New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-19
BOTH HOUSES MET LAST WEEK

good deal of confusion has been caused by the
fact that. although It opens only to-day, Parlia-
ment met last week. 1t was, however, merely for
the purpose OF electing the Speaker and in order
10 admit OF the various members Of Parliament
taking their seats and the customary oath OF
allegiance. Until this has been accomplished they
full edged legislators. and 1t therefore has
10 be done before the sovereign tremendously
opens the session. In the House Of Lords the new
Lord Chancellor Wednesday last subscribed
alone the oath of allegiance at the table. and then
the Garter King-at-Arms arrayed in his gorgeous
tabard, adorned with the arms Of the United King
dom. delivered him the roll of the lords tenn
porai. and the Clerk OF the Crown handed IN
certificate of the sixteen Scotch representative
peers who are elected for every Parliament, differ
ing therein from the Irish representative peers
who are elected for life. The Clerk of the Crown
in Ireland presents the writ and the return Of the
Irish representative peer elected since the dis
solution. and after the Irish peer and the
Scotch representative peers had subscribed to the
oath Of allegiance at the table with their sigma
lures the peers OF the United Kingdom. who
have either succeeded TO their titles or who have
been created since the dissolution of Parliament
were introduced with oldtime ceremonies, arrayed
in their peers ernine barred red robes escorted by
two brother peers. also in their robes, preceded by
the Garter King in his tabard, and accom-
paned by the Earl Marshal Of the realm the
Duke of Norfolk. and by the Lord Great Chamber
lain of England the Marquis of Cholmondeley.
APPROACHING the woolsack, each new peer bent A's
knee to the Lord High Chancellor and exhibited
to him his patent his writ of summons before
placing it in the table and subscribing the oath
of allegiance. He then conducted to his place
among the barons. the viscounts. the earls, the
1narouesses or the dukes, the case might be-
whence he and the peers escorting him made
several solemn and silent bows to the Lord High
Chancellor after which they hurried out of the
chamber DOTTED their stuffy and cumbersome, ~
gorgeous robes and resumed their seats in the
ordinary every day attire.
To-Day OF course, the occasion OF the cere-
rnonal opening o: Parliament, all the peers will be
in their Parliamentary robes. which Of red
cloth and errnine and distinct from their coronation
rohes of velvet and satin. The bishops and arch
bishons will be in their full ecclesiastical vest
rnents without which they are not allowed at any
time 10 take their in the House Of Lords or
"a vote there and the judges of the High Court OF
Justice will likewise be present I'm the House OF
Lords in their scarlet and ermne robes of office and
hinge wigs OF the kind in the reign OF the
last Stuart kings and of the first TWO Hanoverian
,,onarchs Of England. AS all the peeresses in at
tendance I'm the House OF Lords when the King
anpears will be in black owing 10 court mourning
for the King OF Denmark. the scene will be
rather sonlbre one, all the touches OF color being,
indeed furnished by the masculine element.