The sun., 1918-07-07
BRITAIN'S RULERS
KEEP ANNIVERSARY
King and Queen of England
Celebrate 25th Year Of
Their Marriage.
ROYAL COUPLE GREETED
Gifts Turned Over to the Red
Cross and All Ceremonies
Are Simple.


twenty -ffth anniversary OF the mar
rage of King George and Queen Mary.
The popular rejoicing with which sucf
an event would ordinarily be celebrated
was restrained in consequence OF the
war, and the only public ceremony com.
memorating the event in which the royal
couple participated took the form OF a
special II anksgiving service In st. Paui
Cathedral. This was followed by Visit
to the Guildhall. where a congratulatory
address and gift from the City OF
London were received.
Driving from buckingham Palace IN
what is known as "semi-state." the King
and Queen passed through tire main
streets in an open landau drawn by six
horses, attended by outriders and es-
corted by a troop Of Life Guards ana
Royal Horse Guards.
Upon reaching the boundary OF the
city, the square mile Of London under
the jurisdiction of the Lord Mayor. the
time honored ceremony Of surrenderins
the city's sword of state to the sovereign
was observed. After the sword was re-
turned to the city officials. in accordance
with custom. the procession continued
to the cathedral.
wounded Men Attend.
The Lord Mayor Of London the Bishop
Of London. the dean of st. Pauls and
others of the cathedral clergy received
the sovereigns here. the procession Ming
along the nave until the allotted places
were reached under the great dome,
where the other members OF tire royal
family had already taken their seats.
There was a large attendance OF official
representatives. and the vast nave was
filled with wounded sailors and soldiers.
The special service. which lasted forty
five minutes included an address by IT,
Archbishop Of Canterbury.
From the cathedral the King and
Queen were driven to the Guildhall.
whittier the Lord Mayor and the city Of
ffcials had preceded them. Here the adj
dress was read and the handsome illu-
minated copy of It presented to King
George. This ceremony was followed by
the presentation of a check for large
sum to be distributed among such chari-
ties as their Majesties should decide
upon. and the gift OF a piece Of silver
These were the only public silver we'd
ding gifts the sovereign consented to ac-
cept. they having decided that at the
present time nothing should be diverted
from charitable purposes. The gift was
subscribed for by the city guilds. the
Stock Exchange. the leading banks. in
surance and commercial companies and
others.
After the double ceremony their Majes-
ties drove again to the palace. cheered
along the entire route by enthusiastic
crowds.
As Is customary when the sovereign
makes a visit of state TO the city. the
King created the Lord Mayor. Charles
A. Hanson. a baronet, and conferred
knighthood upon the two Sheriffs. George
Rowland Blades and Harry FARMLAND
Hepburn.
The celebration Of the silver wedding
throughout the country took the form Of
the collection OF gold and silver articles
and money for the Red Cross. Such
gifts are being received by the Mayors
of the various towns to be sent to Buck
ingham Palace. from which they will be
handed over to the Red Cross. Every
article found salable will be sold and
the remainder OF the precious metals
will be sent to the mint as bullion.
Dowager Queen mt Services.
Dowager Queen Alexandra. with nearly
all the other members OF the royal fam.
lily. attended the service In st. Paul's. 81
did Premier Lloyd George. others OF the
Cabinet Ministers. former Premier AS
ouith. Lord Rosebery and the colonial
Fremiers who are here for the imperial
conference. The diplomatic corps. many
nurses were likewise in attendance. while
the wounded soldiers present numbered
about thousand.
The service included collects for the
royal couple. for the empire and for the
fighting men.
Many Americans were among the con-
gregation and among the soldiers who
witnessed the procession. The weather
for the function was fine.
King George. replying to the address
of the Lord Mayor of London at the
Guildhall, said:
II am greatly touched by the kind
references to the happiness OF our
married life-a happiness which has
been much increased by the unfailng
sympathy and affection OF our people
We acknowledge with gratitude to God
the many blessings bestowed during
these years.
This anniversary falls at time
when the shadow of war lies heavily
OIL the land and when the very exist
ence Of the Empire is assailed by I'M
scrupulous foes. In this time of trial
1t is our honest desire to share the
sorrows Of the people and to alleviate
their sufferings
while hearts are heavy at the
thought OF the bereavement and dis
tress which have befallen the Nation
we have seen with joyful gratitude the
wholehearted response to the call OF
duty throughout the Empire Here In
the presence of representatives OF the
Dominions. the Colonies and the Indian
Empire l warmly acclaim the noble
self-sacrificing spirit with which our
brothers across the seas have given
their best in the united defense of lib
erty and right.
Gratitude of the Navy.
Through four long years of unceasine
conflict the ancient qualities of the
British race have shown themselves In
innumerable heroic deeds and in logged
endurance which have baffled the en-.
emy's purpose.
From visits I have made to the
sailors in the fleets and to the soldiers
in the armies / have brought back ar
ever -incre asing admiration for the spirit
which pervades all ranks and for their
resolution and cheerfulness in all cir.
cumstances.
What words can express the debt
We owe to the Navy which, with un,
sleeping watchfulness and through
every kind of difficulty and danger, ha.
protected our shoes and has kept oper
for US and our ALLIES the highways OF
the sea.
What can express our debt to the
splendid army. the very flower of tn.
nation. which stood and still stands n.
a wall between us and the fury of GU,
enemies: and to our air force. dis.in,
guished by many glorious achievement.
and now the third arm OF the defens.
of the Empire. of which I am proud
indeed. to be general-in-chief
when we think Of the great fight
ing services let us remember too IN,