The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-01-27
QUAINT MAYORAL CUSTOMS.
Odd Ceremonies of Inauguration
Observed in English Cities.

ODoCI e Ill EtiXlicn NlllCS.
Some quaint customs are observed in
connection with the induction into office
of the new occupant of the mayoralty
chair in England. The Mayor of Lin
coin is duly elected by the placing upon
his finger of an ancient ring, which his
predecessors have worn for centuries.
This ring possesses a curious power, for
when the Mayor sends it to m school
within the city the schoolmaster is
bound to give his pupils a holiday for
the day. A similar custom prevails at
Chichester, an ancient turquoise ring
being used in this case. The chief mag
istrate of Chichester is also armed with
a gold-mounted malacca cane. At York
both the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayor
ess are equipped with silver mounted
oak slaves, which have marked their
authority for centuries. Moreover the
Lady Mayoress enjoys the distinction
of being the only lady In the land pro-
vided with a chain of Office by the cor
poration. She is also entitled to re-
ain the pref Lady for the remainder
of her life. There is a local rhyme
which says:
The Mayor is a lord for a year and a
day.
But his wife is a lady for ever and aye.
At Brightlingsea, a limb of the Cirque
Ports, the ceremony attaching to the
election of Mayor has taken place in The
parish church belfry from time immem-
orial, says the Pail Mall Gazette.
The retiring Mayor of Bournemouth,
on investing his successor with the civic
regalia, confirms him into office with
an oidtinhe loving kiss. a similar saiu-
tation awaits the incoming Mayor Of
Hanley.
A striking ceremony marks the ex-
piration of the Grantham Mayors ten
ure of Office. The robe Is stripped Off
him, the chain is taken from about his
neck, and, with a small wooden ham
mer, the town clerk taps the ex-Mayor
on the head. In token of the demise of
his authority.
The Mayor of Dunstable has to sub
nit to a somewhat trying ordeal. Inn
mediately after his election he chief
magistrates, aldermen and councillors,
headed by a brass band. proceed to the
nearest point of the boundary, which
happens to be in the middle OF a
ploughed field. Here a huge crowd
surrounds a post. The bellman clangs
his bell for order. the charter OF the
borough is read, and the Mayor is then
seized by stalwart arms. lifted. and
bumped" vigorously on the top of the
post. This process is repeated at every
point of the boundary, so that when
the ceremony is concluded the Mayor
has every reason to remember exactly
where the borders of his jurisdiction
cease.
Ho-,N-
Directly after electing the new Mayor
at High Wycombe, the members OF the
Town Council adjourn to the borough
office of weights and measures, where
the new occupant of the mayoral chalr
and each Alderman n Councillor IS
publicly weighed. and these recorus
form one of the treasures stored IN the
municipal archives. The Lord Mayor
of Birmingham is required to pose be-
fore the photographer Immediately
after his election, n a copy, together
with a few biographical details, Is
placed in an album containing portraits
of all the gentlemen who nave occupied
seats on the council, and this finds a
place in the municipal library.
A general holiday is observed at New
castle-under-Lyme on November D.
when the newly, elected Mayor is pub
licly proclaimed from the famous mar
ket cross, a custom which has been FOL
lowed since the first Mayor was elected
for the borough 1853 years ago.
The picturesque ceremony OF electlns
the new Lord Mayor of London takes
place some weeks before November D.,
and is preceded by a religious service
at st. Lawrence Jewry. the parish
church of the civic chamber. This serv-
ice has been held continuously for more
than 500 years. The Lord Mayor, sher-
ifs and aldermen, in their ghtterlng
chains of office, scarlet robes, and a C
carving a nosegay Of autumn lowers
assemble at the Guildhall and march TO
the church in procession. Subsequent
to the service the procession returns to
the Guildhall, which is strewed with
sweet herbs, where the Lord Mayor,
aldermen and officials take their place
on the hastings. The business of the
election is preceded by the common
crier's proclamation that all persons
be ~uncovered and that 'all those who
are not liveryfnen shall DEPART the hall,
on pain of Imprisonment" The name
of the alderman eligible for election is
then put to the meeting, and after this
has been received with applause vari-
Gus questions are put to the newly
elected Lord Mayor. a spirit of good
natured banter" permeating the whole
proceedings.