The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-07
HOW WALES WILL BE CROWNED.
Ceremony Differs Little From the Pro-
cedure in the Fifteenth Century.

ceremony DAHeTs LIttlf from the Pro-
cedure in the Fifteenth Century,.
When the time comes for a new king of
England the College of Arms will proclaim
him, just as they have proclaimed every
monarch for hundreds of years past.
Times change and dynasties. We are less
like the Englishmen of Edward l. than
We are like the modern Japs. We talk a
different tongue. We eat different foods.
we wear different clothes. we think diff
ferent thoughts. Nothing is the same ex-
cept the columns on Stonehenge and the
College of Arms. The college abides,
varying by not so much as a detail of pro-
cedure or a button on a uniform What is
is good and cannot be improved There
fore the business of proclamation will be
the same in the goth century as it was in
the 18th.
When the time unhappily comes for a
new king to reign the Lrivy council will
meet and declare the throne to have de-
volved on the Prince of Wales Orders
will at once be given to the earl marshal
and the officers of the College of Arms to
proclaim him. The first proclamation will
be made in the courtyard of ST. James
palace, where the guard is changed. Gar
ter King. the chief officer of the guard
will make the proclamation in solemn
form, with the earl marshal, the kings,
the heralds and the pursuivants In full
uniform, and mounted hard by At this
proclamation the monarch is present.
sitting at the window where all his pred
ecessors have sat
That is the chiefest Of the proclama-
TORS; but the news has to be carried far
and wide to the distant cities. the rank of
the proclaiming officer descending as the
business proceeds. The second pronounce
ment Is made at Charng Cross and the
third at the corner of Chancery lane At
this proclamation there will be a modif-
cation of the ancient form, owing to the
disappearance of Temple Bar. Within the
city of London the lord mayor and sher-
ifs preserve their ancient sovereignty,
and allow no ruler within their gates ex-
cept after permission has been asked and
granted. The old form was for the junior
pursuivant to rap at the gate and show
his warrant for proclamation. Then tie
lord mayor ordered the gates to be OPEN
ed, and Joined In the stately procession.
The ceremony will doubtless remain, bar
ring the knock at the gate, which does not
exist. In the provinces the proclamations
are made by the local mayors.
Being proclaimed and crowned the king
has to offer to fight for his throne. In
the olden times when a king reigned by
the power of his right arm. this was a
necessary Formally, and because it was
necessary once ii is done still But the
king no longer does his own lighting. He
has a champion, the hereditary champion
of England. whose business 1t is to do bat
tie with all corners for the crown 4Ae
champion is always member of the Dy-
moke family. When the king is crowned
this champion rides mtg Westminster hall
mounted and in full armor, just as the
champion was 600 years ago He is ac-
companied by the earl marshal and the
lord great chamberlain, also on horse
back The hall is crowded with ticketed
sightseers. A proclamation Is read by one
of the heralds challenging anyone who dis
putes the right of the sovereign to combat
in an open space. The champion throws
down his gauntlet as guarantee of good
faith, and then the hearts of all the la
dies flutter in anticipation of a fight. But
it all a disappointing sham. If some en-
terprising person were to take up the
challenge and the gauntlet he would
probably be run in by the police for Gre
ating a disturbance The herald takes up
t1e glove and hands it back to the cham
pion, and then the king is firmly seated on
his throne.