THE GREAT DURBAR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1344, 23 January 1912, Page 3

THE GREAT DURBAR.

THE EMPEROR AND THE INDIAN PRINCES. HOMAGE CEREMONY. CONCLUSION OF A MARVELLOUS PAGEANT. BY REV. FREDERICK STUBBS. (All Rights Reserved.) STATE SERVICE. The Faith of the Paramount Power. Sunday, December H'. This morning « State service was hold, at which the Kin? and Queen were present. It. was the outward sign and solemn declaration that, though the IJritis-h Raj shows absolute tolerance and impartiality in regard to all religious creeds, yet Christianity is the faith of the paramount Power. It exhibited in a striking and noticeable manner the lino of cleavage between British and Indians, for in this alone of the whole series of State functions no picturesque Indian chiefs and prinoes appeared, no troops of gallant native soldiers; tho British alone were present, and of theso there wero about 8000, with 1500 civilians. , Their Majesties, accompanied by a full escort and staff, arrived at 10.30. A procession was formed, in which tho clergy, of course, occupied a prominent place. As the procession advanced the whole congregation rose, and the hymn, "Now thank we all our God," was sung, tho massed bands accompanying. The King was in undress Field-Marshal's uniform; the Queen in white. A temporary altar had been erected, and below and opposite this was a covered dais for the King and Queen. The Viceroy and Lady Ifardingo occupied a pew on the'right, with the band and choir on the lett. Jn front sat tbe congregation, and on three sides trcops woro massed, the whole forming an immense square. The service read was one specially prepared for' the occasion, and, it is pleasing to know, was ussd by the Nonconformist congregations as well. The King and Queen took their scats upon the dais, and the religious service began with the words, "The I-ord is in His holy temple, let ail the earth kwp silence More uim." The mcst impressive moment was when the massed bands broke forth with the well-known hymn, "Praise the Lord, ye heavens adorp Him," the voices of tho great assembly mingling in the tune. The service was read by the Bishop and Archdeacon of Lahore, whilst tho Bishop of Madras, who, unfortunately, has not a good voice, preached the sermon from Rev. i, 1-13.