Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-08-14
CORONATION CEREMONIES.
King Edward Exhibited No Outward
9fftFi Traces of Fatigue,

and the ushers had barely found their sta
tions before the seats began to fill. Peers
and peeresses swept up the nave, their
scarlet and ermine making vivid contrasts
arrived before the thrones they separated,
the peers going to the right and the peeresses
60 the left.
Even when practically empty the abbey
presented an interesting, picturesque effect,
the oldest feature of which consisted in
every seat being practically covered by
lnrge, white official programme, in the
centre of which was placed small, deep red
book of service. Without the tapestries or
light furnishing of the tiers upon tiers of
seats, which rose 50 feet high, the combina-
tion Of white and red programmes by itself
produced gala effect. The preliminary
eulogies of the decorative arrangements were
not overstated.
By 10 O'Clock the interior OF the abbey
presented blaze Of color. Along the nave,
which was lined by Rrenadiers, every chair
was taken up by high officers of the army
and navy and others in equally handsome
equipment. On top Of the arch separating
the nave from the chancel sat the surpliced
orchestra. In stalls within, with the other
ambassadors, were the United States Am
bassador, Joseph H. Choate, and Mrs.
Choate.
sThe service commence with the reconsecra-
tion of the regalia. The procession of the
clergy with the regaiia then proceeded from
the altar to the annex, all present standing
and the choir singing: "Oh, God, our Help
In Ages Past" Preceding the regalia came
the boys of Westminster Abbey, followed by
the children Of the Chapel Royal and the
choir in royal uniforms.
The Duke of Connaught took his place
beside the Prince of Wales in the abbey as
the procession entered, bowling as he passed
the Prince. The Archbishop of Canterbury
took his seat in front of the coronation
chair, and the Earl of Halsbury, the Lord
High Chancellor, seated himself by his
side. Several minutes elapsed, however,
before the King and Queen came in sight of
those gathered about the throne. Suddenly
viva Alexandra" was shouted by the boys
Of Westminster, and the Queen, walking
slowly to the left of the throne, gained her
chair and knelt at silken prie dieu, her
magnificent train of cloth h-of-gold being
lifted out of her way by six scarlet-coated
pages. Two OF three minutes later came the
hoarse cry from the Westminster boys of
"Viva Rex Edwardus," with blasts from
trumpets. sYet athere was another wait.
'What has become of the king?" was asked
by people who were shut of from sight of
the nave. The Queen waited patiently, the
organ ceased, and then resumed. There
was another chorus of 1VIyas," and King
Edward appeared and walked to his chair,
In front of the throne, bowling to the Queen
as he passed. and then knelt down in prayer.
After removing his somewhat unbecoming
cap, His Majesty arose and the Archbishop
of Canterbury, in trembling voice, read
the recognition, beginning: "Sirs, here
present unto you King Edward, the un-
doubted King of this realm,' &c. Then
there was a hoarse shout and the blending
OF the choir and the people, women and
men, In the cry God Save King Edward. "
Several times this was repeated, and the
I abbey rang with fanfares.
| Again the King and Queen knelt, and the
| archbishop of Canterbury walked to the
aitnr and commenced the communion.
| While the gospel was being read, the King
stood erect, supported on each side by the
bishops. During the singing of the creed
all the members of the royal family turned
eastward. Both King Edward and Queen
Alexandra followed the service carefully,
| frequently looking at the copies of the SER
vice which they held in their hands.
| Administration of the oath followed.
Standing before the Kings chair, the arch
bishop asked: Sri Your Majesty willing
| to take the oath?" The King answered in
firm, strong tones II am Wiling" Then
i the inkstand was brought, and the King
signed the oath. He did not advance TO
the altar, but sat in the chair he had occu-
pied since the. service began. While the
| choir sang Come, Holy Ghost, Our Souls
Inspire, the King remained seated and the
| Queen stood up.
| After the amounting prayer, gold canopy
was brought over the Kings chair, and His
Majesty divested himself of his outer robe
and then walked to the ancient chair, while
the choir sang Seadok's anthem. The
amounting ceremony was scarcely seen,
owing to the canopy. The spectators were
Just able to discern the archbishop of
Canterbury's motions. After the prayer,
the King donned the colobium sindonis.
then resumed his seat, and from scarlet,
silken roll. on which the prayers were
| In IA
by the dean of Westminster, the archbishop
of Canterbury read the prayers and de-
livered the sword to the King, who did not
go to the altar, the sword being taken Ia
him by the dean Of Westminster. while
His Majesty remained standing. The armila
and the orb were then delivered to the
King, according to the programme. When
the King held out his hand for the ring, the
archbishop of Canterbury had difficulty in
finding 1t, but finally, with trembling
hands, he; placed il on the tip of Hi
Maiesty's finger, reading the prayer stimuli
taneously, the King completing the process
of putting on the ring as he withdrew his
hand. Later the archbishop had simiDal
difficulty, owing to his near-sightedness, il
placing the crown on the Kings head. Ir
fact, the choir started God Save the King
while the archbishop of Canterbury was
still striving to place the crown on the
rulers head, and great shout went up and
the electric lights were turned on.
As the acclamations died away, the clang
ing OF the Joy bells, the noise of guns ano
the shouting of the people outside pene
trated the abbey. where the King still ga t
motionless, his dazzling crown on his heaC
and his sceptre held firmly in his hand
After singing BE Strong and Play tn
Man, and the Bible having been presented
the King advanced and knelt while he re
ceived the benediction. He then walked I,
the great throne, where he stood on the dai
| for the first time, surrounded by mobiles
The archbisop of Canterbury followed tn
King, who was Obliged to stand Will
awaiting the arrival of the archbishop
Having placed the King on his new throne
the archbishop knelt and paid homage, tn
! aged prelate scarcely being uble to rise unit
the King assisted him. The archbishop
who seemed to be In a faint, had to practi
i cally be carried to the altar. The inciden
1 created considerable excitement, and severa
preates rushed forward to help the primate
The next person to pay homage to Hi
Majesty was the Prince of Wales, who knel
/ until King Edward held out his hand, ,whic
! he kissed, after touching the crown as
! sign of fealty. The Prince of Wales the
started to return to his seat, when the Kin
i drew him back and put his arms aroun
him and kissed him. After this the Kin
Z once more gave the Prince his hand, thi
! time to shake, but hearty vigor of Kin
Edwards grasp showed that his hand q
any rate had not lost its strength.
a The service, which was completed wit
the singing of the "Te Deum," was brougt
to close without a hitch. The King es
: hihitad no outward traces of fatipue.