New-York tribune., 1902-04-17
CORONATION NOTES.
THE MOST ANCIENT CONSIDERATION
RITUAL FOR RoYALTY-STAGING
THE THEATRE - LOIBARD-ST.
uTTAIINATED-THE GOLDEN
GRASSHOPPER.


Westminster Abbey has been closed this week
for the first time since the Victorian coronation
Canon Robinson at the final service preached
most impressive sermon on the historical and
religious associations Of the royal conservation
service In June A thousand years in Thy
sight are but as yesterday" was happily chosen
as the text: and in few eloquent sentences the
dignity Of the most ancient coronation cere-
rnonial in the worI3 was enforced as a service
sntedating the oldest architectural remains in
the Abbey. and running hack thousand years
into the dreamy twilight of the past. The coro-
nations at Rheims had ended. and other
country had so ancient service for the conse-
grafton Of monarch; and the essential features
# IT, the amounting with oil, the Zadok anthem.
the fifteen blessings. the placing Of the sceptre
IN the Kings hands. the coronation the COM
rnunion. and the acclamations Long live the
King, May the King live forever" had been
retained from the ancient ritual. The service
had oaen translated from Latin into English.
and additions had been made 10 It such the
formula of the presentation of the Bible with
The words. Our gracious King, We present you
with this book. the most valuable thing that the
world affords; but substantially it has
NAMED the medieval ritual Of the conservation
OF q bishop adapted to the coronation of
sovereign. Once only has the communion office
been oulitted-when James II was crowned:
ard alone has the anthem LaQOk Ile
PRIEST been discarded-when Edward the Con
fessor was crowned. No essential element Of
the ancient service would be sacrificed or slurred
In June. Some Of the redundant phrases and
t,rir1pressive repetitions introduced during the
last two hundred years might be pruned and
thinned out; but in all material respects the
-ituaIis1n and symbolism would be unchanged
Canon Robinson. in a forecast of the coming
ceremonial virtually repeated the details Of the
Victorian coronation. A large raised platform.
known as the theatre, would be erected between
the choir and the sanctuary. The thrones
would be in the centre Of the theatre. and King
Edwards chair with the fatefui stone Of Scone
n the sanctuary. The Dean and Chapter would
meet the King and Queen at the west end of
The nave and the procession would be as at the
Victorian coronation "I was glad when they
said unto ne. We shall go into the House OF
the Lord" AS they entered the choir group
of Westminster scholars would shout ''Vivat
Alexandra Regina, Tivat Eduardus Rex The
King would be presented by the Archbishop OF
Canterbury four times from each side Of the
theatre, and the assent OF the spectators to the
coronation would be Loyalty proclaimed The
Htany and opening portion Of the communion
of7ce would be recited by two bishops in copes.
and 2 short sermon preached by the Bishop Of
London The coronation oath would be followed
bv the ancient hymn, "Eeni Creator and the
amounting would be accompanied by the anthem
seZadok the priest" The sword and spurs would
BE- presented, with the imperial robes and orb,
the ring the sceptre with the cross. and the rod
with the dove The King would be crowned by
the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Bible
delivered to him. After the Archbishop's bene-
aictions and the Te Deum the King would be
snthroned and would receive the homage Of the
bishops paers and other orders The amounting
j crowning Of the Queen by the Archbishop
of York would be followed by the royal obliga-
tions and the communion office. At the close OF
the service the King would lay some Of the
royal ornaments upon the altar Of St Edward
before passing out OF the Abbey The only in
novations which are indicated IN this forecast
are the acelamations Of the Westminster schol-
s-e At the entrance Of the sovereigns. and the
coronation Of the Queen by the Archbishop Of
YORK Otherwise tbs function viii correspond
closely in ritual and detail with the coronation
Of George III and Queen Charlotte.
The Earl Marshal and the other officers Of the
Crown have already entered upon the transfer
nation Of the venerable Abbey for the corona
rion When the theatre and the tiers Of gal
leries have been constructed, the Interior will
be barely recognizable. The sacrarium VIII be
farkeo on the south side by the royal box. and
on the north side by benches for the bishops and
Abbey clergy. There VIII be two chairs in front
Of the royal box, where the King and queen
viii sit during the sermon. with officers Of state
On either side St Edwards chair viii sand in
front Of the altar, and the King will be seated
IN il when he is anointed and crowned TIE
Queen will kneeI upon cushion the altar
steps when she is anointed and crowned Queen
Adelaide occupied the coronation chair OF Queen
Mary II in similar circumstances although she
was queen consort and not d reigning SOW
ereign; but this innovation is not to be re
peated. The Archbishop Of Canterbury will
have q purple velvet chair the north side
Of the altar. There viii be two chairs with
faldstools for the use Of the King and Queen
during the communion service; and on the
broad platform. or theatre. between the four
pillars Of the lantern there viii be two thrones
higher than the other where they will re-
eeive the homage Of the peers. peeresses. am
bassadors and spectators The general arrange
rnent Of galleries for spectators Will be similar
70 that adopted at the Jubilee service in the
Abbey. The Chapel Of st. Edward the Con-
fessor. behind the altar, is 10 be converted into
waiting chambers, where the King can be d.
vested Of his coronation Vestments and where
the heavy crowns worn by both sovereigns can
be laid aside before the procession is reformed
for the reCessionai
The Lornbard-st- bankers. in taking meas
ures for the reproduction Of the oldtiue signs
in the coronation decorations, have set an ex-
ample which might be effectively initiated IN
other streets The significance OF the street
names might easily be illustrated with pictur-
esque effect by the display Of tie signs ana
symbols Of the rnedieval handicrafts and trades
Cheapside would be divided between the putcl-
ers and the haberdashers as market with q
Poultry Corner: Bread and Milk SITS would be
nlI -s-1a ha Il