CORONATION FORMALITIES.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 323, 25 January 1902, Page 3

CORONATION FORMALITIES.

London, Dec. 7. A court composed of the highest officers of the State and chief of the Supreme Court is now sitting at Whitehall to determine the claims of noblemen and others to perform certain duties at the coronation. The Gilbertian absurdity and anachronistic character of the proceedings that this eminent tribunal is gravely conducting is well-nigh inconceivable. The Earl of Denbigh, a descendant of the novelist Fielding, claimed the right to act as Grand Carver at the coronation banquet. He confessed that he knew nothing of the art of carving, and his claim was disallowed. Three gentlemen, owners of certain manorial rights, each claimed the privilege of officiating as Grand Larderer to the j King, yet neither knew what the duties of j the position were. The committee extricated itself from an awkward fix by deciding that it has no jurisdiction. Tiie Duke of Norfolk, Lord Mowbray" and a commoner named Oddin Taylor claimed the right to officiate as Chief Butler of England. Tho committee again evaded giving a decision, although the Mayor, Aldermen and citizens of Oxford claimed the right to attend the King as assistants to the Chief Butler.

Miss Wilshere claimed the hereditary right to present a silver-gilt cup for tIW King to take his first drink from at tho coronation banquet, the cup being given to her as her fee. The committee -disallowed the claim.

The Dean and the Chapters of Westminster, more fortunate, established a claim to instruct the King and Queen in religious rites and ceremonies. The Duke of Somerset claimed tho privilege of carrying the imperial orb, but was unable to prove his right to do so. The Duke of Richmond, who claimed tho right to bear the seeptro, and the Duke of Roxburghe, who desired to bear the staff of St. Edward, were referred to the King’s Executive Committee, but the claim of the Duke of St. Albans to be represented by a deputy as Hereditary Master Falconer was allo\Ad, the Duke himself being mentally unfit for the position. Miss Beatrice Fellowes was unsuccess-ful-in claiming the right to act as’Herbstrewer before tho coronation procession. There were claims by armor-bearers, bow-bearers, cap-bearers, cup-bearers, train-bearers, glove-bearers and standardbearers, as well as a frantic competition between owners of most ancient names to perform every sort of menial offico for the King or Queen on coronation day. The great majority of these petitions were referred to the King himself. The only result of the committee’s sitting seems to have been to demonstrate what an accretion of formalities still adheres to even the most limited of monarchical institutions.