The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-05-31

l
the coronation, but. of course, 1t mus
J be newly made, or at least set, for eaci
sovereign.
THE CORONATION CHAIR.
The ancient chair known as 1.-THE
coronation or King Edwards chair
Is considerably over 800 years old. Il
originally came from Scone. in Scot
land. whose kings had also beer
crowned in it. Edward I. of England
carried 1t away with him in 1897 from
its ancient repository in Scotland, an6
rendered it (along with other Of the
old Scottish regalia, the golden sceptre
and crown among the number) as q
solemn Offering at the shrine of Ed.
ward the Confessor. Ever since ther
it has stood in the "Chapel Of the
Kings" (the Confessor's chapeD and
been known as st. Edwards chair, be.
ing so designated in the coronation Of
fees. Four lions support each corner
and space between the chair and the
bottom board incloses the famous
stone Of Scone.
THE DAY PROCLAIMED.
The day of the coronation was an
nounced in accordance with old-time
regulation by royal proclamation in
London and elsewhere; in the present
instance six months in advance of the
actual date fixed
In the second week of December,
1901, the following was published in a
supplement Of the official London Ga
zette:
| ''By the King.
"a PROCLAMATION.
"For appointing Day for the Celebration Of
| the Solemnity Of the Coronation Of Their Ma
| jesties. Edward, Il. /.
"Whereas, BY Our Royal Proclamation, bear-
| ing date the twenty.sixth day Of June last, We
| did (amongst other thing0 publish and declare
Our Royal intention to celebrate the Solemnity
of Our Royal Coronation and OF the Coronation
| Of Our dearly beloved Consort the Queen, upon
| a day Of June next to be thereafter determined,
| at our palace at Westminster; and whereas we
! have resolved by the favor and blessing of Al
| mighty God to celebrate the said Solemnity upon
| Thursday the twenty-sxth day OF June next;
| We do, by this Onr Royal Proclamation, give
notice thereof, and We do hereby strictly charge
and command all Our loving subjects whom it
may concern, that all persons of what rank or
| quality they be, who either upon Our Let
ters to them directed or by reason Of their Offices
and tenures, otherwise, are to do any service
| at the time OF Our Coronation, do duly give their
| attendance at the said Solcmnity on Thursday,
| the twenty.sxth day of June next, in all re-
| spccts furnished and appointed as to so great
a Solemnity appertaineth and answerable to the
| dignities and places which every one OF them
respectively holdeth and cnioyeth, and OF this
they or any of them are not to fail, they will
answer the contrary at their peril unless upon
special reasons by Ourself under Our hand to he
| allowed We shall dispense with any of their SER
yies attendance:
"Provided always, and We do further by this
| our royal proclamation signify and declare, that
| nothing herein contained shall be construed to
change or alter our royal determination as more
| fully declared in our royal proclamation bearing
date the twenty y.sxth day of June last whereby
We did signify it to be royal will and pleas.
ure, upon the occasion OF this coronation,
to dispense with that part OF the ceremonial
which heretofore took place in Westminster l.all,
and that part thereof which consisted OF the pro.
ccssion.
"Given at our Court at Saint ,James's this
tenth day of December, in the year OF our Lord
one thousand nine hundred and one, and in the
first year of Our Reign.
"God save the King
THE PROCESSION.
AS regards the interior arrange
ments of the Abbey for the coronation
service, from the great west door, at
which the procession enters. to the
screen which divides choir from nave,
two rows Of galleries which hereto
fore been erected: on each side, that is
to say, of the centre aisle-the one gal
lery level with the Vaultings, the other
with the summit of the western doorA
These galleries, the backs of which
would rest against the wall of the
Abbey have their fronts fluted with
crimson cloth, richly draped at the
top. and decorated with broad golden
fringe at the bottom. The seats in
these galleries were supposed to pro-
vide accommodation for some fifteen
hundred persons. 1t is somewhat
doubtful, however, If galleries SO lofty
will be raised now.
On the floor Of the centre aisle a
slightly raised platform, or carpeted
way, is laid down, along which the
kings and queens procession passes
to the choir. This is matted over and
covered with crimson cloth. On the
pavement of the aisle itself bordering
this carpeted way stand the military
told off to keep the line of the process
sion clear.
The theatre" where the principal
parts of the opening ceremony are en-
acted, lies Immediately under the CEN
trail tower of the Abbey, and Is, in
fact square formed by the intersec-
ton of the choir and transepts, ex-
tending nearly the whole breadth Of
the choir. On this square a platform
Is erected, ascended by five steps. The
summit of this platform and also the
highest step leading to it are covered
with richest cloth of gold. From that
step down to the flooring of the "the- |
atre" all Is covered with carpet of rich
red or purple color bordered with gold.
In the centre of this theatre" the
sumptuously draped chair is placed for
the sovereign i'm which he receives the
homage Of the peers,and little aside
from 1t another for the queen consort.
At the northeast end Of this theatre"
pulpit is erected from which the COR
onation sermon Is preached.
In the sacrarium, which forms part |
of the altar-space, the coronation |
chairs stand-the ancient chair known !
as King Edwards and that of later |
date known as Queen Mary's. 1t is
here the king and queen are crowned. |
To the right of the altar, looking to- |
ward 1t. accommodation Is provided |
for, members of the royal family, and |
on the left a bench is provided for the |
bishops while above them In kind |
of low gallery or box" are ranged the |
foreign ambassadors and special en-
voys. The back Of the altar itself is |
draped with purple and gold silks, and
the floor Of the sacrarium Is covered |
with a rich purple and gold carpet. |
Above the altar in times past We're
the galleries reserved to the members