Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-02-20
Coronation of MonarChS.

state. four crowns, four sceptres and
the coronation ring The chief crown
will be that specially known as Queen
Nictoria's. we'll enough remembered as
dazzling mass of diamonds by all
tourists who have visited the Tower OF
London 1t is the crown to be actually
used in the ceremony of GROWING the
King. Another is provided for the
browning of the Queen Consort. and
one to be worn by each during the
ceremony after the actual croWning.
The sceptres are % the staff of gold
of St Edward. surmounted by a ball
and cross, which is to be borne before
the King: 90 the jeweled sceptre TO pc
placed in his right hand by the Arch
bishop Of Canterbury when he is LED
to the throne; go another sceptre. sur
mounted by gold dove. to be placed
in his right hand at the same point OF
the ceremonies. and tD shiaIitr
sceptre for the Queen Consort.
! BY ancient right of his see. the Arch
bishop Of Canterbury performs the
/ whole of the ceremony OF anointlhs'
! browning, and enthroning. the othef
| clergy acting merely as his assistants.
| The first of these three acts was, II
! the ewes of faith, the most important:
| In il the oil or chrism, smeared upon
/ the hands ana shoulders, was regarded
as both signifying and conveying an
unction from on high" through which
the recipient received spiritual strength
\ 10 do valiantly ana to bear burdens
patiently The throne, as everyone
/ nowadays knows. contains the stone
upon which all the kings of Scotland
were crowned until the time of Robert
Bruce. and which is believed 70 have
been used by the Patriarch Jacob as a
pillow when he dreamed his dream of
the angels.
The regalia are placed upon the altar.
whence they are taken by the Dean
and Chapter of Westminster and
handed with minute attention 10 pre-
scribed forms to the Lord Chancellor.
Lord Constable and Earl Marshal. The
ceremony after the browning includes
the presentation ana proclamation of
the King to his lieges-a relic Of the
Anglo Saxon custom Of elective mon
archy-and the homage. when the
whole body of peers, standing, raise
their coronets and cry, Long live the
King"
How lar lneSt ceremonies il't'N -
modified on the occasion of the next
coronation by the fact that the Indian
Empire has come into existence since
the last cannot now be foretold. Pos
sibly the ancient splendor may be aug
mented and complicated by the pres
ence. with the peers. of scores Of
feudatories from TIindostan. who, in
that case would DO homage in their
own fashion. The we'll known as
pirations Of the new King toward I'M
perial Federation may also result IN
some ceremonial recognition of the
great colonies.
/ The coronation is. by ancient custom.
followed by the coronation banquet in
Westminster hall. the most interesting
feature of which is the entrance of the
I hereditary champion of England,
clothed in armor. mounted on horse
back, and accompanied by the Earl
Marshal and two heralds. These last,
after flourish Of trumpets. will pub
lish a challenge on the part OF the
champion to any man who may wish
to question the right of Edward to the
throne of England. The champion $
gauntlet will then be flung in proper
mediaeval form upon the floor of the
old hall of Henry Plantagenet, and.
unless something very unexpected
takes place. will be returned to ITS
owner by pursuivant. with a gold cup
+ of wine from the King.