The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-01-30
KING EDWARD WI.
Takes tho Oath Of King and Emperor In the
Privy Council--Pledged 10 Rule by
Constitution Speech.

In the presence of the privy council
Wednesday at St James palace Edward
VII. took the oath as king OF Great
Britain and Ireland and emperor OF ln-
dia. lie made the following address:
Your royal highnesses, my lords and
gentlemen: This is the most painful oc-
casion on which | shall ever be called
upon to address you My first and mel
ancholy duty is to announce to you the
death OF my beloved mother. the queen,
and | know how deeply you and the
whole nation and, think | may say, the
whole world, sympathize with me in the
irreparable loss we have all sustained. /
need hardly say that my constant en-
deavor will be always to walk in her
footsteps.
I'm undertaking the heavy load which
now devolves upon me, ! am fully de
termned to be a constitutional sovcr-
eign in the strictest sense of the word,
and, SO long as there is breath in my
body, to work for the good and anchor
alton OF my people. | have resolved
to be known by the name OF Edward,
which has been borne by six OF my an
ccstors. In doing so | do not under
value the name Of Albert. which in
herlt from my ever to be lamentcd
great and wise father, who by universal
consent is, think descrvcdly. known by
the name OF Albert the Good. and de
sire that his name should stand alone.
In conclusion. | trust to parliament an1
the nation to support me in the arduous
duties which now dcvolyc upon me by
inheritance, to which / am determine |
to devote my whole strength during
the remainder OF my life"
Edward VII, king OF Great Britain
and Ireland and emperor of India, as
cended the throne with a rare expert
ence. The claims OF royalty have rest
ed upon him many years without de-
manding that responsibility which is IN
vested in a ruler, but which at the same
time made him vastly more than a fig
urehead in the eyes OF the English peo-
pie
He was born on November 0. IS4r, at
Buckingham palace, the eldest son OF
the queen and Prince Albert He be-
came Duke of Cornwall at the moment
OF his birth, a title held by the eldest
son OF the sovereign for many centuries,
which entities the holder to the reve-
nues OF the Delcctable Dutchy amount
ing to over 100000 year Before he
was weeks Old ne was created 1rince
OF Wales and Earl OF Chester by royal
patent. as the former OF these titles new
er passes by merely hereditary right,
but is subject to fresh creation for each
holder of the title.
The Prince OF Wales also is Duke OF
Rothesay and Duke OF Saxe-Coburg-
Gotha, Prince OF Saxony, Earl OF Car
rick. Earl OF Dublin and Baron Rem
frew. He also enjoys the picturesque
title OF Lord OF the Isles.
Edward VII. the new king. is the
most prominent living Freemason, not
only by reason OF the fact that he may
soon become king Of England, but be-
cause he is grand master OF the grand
lodges OF England, Ireland, Scotland
and Wales. and is also grand prior of
the order OF Knights Tcmplars in Eng
land and grand patron OF the Ancient
Accepted Scottish Rite OF Freemasonfy
in the United Kingdom, having receiv-
ed the 33d and last degree in that branch
OF Freemasonry. For more than 81
years he has been identified with the
Masonic order.