FITTING COMMEMORATION

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 432, 13 May 1937, Page 4

FITTING COMMEMORATION

CORONATION SERVICE Large Gathering At Victoria Park Nocrly 1000 children from th Hrs. ford schools, as well as a large. roAd of adults, gathered at Vic orin Pai k yesterday morning for the Corona*. on Con.memoration service. The chi dren carrying minia ure fl'.gs as gambled in Broadway and he ded by he Stratford Citizens’ band, the pro. •es: icn moved off at 9.30 for the Park pro jeedina through Broadway to R - •an and Orlando S reets and enter ng by the Memorial gates. For these who could noi be accommod’t.. d n the grandstand sea ing, accommo'a'ion had been erected. On a platform in front of the grand 'ta.-’d were: the Mayor, Mr u. W. McMillan and the Mayoress, Mrs. Rnseell Kirkwood, Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., and Mrs Polson, and Rev. John P;t p'fnn. M.A. An apology wa.s t = nder. 'd on behalf of Mr. T. R. Anderson, chairman of the Stratford Countv Council, who was absent from the dis*rio‘. The serv’ce opened with an address by the Mayor, followed by the sing:ng nf the hymns. “All People That On Earth Do Dwell” and “God Defend Ne-w Zealand.” the b’and playing the accompanimen s. An address by Mr. Paterson, the singing of the Empire Hymn, an address by Mr. Polson, and the singing of the National Anthem concluded the service. In Westminster Abbey. “To-day in Westmlns’er Abbey will be performed one of the most sacred and at the same time one of the mos spectacular ceremonies in the world, lie crowning of King George VI -and Queen Elizabeth,” said Mr McMillan in commencing his address. In the Abbey .solemn obligations before God would be made and the King would be anointed with the Holy Oil, continued Mr. McMillan. It would be spe-c acular because of the brilliant assemblage of princes and princesses, diplomats, st; tesnien and representa lives from all parte of the world. Everywhere in the British Empire ga herings wore held to give thanks i

■•o God and rejoice that the link that )ound the greatest Empire in history was as strong as ever, and from the «n.Bions would go up a prayer that strength and vision would be given King G orge VI to emulate liis. great father. Twenty-six years ago Queen Mary went through the ceremony of the oronation by the side of her late lusband, George V, and ,o~day though ler thoughts would be tinged with adness, she would be dominated by Her love and pi .de of their Majesties. He had always thought 'hat. th/ l .te King and the Queen and their family were a tine example of what a family dioiild b? and an example of tervice to their peup’e. Mr. McMillan went on to describe he Coronaiicil ceremony, conimencng with the Recognition, when the Primate of AH taigland calls four imes for the recognition of the new .overt igi.i, facing o the North, io the . ’ st. to the South, and to ihe Wes , challenging the representatives'of the lafon in here words: “Sirs, 1 here present unto you King George, the undoubted King of this Realm. Where. ■'> all of you who are come this day io do your homage and service, are you willing to do he same?” At the request of the Mayor the children, waving their flags rep e ted the answer, “God Save the King.” A few years ago, continued Mr. Me_ Millan, heir Majesties, as Duke and Duchess of York, visited New Zealand and the people took 'them to their learlt He -was sure that on 'he day of tflp Coronaion Scottish people were par icularly elated as her Majesty , was a bonny Scots lady. In conclusion Mr. McMillan said that New Zealand was represented at the Coronation by tha Prime Miniser, the Righi Hon. Mr. Savage, who ; would personally express to His. i Majesty the homage and loyalty of | the people of New Zealand both pake- ! ha and Maori. Embodiment of People’s Ideas. The Corona ion was a religious ceremony in which the King and the whole Empire swore loyalty to one mother, Mr. Paterson said. The x»ion_ archy was so constituted as to embody the peoples’ ideas of righteousness and justice, it was a setting up not of one person but of a whole family which were the embodiment of the national life of the people and ■•■'ll things which .the people held most 1 true and most sacred. 1 The ceremony did not finish with