The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-03-14
CONTINUED from page H.
THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT
In the House of Lords.

House of Lords on an occasion when
the Sovereign opens Parliament in
person never fails to arouse the his
impressive; the scene is brilliant; the
contents of the Speech from the
Throne deal with the concerns of the
empire and the nation. There is,
therefore, always large attendance,
even when the new session is not
expected to be of specially stirring
character. That the House of Lords
would be thronged on the first
day of the session, was certain, and
seldom in recent years can there have
been as great an assembly of peers,
peeresses and representatives of the
people. The thought of Ireland was
uppermost in every mind, and when
the King read his Speech all present
waited with strained attention for any
words which might throw light on
the situation. Last year the Home
Rule Bill was merely referred to as
one Of the bills about which there
would be disagreement and to which
the attention of Parliament would
again be asked; but yesterday there
was a very definite and significant al
fusion to the grave difficulties which
have arisen. The King, who read this
paragraph in his Speech in very
measured tones, expressed regret
that the efforts which had been made
to arrive at solution by agreement
of the problems connected with the
government of Ireland had so far not
succeeded.
Three rows of benches were allotted
for the peeresses on either side of
the Chamber, only the front and back
benches being available for peers, for
whom, however, additional crimson
benches had been provided in the
floor-space between the front benches.
The scene as the House filed up was
very striking and it's Kaleidoscope eff
fects were bewildering to the eye.
When, after 1 o'clock, a great many
peers and ladies had taken their seats,
the sight became dazzling; the scarlet
of the peers robes being the prevail
ing colour. To this the varying tones
of the ladies' dresses, which exhausted
the catalogue of beautiful tints, sup
piled a welcome contrast. All the
peeresses and their daughters wore
low-necked dresses, plumes and gossa-
mer wells, and many of them had dia-
mond ornaments in their hair.
The Diplomatic Corps.
A part of the House to which the
gaze of the spectators was frequently
directed was the box specially erected
for the use of the Diplomatic Corps.
The magnificence and diversity of the
uniforms and Orders worn by the Am
bassadors and Ministers who filled it
riveted attention. Near by the judges
were collected on benches in front OF
the Throne, and their robes were also
in the mass respondent, the Lords
Justices of Appeal wearing black
robes richly laced with gold, and the
Judges of the High Court, robes of
scarlet and ermine.
At a quarter to 2, at which hour the
Royal Procession was expected, the
House was crowded, and the galleries
allotted for the accommodation of the
members of the House of Commons
were completely full The electric
light was now turned on, and the eff
| feet of it's lustre was heightened by
the daylight that came in from open
windows. The Gentleman Usher of
the Black Rod, Admiral Sir H. Ste
phenson, was dispatched to the other
House to summon the Commons to at
tend at the Bar, and the door to the
right of the Throne having been
opened, the majestic procession of the
King and Queen slowly entered the
House They had been received by
the Great officers of State at the Royal
entrance neath the Victoria Tower,
whence they proceeded to the Robing
Room, where his Majesty but on the
Royal Robes.
The King and Queen.
| AS the procession moved into the
Chamber, all present prepared to rise
when the King and Queen appeared
1t was headed by the Pursuivants and
Heralds in gorgeous tabards. Then
came Equerries in uniform and then
the officers of the Household. The
Great Officers of State followed, the
Lord Chancellor, the Earl Marshal
(the Duke of Norfolk), the Lord Great
Chamberlain (the Marquis of Lin
colnshire), the Marquis of Crewe,
who bore the Sword of State, the bear
er of the Cap of Maintenance, and
other high officials. The King wore
his State Crown, flashing with jewels,
and crimson velvet robes, which con-
cealed the uniform beneath. The
Queen wore gown of yellow en-
broidered satin, robe of crimson vel
vet lined with ermine, and a diamond
crown. She also wore the Koh-i-noor
and other great jewels and the ribbon
of the Garter, and her train was borne
by pages. 1t was a glittering throng
that stood near their Majesties when,
after acknowledging the obeisances of
the assembly, the King and Queen
mounted the steps to the Throne.
The Speech from the Throne.
There was short interval of silence