The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-09

there was hoarse shout and the
blending of the choir and the people,
women and men, in the cry: God Save
King Edwardr' Several times this was
repeated and the abbey rang with loud
fdnfares.
Again the king and queen knelt and
the archbishop of Canterbury walked
to the altar and commenced the COM
munion. While the gospel was being
read the king stood erect, supported on
each side by the bishops in their heav-
lily embroidered capes During the sing
ing of the creed all the members of the
royal family turned eastward. Both
King Edward and Queen Alexandra
followed the service carefully, frequent
/ ly looking at the copies of the service
which they held in their hands.
The administration of the oath fol-
lowed. Standing before the kings chair,
the archbishop asked: Sir, is your ma
jeSty willing to take the oath?"
TAKING THE OATH.
The king answered in firm, strong
tones: Il am wiling his replies being
easily heard in the triforum near the
roof. Then the inkstand was brought
and the king signed the oath. He did
not advance to the altar but sat in the
chair he had occupied since the service
began. While the choir sang Come,
Holy Ghost. Our Souls Inspire the
king remained seated and the queen
After the archbishop's annionting
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 Sea docks Anthem"
The amounting ceremony was scarcely
seen owing to the canopy. The spec
tators 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 We're print
ed in large type and which was held by
tie dean of Westminster the arch
bishop of Canterbury read the prayers
and delivered the sword to the king.
. who did not go to the altar. the sword
being taken to him by the dean of
Westminster while his majesty remain
ed standing.
The armilla 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
it, but finally, with tren bling hands,
he~placed it on the tip of his majesty S
finger. reading the prayer simulta-
process of putting on the ring as he
withdrew his hand. Later the arch
bishop had similar difficulty, owing to
nearsightedness, in placing the crown
on the kings head. In 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.
SCEPTRE IN HIS HAND.
AS the acclamations died away the
FcIanging joy bells, the noise of guns
and the shouting of people outside pen
| etrated into the Abbey, where the king
still sat. motionless, his dazzling crown
on his head and his sceptre held firmly
| in lis hand.
| After singing "Be Strong and Play
the Man. and the Bible had been pre-
i sented, the king advanced and knelt
while he received the benedietion.s He
| then walked to the great throne, where
| he stood on the dais for the first time,
i surrounded by nobles- The archbishop
| of Canterbury followed, the king being
rival of the archbishop. Having placed
| the king into his new throne the arch
bishop kne1t and paid homage, the aged
prelate scarcely being able to rise un-
| til the king assisted him and himself
raised the archbishop's hands from the
| steps of the throne. The archbishop,
| who seemed to be in faint, had to
practically be carried to the altar. The
| incident created considerable excitement
| and several prelates rushed forward to
| help the orimate.
| The next person to pay homage to his
| majesty was the Prince of Wales, who
| knelt until King Edward held out his
| hands, Which he kissed after touching
the crown as a sign of fealty. The
| Prince of Wales then started to return
| to his seat when the king drew him
| back and put his arms around him and
kissed him. After this the king once
more gave the prince his hand, this
| time to shake, and the hearty vigor Of
| King Edwards grasp showed that his
| hand at any rate had not lost its
/ strength.
| The Duke of Norfolk, as earl marshal
accompanied by representatives of each
grade of nobility, read the oath begin
ming Il, duke or earl etc. do become
your liege man Of life and limb" etc.
| The respective representatives next
! touched the crown and kissed the kings
| cheek, the Duke of Norfolk being the
only peer to read the oath. This portion
| of the service was considerab bly, short
ened.
| GROWING OF THE QUEEN.
The queen then rose and, accompanied
by her encourage, proceeded to the altar
/ steps, where, under a pail of cloth OF
| gold, she was quickly crowned by the
| archbishop of York, supported by the
bishops. She was then led to the throne
| beside that in which the king sat and her
enthronization was ACCOMPLISHED
The queen bowed to King Edward
| and both walked to the altar and re-
| ceived the comm union. after delivering
their crowns to the lord great chamber
| lain and another officer appointed te
| hold them The pages while theil
majesties knelt still held the queens
/ maSnlncent long tram, with the rest Ol
| the mobiles present kneeling. The resr
| of the spectacle was impressive and
| was made more brilliant by the electric
light.
BY a great effort the Archbishop OF
Canterbury was enabled to conclude the
| service and the king and queen re
| paired to St. Edwards chapel. Neithel
| of their majesties returned to theil
thrones after the communion. but re
| nained at the altar. The service, which
was completed with the singing of ths
Te Deum was brought to close with
| out hitch. The king exhibited no out
| ward traces of fatigue.
RETURNS TO THE PALACE.
The departure of the king and queer
| from the abbey was signaIed by an.
other salute, the nassed bands playing
God Save the King" The entire route
of their majesties return to the palace
was marked by scenes of enthus-.sn
similar to those which greeted theil
| progress to the abbey. the more cir.
i-cuifalls route through lllIh land AM