The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-19

tude may seem ridiculous. for II can
hardly be understood. And as TO the
ceremonies attendant upon the crown
ing of a king already royal ruler by
accession and de facto sovereign for
the past seventeen months the direct
and indirect expenditure upon IL OF at
least $50. 900 seems TO a disinterested
observer the height OF absurdity and
the depth OF folly. The most striking
commentary on this phase OF the sub
ject is the charity dinner TO be given by
the king TO the London poor, upon
which he will expend $l50,000. This sum
is but a small fraction of the total
amount which will be paid for dress
and ceremonies. for equipages, useless
baubles, and which. save for the char
ity indirectly bestowed upon those who
assist at the preparations. is as good as
thrown away. And this at time when
all England is groaning over the great
waste of treasure in South Africa!
Another commentary which should not
be omitted i'm this connection may be
found in the fact that one in every
twelve OF King Edwards subjects In
London, it is estimated, on account OF
dire poverty finds a charity coronation
dinner most acceptable.
There must be some reason for this
blindness OF the Briton TO the incon-
gruity of events now shaping i'm Great
Britain's capital. and perhaps IL may
be found in his awesome reverence for
musty traditions, for things savoring OF
the antique, for a sovereign who can
trace his lineage back i'm an unbroken
line to the earliest kings OF England.
That which is and has been is far SUI
perior TO that which may be and Is
yet TO be tried" is the doctrine that
John Bull has assiduously fostered all
his life. More than this. the people see
in the extravagantly lavish ceremonials
Of the coronation a significance not ap-
parent at first glance.
From the initial movement OF the
procession to the last detail OF the cor
onation proper every phase OF the func-
tion is pregnant with meaning and full
of suggestion TO the loyal subjects OF
the sovereign. Buckingham palace, for
instance. from which the king and
queen set forth i'm their state coach
with brilliant escort at 10 o'clock. has
long been the official and recognized
royal residence in London. The first
regal occupant was George Ill, the
great-grandfather of the present SOW
ereign. who purchased il shortly after
his marriage TO Princess Charlotte. and
here most of his children were born. in
Guiding the Duke OF Kent. Victoria's
father and King Edwards grandfather.
England's maiden queen" Victoria.
took possession of Buckingham i'm July.
1887. and here she and her chosen con-
selves 10 her enthusiastic subjects after
their betrothal, and hither they re-
turned as man and wife from the chapel
royal. Fifteen years ago this month OF
June Victoria's first great jubilee was
celebrated at buckingham, whence
splendid procession dignified by the Wis
iting royalties of Europe set out foi
Westminster abbey. The queens dia-
mond jubilee was also observed here
and sentiment doubtless decided KIM
Edward TO make Buckingham his off,
cial town residence. 1t was from this
palace that he set forth TO open his first
parliament. and here will take place all
the great social functions of the coro-
nation.
Following long established precedent,
the king and queen will enter the abbey
by the great west gate. where they will
receive the glad acclaims OF the kings
scholars OF Westminster school. We'll
coined by the great functionaries OF
state and the noblemen bearing the va
rious articles pertaining TO the regalia.
such as crown, scepters. orbs, etc, the
king and queen will first kneel in
prayer on footstools in front of their
coronation chairs. Then the archbishop
OF Canterbury. the lord high chancellor,
the lord great chamberlain and the gar
ter king of arms will each in turn
formally present the king. and the no
BILE lords carrying the regalia will de-
posit the same upon the altar. The lit
any and the communion service, both
abbreviated will then succeed. the
archbishop will recite the Nicene Greed,
and the bishop of London will preach a
very short sermon, just previous to
which the king will put on a cap OF
crimson velvet trimmed with ermine
and Immediately after will take the
oath. Attendants will then remove the
cap and crimson robe, and while four
garter knights hold over the king a pail
of cloth of gold the dean OF Westmin-