The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-23
WHEN THE KING COMES IN.
Ceremonies That VIII he Performed
ny College of Arms.


When the time comes (Which may Heav-
en- delay for new King OF England the
College of Arms viii proclaim him, just as
they have proclaimed every monarch for
hundreds Of years past
Times chauge-and dynastles. We are
less like the Englishmen of Edward than
we are ike the modern Japs We talk
a different tongue, we eat different foods,
we wear different clothes, we think differ
ont thoughts Nothing is the same, except
the columns Of Stonehenge and the Col
lege of Arms The college abides varying
by not 50 much as detail Of procedure or
button on Uniform. What Is is good.
and cannot be improved. Therefore the
business OF proclamation will be the same
IN the twentieth century as it was in the
fifteenth.
When the time unhappily comes for a
new King 10 reign, the Privy 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 10
proclaim him. The first proclamation viii
be made IN the court yard of ST. James
Palace where the guard Is changed
Garter King, the chief officer Of the coll
iece, viii make the proclamation in solemn
form, with the Earl Marshal, the kings.
the heralds and the pusuiVants in full uni
form and mounted hard by. AT this proc
lamatlon the monarch Is present sitting at
the window, where all his predecessors
have sat
That IS the chiefest Of the proclama-
lions: but the news has to be carried far
and wide TO the distant city. the rank of
the proclamiug officer descending as the
business proceeds. The second pronounce
ment is made at Charing Cross, and the
third at the corner OF Chancery Lane.
At this proclamation there win he a
modification OF the ancient form. owing to
the disappearance of Temple Bar. Within
the city of London the Lord Mayor ana
sherffs preserve their ancient sovereign
~ and allow no ruler within their gates
except after permission asked and grant
ed.
The Old form was for the Junior pur-
suivant to rap at the gate and show his
warrant for proclama ton. Then the Lord
Mayor ordered the gate 20 be opened, and
joined in the stately procession.
The ceremony will doubtless remain.
barring the knock at the gate which does
not exist. The last proclamation is made
either at the corner of Wood street, Cheap
side. or beside the Royal Exchange. 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 formallty and because II was
necessary once It Is done still. But tho
King no longer does his own fighting He
has champion, the hereditary champion
Of England. whose business IL Is 90 do bat
tie with all Corners for the crown.
The champion Is always a member OF
the Dymoke family. When the King is
crowned he rides into Westminster hall,
mounted and in fun armor, just as the
champion was 600 years ago. He Is ac-
companicd by the earl marshal and the
lord great chamberlain. also on horseback.
The hail is crowded with ticketed sight
seers.
A proclamation Is read by one of the
heralds challenging anybody who disputes
the right of the sovereign to combat in an
open space. The champion throws down
his gauntlet as a guarantee of good faith.
and then the hearts of all the ladies fut-
ter In anticipation OF a tight
But It Is all a disappointing sham. If
| some enterprising person were to take up
I The challenge and the gauntlet he would
probably be run in by the police for Gre
| ating Disturbance The herald takes up
| the glove and hands II back to the cham
| pion, and then the King Is firmly seated
on his throne