LONDON'S NEWEST MUSEUM.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 583, 11 August 1909, Page 4

LONDON'S NEWEST MUSEUM.

IMPRESSIVE.OPENING CEREMONY. lIIS MAJESTY'S SPEECH; - London, July. 3. There is always somo ono particular episode or incident' by which tho gorgeous pugennts of roynlty can bo recollected (says the London "Daily 'Mail"). Tho pomp and circumstance of them nru so much the same that one can distinguish between them in after years only by the rcmembrnnco of somo distinctive feature. Tho incident of the royal opening of the new South Kensington Museum which will livo in the minds of those who witnessed it and. servo to conjure up vividly tho wholu of tlio wonderful scene was at the moment when, from tho vast gathering of notabilities, there roso the murmur of tho Lord's Prayer.

There is an impressive solemnity which can nover fail to touch souls sensitive to emotion, in the rolling sound ■ of prayer tlmt comes from hundreds of voices. It was especially impressive on this occasion, beauso it was so spontaneous. When the Archbishop of Canterbury began tho beautiful, familiar words, every head 'in that brilliant gathering was bowed, nnd tho great whit© hall was filled with a low, deep murmur as of distant thunder or tho sea-surge booming on a far-olf shore.

Royal Procession. Driving from Buckingham Palace through streets hung with festoons of dowers and lined with stalwart Grenadiers, the. King and Queen reached the museum at noon. A procession was at once formed, headed by the _ builder, and ' including numerous . high officials. and Minister of State. Both their Majesties looked well and evidently took, a keen interest in the occasion. It was the Prince Consort, itwill bo remembered, to whose efforts the'; excellence of these famous • national collections was 'originally due, and the last public act in London of Queen Victoria wnß'to.lay tho foundation-stone of the palace in which they •will henceforward bo 'more fittingly housed. The edifice is now known as the Victoria and Albert Museum. The King wore the uniform of a fiold-marshal, and the Queen was m bluo with a black hat relieved by. a white; feather. She carried, a bouquet of pink carnations presented to her'.-by a grandson of Sir Philip Cunliffe-Owen, for many years director, of the museum. <.•'-. . Following their Majesties into the' Octagon Court came the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, with Prinoe Arthur and tho charming Princess Patricia, tho Duchesses of Argyll and Albany, and little Princess Mary of Wales, who, in her short frock, had a.front place and gawd all about with unaffected pleasure at■ getting;so good a view. : -..,■■'% Speech' by the King. , : ' . Every'ono having settled down, Mr. Euncimani Ayho, • as Minister for Education, has the museum under his charge, came forward, made three low obeisances, and read. an address pointing out the chief advantages of llio new ■building und thanking his. Majesty for 'his presence. ' , •■' ' The King read the following reply! indistinct, measured tones :— "It is a great pleasure to mo to open-this magnificent building (containing the museum which by tho command- of her late Majesty Queen Victoria, bears the names of my : belovcd parents, and which' is'devoted, to an- object .which they both had greatly at heart—tho ..encouragement of the .applied and industrial arts, I am glad to assure you that no will be wanting on my part, and qn the. pari of the Queen, to testify to the equal interest i which we feel in the'museum and to the high value which we place upon it, both as.a sourpo of pleasure to the'public and as-a storehouse of masterpieces worthy of the study, of designers and manufacturers. I learn, witligreat satisfaction that the: addition which has been •made to the space available'for the'.display of.: . your. treasures has enabled a systematic . rearf rangemont of the collections to lie carried out. In devoting'your early, attention to this';.mat* teryou have rendered a ■ signal public service. The utility'of the "museum is. greatly enhanced by', a'" rational classification of its' diverse contents. The placing of an expert staff'.in chargp 'of each, section;:ot the have tho, double advantage of maititainiilg'ttnd develop-' ih'gthe more scientific arrangement which has; now become possible, and .also .of ■, bringing' about a more accurate knowledge of the history. and,;boauty..of thelindividnal exhibits and-.ofj their educational, value. .I,' congratulate you. oh the success, which you have' already achieved, and you' may xcly on my encouragement'and approval of your future efforts to enhance tho utility of tho Victoria.and' Albert Museum." ' Director Knighted. . . Then came the Archbishop's prayer' and tho strjking manifestation. of religious feeling which ; went with it. After that_ the. gold key of the museum Was handed to his Majesty on .a cushion of crimson velvet: Taking, it,' lie gave it to Mr. Kunciman, and in a clear voice deolared • the building open. A resounding fanfare-by ■ Household' Cavalry .trumpeters awoke the. echoes of the Court and sounded through-the whole range of galleries and halls,

nnd then, tho procession having been rc-formod the royal party were conducted' to the west halj, Lord Beauclmmp and Lord Althorp, with their wands of olfico walking backwards before tho King and bpwing repeatedly as. they cleared lh« Way. ' ' ' ; . Here tliero was another ceremony, the most interesting feature of which was unexpected. Taking a sword from ono of the officersnVound him the King: knighted Mr."Cecil Smith, the'-/ director and secretary of the museum, to whoso efforts tho excellent arrangement 'of the' objects in the building is largely dub. Mr. Smith was in.Court dress, and, a brief announcement of the honour to be done to him having .been, made, ho knelt,, and his Majesty, smiling, touched hint lightly with tho sword oh cither shoulder, the spectators cheering cordially. Tho King has appointed. Sir Aston'Webb, TC.A., architect nf '.ho now .museum, a Companion of the Bath.