IN THE ABBEY.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 16, 23 June 1911, Page 14

IN THE ABBEY.

When Their Majesties enter at the I west door the choir sing Psalm cxxii., verses I—3 C, and 7 ("I was glad when they said unto me''). The King and Queen pass by their thrones, and after making their (humble adoration, use some private prayers, kneeling the while. Follows the Recognition. The King shows himself at each of the four sides of the ■'"theatre," the Archbishop of Canterbury saying -each time : , Sirs,—l here present unto you King George, the undoubted King of this realm; wherefore all of you who are come this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do the same ? A unanimous shout of -i God Save the King!" is the answer. Trumpets sound, the Bible, Paten, and Chalice are placed on the altar together with all the regalia, except the Sword of State. Two kneeling bishops then sing the Litany. The Communion service comes- next, with a short sermon by a bishop. His Majesty, having already, oii Feb. 6 last, in the presence of the two Houses of Parliament., made and

signed the Declaration prescribed, the Archbishop now .administers after the Coronation Oath in the following manner : — Archbishop : Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the peoplo of this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Dominions thereto belonging, according to the statutes in Parliament agreed on and the respective laws and customs of the same? King: I solemnly promise so to do. Arch bishop: Will you to your power causa Law and Justice, in Mercy, to be executed in all your judgments ? King : I will. Archbishop : Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the Laws of God, tlie true profession of the Gospel, and the Protestant Reformed Religion established by the law? And will you maintain and preserve inviolably the (settlement of tlie Church of Jlingland, and the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government thereof, as by lay established in England ? And will you preserve unto the Bishops and Clergy of England, and to the Churches there committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges, as by law do or shall appertain to them, or any of them? King: All this i promise to do. Then the King makes his solemn Oath, and after kneeling on the steps

of the altar and kissing the great Bible tendered to him by the Archbishop, signs the Oath. After this the King is relieved of his crimson robe and cap of State, and takes his seat in King Edward's chair. ANOINTING THE KING. Four Knights of the Garter hold over him a rich pall of silk, or cloth of gold. The Dean of Westminster pours some of the holy oil from, the Ampulla into the spoon, and with tho latter the "Archbishop anoints the King in the form of a oross on the crowrt of the head, on the breast, and' on the palms of both hands. The ceremonies of presenting the Spurs and the Sword and the Girding and Oblation of the Sword are accompanied with exhortations from the clergy, as also are the ceremonies f Investing with the Armill and Royui Robe, and the Delivery of the Orb with the Cross, and Investiture per Annulum et Baculum (the King's ring). . His Majesty is then presented with the Glove and the Sceptre with the Cross and the Sceptre with the Dove. At this point the Lord of the Manor of Worksop has the unique privilege of supporting the King's right arm. Next is the actual crowning ceremony, to be carried out as follows: —

'•The King sitting down in King Edward's Chair, the Archbishop, assisted with other bishops, shall come from the altar, the Dean oi Westminster shall bring the Crown, and the Archbishop, taiiing it ot him, shall reverently put it upon the Kings head. "At the sight whereof tne people, with loud and repeated shouts, snail cry, 'God Save the lvmg V the Peers and the Kmgs-ot-Aims shall put on their coronets, and the trumpeters shall sound, and by a signal given the great guns at the Tower shall be shot off." __ . Then the Princes and Peers present do homage, the Queen in crowned much in the same manner, and the last of the quaint ceremonies is the '•oblation" by the King and Queen each of an ingot of gold weighing a pound. Before passing out ot the Abbey Their Majesties take Holy Communion.