GOS SAVE THE KING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1160, 22 June 1911, Page 9

GOS SAVE THE KING.

A' ' « . , — _ | ' H©w am Why His Majesty Is CffowsaeeL | ■< The Rtteal and Its i . Atadeftt-Customs aal Mfctek ladJesats. To-day, June 22, his Majesty George V, by fhe grace of God, king of the bnitcd Kingdom of Great Britain and I Ireland, and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, and Emperor of India, and his Consort, Queen Mary, will he | anointed and crowned in Westminster Abbey, that "antique pile where Ror.: heads receive the sacred gold," by the Most | Reverend Randall Dtividson, Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of Ah gland. The Coronation of Britain's Kings is ) J something more than a splendid pageant: It- is a great and solemn religious ceremony in which every detail of the ritual \ n and symbolism is full of meaning and rich in historic' associations, the whole ceremonial bearing testimony to the continuity ) j| of British Kingship, and to the great underlying fact that our King reigns by the grace of God and the good will of his I | 1 people, din putting the crown upon the King's head the Archbishop says: — OGod, the Crown of the faithful: Bless wc beseech Thee and sanctify this Thy servant. George our d king: and as Thou dost this day set a crown of pure gold upon his head, so enrich his royal heart 1 I ■ mth Thine abundant grace, and crown him with all princely virtues, through the King Eternal I _ Jesus Christ our Lord—Amen. , ' ' ' 1 . ' . ! K T ° : d.?!j[ McJkoiigJifc of loyal subject_ will he turned to their King and Queen, and to the great ceremony in TFjMf- . V minster Abbey. "Long may lie reign" is the earnest hope of the people of the great Empire over which George V rules, and millions upon millions of British voices will join to-day in singing ' . i . .. . . GOI) 'SAVE THE KIJG. • " :'. ' ■ The following letter by king George to his people on his accession to the Throne gives a fine indication of the spirit of duty and high sense of responsibility with which lie began his reign :— ■ I To my People, 2he voice of affection and of loving devotion to the memory of my dear Father which J come from every part of the Empire, the outward public demonstrations, especially those in the i I i Capital during the two stages of Ihs passing to His last resting place, and the pathetic manner in ■which vast multitudes of His loving subjects patiently and reverently awaited- opportunity to pay a last tribute to Ihs memory, have profoundly touched me and my whole Family. A sorrow so sudden and unlooked for might well have been overwhelming. But the sentiments evoked by it have made me realise that it is a loss common to mc and my people: thai share it with me. J do not stand alone. If ith such thoughts I take courage, and hopefully look into the future: strong in my faith in God, trusting my pcoplf, and cherishing the laws and Constitution of my beloved Countri/. GEORGE R.I:

these cases is similar to that of the Royal Princes. When the homage is ended "The drums' beat and the trumpets sound and all the peoplo shout 'God Save King George, long live King George. May the King livo for ever.'" Coronation of the Queen, Tho ceremony of the Coronation of the Queen is.much shorter and simpler than tnat of the King. After a prayer at tho altar she is anointed, kneeling at a faldstool between the steps and St. Edward's Chair, while four Peeresses hold a canopy of cloth of gold abovo her head. _ Then tho Archbishop puts tho Royal ring on the fourth linger of her right hand, and, taking the Crown from the altar, sets it o'n her head, whereupon all the Peeresses put on their coronets. Having received the.Sceptre in her right hand and tho. ivory rod surmounted by a dove in her left hand, her Majesty, supported by her two Bishops, goes to her Throne, bowing to the King as ..she approaches him. This is practically the' conclusion of both Coronations, but not of tho whole ceremony. The Communion Service being resumed, their Majesties, discarding thenCrowns find Sceptres for a time, kneel at tho altar steps, where the King offers bread and wine, and makes his oblation, w*iich consists of a rich altar cloth and an ingot of gold weighing a pound. At the same timo the Queen offers- her oblation' of an altar cloth and a mark's weight of gold. A number of prayers' •having been said, their Majesties partako of the Communion, the Primate administering the bread and the Dsan of Westminster. the wine, after which tho King .and Queen, resuming their - Crowns and Sceptres, return to their Tlironts. After prayers, tho King and Queen pass through .the doors which flank tho Communion Table, and so into St. Edward's Chapel, .where they divest themselves of such of their robes and insignia hs they do not iintend to carry while driving through : the streets. But both retain their Crowns, tend-so theyjnass down the church again . 'to the west ooor for their departure, the ■King bearing Sceptre and Orb, while Queen Mary carries .her Sceptre and the ivory rod with tho dove.