sparkling, ami |
mated and literally palpitating with CD
enthusiastic loyalty.
The religious portion OF the ceremony |
will be short, the direction thereof being |
entrusted to the archbishops of Canterbury |
and Of York, TO the bishop of London and |
TO the dean Of the abbey, all four Of whom
for this occasion will wear those magnifi- |
cent gold embroidered, purple velvet man.
ties, with long trains that are known as |
their coronation robes. 1t VIII consist of |
q 'Te Deum, composed by the queens la |
meuted husband, of a superb chcrale like
wise by the Prince Cons5rt, and commenc- |
ing with the words, Because thy God |
loved Israel, therefore made He thee King |
10 30 justice and Judgment, the national
anthem being introduced in manner pc
culiarly thrilling and effective.
Then the Archbishop of Canterbury,
himself now on the threshold of his eighu
eth year. will intone the Thanksgiving,
as well as the prayers for the queen; while
the solemn blessing delivered from the
altar by the aged primate, followed by
slow and sustained "Amens" chanted by
the choir of 800 sUrpiced men and boys,
stationed il the organ gallery, viii bring
to close this impressive and unique Di
vine service.
Throughout this service the queen will
occupy the throne of King Edward the |
Confessor, over which will be thrown the
royal robes of purple and ermine II will
stand on q dais that fills up the center
space between the choir and the sacra-
rum, and facing the altar, which will be
laden with gold platae and beautifully
adorned with white blossoms To the right
and the left of the throne and behind il
will be set gold chairs of state for the
princes and princesses of the royal family
and for their illuStrious relatives from
abroad. At each corner Of the dais Will
be stationed the gorgeouSly epaulett ed ana
gold helmete gentlemne-at-armsw While the
ine from the entrance of the abbey to the
throne will be kept by the Yeomen of
the Guard or Beefeaters, arrayed in their
quaint medieval costume, which dates
back 10 the day OF Henry VII.
And then, when the last strains OF the
"Amen" have died away and the organ
commences to peal forth the magnificent
occasional march from "Athniie," the
queens children, her relatives and her
royal and imperial guests will approach
one by one to pay homage TO the grand
old lady, who is not merely the mother
Of kings, but the grandmother of en-
perors and the matriarct Of all the sovcr-
sIgn houses in Europe.
II at that moment her lip commences
20 quiver, and tears uniddden well up
tohereyes, and streamed down her wrinkled
heeks, no one need feel In the least sur
,rised For let alone the changes that
,eye been wrought during the thrceScore