ANCIENT CEREMONY

Evening Star, Issue 20055, 21 December 1928, Page 10

ANCIENT CEREMONY

“WEDDED TO THE SEA" TJio most striking, event in Liverpool’s civic week celebrations took place on September 25, when the Venetian custom was revived and. the city was wedded to the sea. Before this ceremony, men from the Loyal Naval Reserve and the largo shipping coni-’ panics, cadets from the Conway, and boys from the training ship Indefatigable and the Lancashire sea training homes marched in procession from the pier head through crowded streets to tlie St. George’s Hall plateau, where a civic procession had been formed. .In the march to the Mersey naval men and Territorial troops led the way, and at the rear of the procession was a lifeboat drawn by six corporation horses. The “wedding ring,” carried by two Conway Cadets, preceded the civic regalia, and a largo laurel wreath was carried in the prow of the lifeboat. At the pier-head another procession was formed by Bock Board workers, seamen, the police band, and 300 children, who sang sea chanties and civic songs. A platform 'had been erected bn the river wall 'opposite, the Dock Board offices, and it was here that the symbolic ceremony took place. Mr E. Cook, of the Dock Board, said that it was really not a wedding ceremony, for Liverpool had been wedded to the sea ever since whatever _ land there might have been between it and America foundered and left a vast, uncharted ocean. That day’s ceremony was a renewal of vows. Suv Archibald Salvidge said the sea had enabled Liverpool to grow from a tiny fishing haven to a port of worldwide renown, and the sea would enable Liverpool to make an ever-grow-ing contribution to tho sum total of human happiness and wealth. As Venice was sovereign of the Adriatic, so Liverpool’s sovereignty over those northern waters was unquestionable. The people of Liverpool had revived the ancient symbolism of Venice to express their own gratitude to and love for tho sea and their hopes and aspirations. Ho proceeded: “In token of our association with the river, and as a sign of our partnership with tho sea, I now throw this ring into the waters of tho Mersey.” ■ These words said, Sir ‘Archibald Salvidge committed the ring to the water. It was eight inches in diameter, and weighed 101 b, being made of bronze with a gold covering. The Lord' Mayor, Miss Beavan, cast the laurel wreath into tho river “in memory of those who sleep in the great deep”; ‘Last Post’ was sounded; the Bishop of Warrington dedicated tho river to Liverpool’s service; the people sang ‘ Eternal -Father, Strong to Save,’ and the bishop pronounced the benediction; and the ceremony ended with the National Anthem.