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Impressive Ceremony.4th C. M. R. Battle Standards Laidt \ ~on Altar of St. James’s.Toronto, June 11.—As the triumphant strains of the Te Deum swept through the great church the colors of the 11th Canadian Mounted Rifles were laid upon the communion table of St. James' Cathedral, while the guard of honor stood with fixed bayonets and the Rector pronounced the solemn words of dedication.“Almighty Father, who dost ever call Thy people to faith and sacrifice, accept, we beseech Thee, these offerings, the emblems of loyalty and unselfish devotion, to the glory of Thy great name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.”Mediaeval Scene.It is an impressive ceremony and as carried out at St. James’ Cathedral it lost nothing of its old-world romance and historic significance. Long shafts of sunlight falling obliquely through the east windows served to accentuate the shadowy coolness of the high arches and as the main doors swung open to the sword hilt of Lieut. Col. Patterson, the officer in command, and the color party was greeted on the threshold by the Rector, there was a touch of the mediaeval in the spectacle which swept the spectator back into an age far remote from that of clanging street car gongs and rau-cus motor horns, the sounds of which coming, half muffled by distance, furnished the one discordant note in the proceedings.In%he stately formula prescribed for occasion the commanding officer demanded admittance, asking sanctuary for the colors of his regiment, and this being accorded, he and has staff entered, followed by the standard bearers. The two banners were then placed in the hands of Dr.D. Campbell Myers and Mr. Campbell Humphries, church wardens, and led by the clergy the processional passed up the centre aisle to the chancel rail, while the choir sang “Onward, Christian Soldiers.”Rector Receives Colors.Here the commanding officer presented his request that the colors be received by the church for safe keeping, and as the order “Present arms!” echoed through the church and the guard of honor swept up their bayoneted rifles to the position of salute, the standards were placed in the hands of the Rector, who with the words of dedication quoted above, placed them on the comaanJon table while the organ burst into strains of the natiQnal anthem, which was followed by that paean of thanksgiving and triumph, the Te Deum.Thus ended the ceremonial of depositing the colors. Following this the choir sang the anthem: “God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth, for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.” A short address was then delivered by Rev. F. J. Moore, late chaplain of the 83rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, France, and senior chaplain Woodcote Park Convalescent Hospital.Seats at the front of -the church were occupied by the color party, guard of honor and members of the battalion, including many who had been invalided home early in the war, and who wore mufti. The commanding officer sat with the Lieut.-Govcr-nor, Sir John Hendrie, in the front pew on the left of the centre aisle. Seats at the rear of the church were occupied by the bandsmen.
Newspaper Details
Saint Johns Evening Telegram
Saint Johns, Newfoundland, CA
Sat, Jun 21, 1919
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
D F.
AL, USA 24 Aug 2023
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