The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-06-30
London, June 22.-"God save King

This fervent cry echoed and re
echoed through ancient Westminstel
Abbey today when the imperia
crown, signifying rulership over the
greatest empire the world has ever
known, was placed upon the head o.
George the Fifth by the Archbishop
of Canterbury. The actual corona
ton of the monarch was preceded
by ceremonies medieval in their
pomp and all but barbaric in mag
nificence and grandeur of display
Through streets lined with millions
of people from every nook and cor.
ner Of the earth. guarded by fifty
thousand troops, the king, in his
state coach, attended by courtiers
back, proceeded to Westminster Alb
bey. At the west door of the famous
edifice the royal coach halted. The
kings and queens, the princes and
princesses, the mobiles and special
delegates of all nations who filled
the abbey to overflowing, arose as
King George entered. At that mo-
ment a ringing "Vivat!" rang out
which signified that the boys of
Westminster school had performed
their historic duty. The Westmins-
ter choir sang an anthem, Psalm
cxxii, 1-S, 6 and Z, as the king, ac-
companied by the queen, passed up
the body of the church and knelt
at "faldstools'' in prayer.
Then came the quaint ceremony
of "the recognition" The archbish-
op of Canterbury, turning to the
four points of the compass, address
ed the assemblages:
"Sirs, l here present unto you
King George, the undoubted king of
the realm: Wherefore, all you who
are come this day to do your hon.
age and services, are you willing
to do the same?"
God Save the King.
God save King George!" rang out
In unison from the loyal subjects.
Then the trumpets sounded, and
the ancient ceremonials of the crown
ing of Britain's kings went on and
on, while outside the patriotic mil
lions of modern London howled
themselves hoarse, forgetful for the
moment of the spirit of democracy
which is abroad in the land and
which has reduced the king and his
mobiles to the status of puppets.
Following the litany, the introit
and the sermon the king took the
oath, which was as follows:
"Will you solemnly promise and
swear to govern the people of this
United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, and the dominions there
to belonging according to the stat
utes in parliament agreed on,
and the respective laws and
customs of the same. Will you
to your power cause law and JUS
tice, in mercy, to be executed in all
your judgments? Will you to the
utmost of your power maintain the
laws of God, the true profession of !
the gospel, and the protestant re-
formed religion established by law?
And will you maintain and preserve
inviolably the settlement of the
Church of England, and the doctrine, |
worship, discipline and government |
thereof, as by law established in
England, and to the churches there
committed to their charge, all such
rights and privileges, as by law do
or shall appertain to them, or any
of them?"
Then the king, the sword of state
carried before him, proceeded to the !,
altar, and, uncovered, his right hand
upon the great Bible, took the oath.
Next came the amounting with Joil.
The king was Invested of his Grim
son robes, and four knights of the
Garter held over his pail of cloth
of gold, while the choir chanted:
"Zadok, the priest, and Nathan, the
prophet, anointed Solomon king; and
all the people rejoiced and said:
God save the king. Long live the
king. May the king live forever.
Amen. Hallelujah."
Taking the sacred ampulla and
spoon from the altar, the Dean of
Westminster poured some of the
holy oil into the spoon, and the
archbishop dipped his fingers in the
oil and anointed the king, in the form
of cross, on the crown of the head,
on the palms Of the hands, and on
the breast
Brought Royal Spurs.
Then the royal spurs were brought,
followed by the sword of state, and
the king was invested with the i'm
perial robe of cloth of gold, and the
sword with the cross was de-
livered to him. The ring was
then placed on the fourth fin
ger of his right hand, and the
Duke of Newcastle put the royal
gloves on the kings hands. Follow
ed in quick succession the delivery !
of the sceptre with the cross and
the sceptre with the dove.
Then came the crux of the cere-
mony when the archbishop placed
upon the head of the king the i'm
perial crown, a mass of precious
stones worth at least $10,OO0,0OO. The
dazzling Cullinan diamond, the larg-
iv, .