Evening star., 1937-04-11

their essence changed little from pre-
conquest days, the booklet reminds us.
There Is, however one signally in
teresting and important innovation
of the coming coronation worthy of
especial notice. In times past 1t has
been the custom for the prime min
lister of the United Kingdom to do
homage to the sovereign upon behalf
of the dominions At the coronation
of his majesty George vi the domin-
ions each will do homage through its
own especially designated and re-
spective representative.
Woe to Nervous Court Ladies.
After the ceremonies incident to
the crowning Of the King are con-
cluded they are followed by the
amounting and crowning Of the Queen.
simultaneously with the crowning of
the Queen the assembled princesses
and peeresses put on their coronets.
Being a princess or a peeress with
gilded coronet, which one is responsible
for donning without slip or hitch
at given second in stately cere-
monial, without aid Of handmaiden or
mirror, requires both skill and prac-
tice. Woe betide the titled lady Of
rank at the hands of her family biog-
raphers who should by some horrid
misadventure let her glittering, be-
jeweled circlet slip from her nervous
fingers as she raises 1t to her forehead.
The coronation ceremonies are not
only religious, but political in char
acter and include five chief functions.
These are the presentation of the
sovereign and his recognition, the ad-
ministration of the coronation oath,
the amounting and investiture of the
royal parsonage, his coronation and
enthronement and the homage which
is thereupon extended to him.
The celebration Of the holy COM
munion concludes the coronation cere-
monies.
In taking his oath as sovereign his
majesty solemnly promises to govern
his subjects according to law, justice
and mercy. While he is being anointed
on the head, breast and the palms OF
the hands, he is seated in the ancient
chair of King Edward I.
Lengthiest Of Ceremonies.
The investiture is perhaps the
lengthiest of the coronation cere-
monies. According to the phrasing OF
| the Barclays Bank Limited Coronation
Booklet. THE King is donned with the
| white silken vest called the Colobium
Sindonis. his heels are touched by the
| golden spurs, he is girt with golden
sword and further invested in the
stole and imperial mantle; the orb is
placed in his right hand and the ruby
ring upon his finger"
Immediately following his crowning
the King with his peers around him is
lifted into the throne by the prelates
Of the church and thereupon receives
the homage of the royal family, the
Archbishop of Canterbury for the
Lords spiritual, and the senior peer Of
each degree throughout his kingdom.
In 1903 upon the death of Eliza
beth, last of the English House of
Tudor, James I, son of Mary Queen
of Scots, and Lord Darnley, was
crowned King Of England. Scotland
and England were thus united under
one sovereign, although their pohti-
cal union did not take place until the
reign of Queen Anne. Like other
members Of the Stuart family, James
was an adherent OF the belief that
kings rule by divine right" Two
years after he acceded to the throne
group Of Roman Catholics nursing
the wrongs Of religious persecution
almost succeeded in blowing up Par