The Philipsburg mail., 1899-06-16

he served as A. D. C. in the same
campaign, winning there the decora-
t1ons of the Legion of Honor and the
Medjiade.
The English Garter, the Scotch
Thistle and the Irish st. Patrick are
the three most distinguished orders of
knighthood in the United Kingdom.
That of st. Patrick was the latest in
stituted, its date of inception being the
year 1888. Like the Order of the
Thistle, it has always been reserved
for noblemen, natives of the country,
made worthy of such distinction by
.knightly actions, great deeds or high
moral qualities. 1t has also enrolled
such members of the royal family as
1t has sought to honor. Previous to
the act of disestablishment the install
]ations were held in St. Patrick's ca
thedral, where above the several stalls
are still suspended the helmets and
banners of those who held the order
at that period. But the church has
been divorced by the state, and the
ceremony to-day is purely law, and is
performed in the CASTLE in St. Patricks
hall. 1t is noble chamber. decorated
in white and gold against which the
crimson chair of state stands out in
bold relief, overshadowed by the six
royal standards. From the walls are
suspended fourteen banners of the
knights created since the seculariza
tion of the order.
A bare of trumpets announced the
opening of the medieval drama. as
the Countess Cadogan and a train of
ladies, in black and white, came in
and took their seats at each side of
the chapter table, which was prosaic-
ally covered in blue cloth, and served
with blotting pads. Then the national
anthem heralded the procession Of his
eXcellency, who was resplendent in the
bluedeciel robes and jeweled insignia
Ot the grand master of the order, his
flowing mantle held up by two small
pages similarly caparisoned. The vice.
regal staff was in attendance. in gilt
tering uniforms. and Sir Arthur Wears,
Ulster king-at-arms, who was an i'm
posing and dignified figure in massive
gold-and-crimson tabard and quaint
Elizabethan ruff. At the command,
ULSTER summon the knights!" he dis
appeared, almost instantly reappear-
Ing like quick-change artist, in
circling crimson cloak, heading the
knights companions, thirteen in num-
ber, who, walking in order of seniority,
took their seats on the left of the
chapter table, where was one vacant
seat soon to be filled by the hero of
the function. The knights were hab-
tied in their blue mantles and insignia.
and, with the staff Of his excellency,
they made magnificent tableau The |
roll was then called. her majesty's |
warrant read, and, preceded by the Off |
cial rod of the gentleman usher, Lord |
Charlemont, time-old official OF the |
vice-royalty, the Earl of Lucan was
presented to the grand matser, who,
taking sword from an aide-de-camp,
dubbed the gallant soldier knight"
He Immediately retired, to return in
a few minutes, summoned by fam
fare and accompanied by the strains of
"See, the Conquering Hero Comes"
The procession on this occasion was
interesting and striking. The junior
knights, Lords Arran and Roberts,
conducted the earl between them to
the chair of state. His heraldic prop
critics were severally borne by the diff
ferent officers of the order. Athlone,
pursuivant of arms. led in the pageant,
and the banner was held by the Mar
Quis of Hamilton. He himself wore
the uniform of a lieutenant-colonel of
the First life guards, his medals glis-
tening on his scarlet tunic.
After signing the statutory declara-
ton, read by the chancellor, he was
robed by the senior knights, Lords Lis