The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-02-09
$SorroWfuI Ceremonies In
) England.
BODY TAKEN
TO WINDSOR
Edward VII Proclaimed
King in Quaint
Fashion.

NEW YORK, Jan. PA cable to the
Sun from London. January oath, says:
Yesterday the Princes, Lords and
Councillors swore allegiance to King
Edward; today his accession to the
throne was proclaimed to the common
people by a quaint old ceremony, alike
mediacval and picturesque. The col
l1ege of arms or heralds' college, which
carried out the strange function, is an
almost unknown institution to the gen
eral public. Moreover, practically no
notices We're given of the official plans
and it almost seemed to be the inten-
ton to avoid a great public demonstra-
ton, which unquestionably would
have been made if the program had
been definitely announced. 1t was
formality therefore which only a few
Thousand witnessed.
The actors therein seemed to be
some strange creatures come from
far-of age Their marvellous dress
and accouterments suggested more
than anything else figures on the court
| cards of the playing packs suddenly
Iincarnated. They almost dashed
through the city, performed their func-
tions in the same haste as though anx-
ious to vanish again into the dead past
| from which they had been unwillingly
resurrected. The hour set for the cere-
mony was 10 a. M, but the proceed
/ fngs began at 9 o'clock at st. James
Palace, and were rushed through at
the different prescribed places-Char-
| ing Cross, Temple Bar, Cheapside and
Royal Exchange-with such celerity
| that the crowd was Of comparatively
diminutive proportions. This was the
object of the court officials as they
feared that il the ceremonies were
performed at a stated hour the throng
would be so dense that there would be
great difficulty in getting the heralds
in their gorgeous gilt tabards, and the
ltrumpeters through the streets.
/ The ceremonies, handed down from
the Middle. Ages, We're practically the
isame at each point. A contingent from
the College at Arms came up with a
flourish of trumpets. The contingent
consisted of three kings-of- four
iheralds and eight pursuivants in gor-
Igeous apparel, their tabards being
heavily embroidered with gold and silk
lions, royal coat of arms, flowers and
all the armorial bearings of the Col
llege of Arms
| When the trumpets ceased all heads
We're barred and William Henry We'll
don, king-of-arms, read in a loud, clear
voice the proclamation of Edward VII
las king.
| When the reading was finished the
king alarms, raising his three-corner-
ed hat, cried, God Save the King"
the populace took up the cry the
trumpets blew again and the band
played the national anthem. The third
fanfare of the trumpets ended the Ger
iemony.
"The city fathers" are excessively in
dignant at slight upon the Lord
Mayor at the ceremony Of proclama
ton at the meeting of the Privy Coun
tcil held Wednesday. When the proc
llamation had been signed the proceed
lure was for all those not Privy Coun-
ci1ors to leave the room before the
king should enter to hear the procla-
nation read to him. The Lord Mayor
was lingering on when other non
Privy Councillors retired and had to be
hidden almost peremptorily to leave by
the Duke of Devonshire before he re-
I1uctantly retired. 1t is a strange coin
sidence that precisely a similar Incl
dent happened at Queen Victoria's 5
proclamation in the Council. The Lord
Mayor there, too, remained in the
lroom and had to be ordered out by
lCharles Greville, diarist, who was clerk
of the Council The members Of the
city corporation contend that they
have been shorn of one Of their privil-
leges, but the law officers declare they
inever had the privilege.