History of the Union Jack and Flags of the Empire

The raising of this ensign does not, any more than the raising elsewhere of a red ensign in addition to the single Union Jack, suggest any idea of separation; on the contrary it was designed by the Canadian statesmen to avoid any such idea which, perhaps, might be attached to an entirely different flag. The presence of the Union Jack in the upper corner declares inviolate fidelity to King and Empire, while the Canadian emblem on its folds gives a recognition of native home. When an Englishman raises his St. George, the Scotsman his St. Andrew, or the Irish the St. Patrick or their crown and harp on a blue ground, it is not taken as a sign of separation, but only as a recognition and reminiscence of their old homes and ancestry; so, too, with the Canadian in his special ensign, with its Canadian emblem. All raise both their native and the Union Empire flags in united fervour.

The federation badge with the stars of the Southern Constellation, worn during the plebiscite of 1899 in Australia (68), suggested that the union of the Parliaments of the colonies on that continent might be followed by the creation of a Union ensign for the new Commonwealth of Australia.

The union came in 1901, and following on the line of the Canadian ensign, the Australian ensign was created. This is the British red ensign with the Union Jack in the upper corner, under this Jack a six-pointed star signifying the six Provinces or States of the Australian union, and in the fly the five stars of the constellation of the Southern Cross,[194] the leading constellation of the Southern Hemisphere.

By a subsequent enactment another point was added to the star, making a star of seven points,[195] one for each of the States, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, and one for the Territories of Papua and Norfolk Island; but the rest of the ensign remained the same as previously.

Thus was formed the Australian ensign (Pl. IX., fig. 2).

The Union Ensign of the Dominion of New Zealand contains in the same way the Union Jack in the upper corner, and a southern constellation of four stars in the middle of the red fly (Pl. IX., fig. 3).

As the separated colonies of South Africa are now joining together in a union Parliament under the Union Jack, we may expect another Union Ensign to be added to the galaxy of these loyal union and native ensigns.

Like the expansion of the British Constitution to patriot governments beyond the seas, so has come the extension, step by step, of the old union flag to the newly-created Dominions. As the spirit of that constitution has been adapted to the local circumstances in each, so the red ensign with its Union Jack, which is the embodiment of the power and glory of the British nation, has been emblazoned with the local fervour of each young and growing people, who, ardently loving their new land, yet stand unconquerably in union with the Motherland, and rejoice at seeing their own emblem set upon the mother flag. Each such flag tells us its grand story in a way that a national flag ought to do; for the red ensign of the homeland, with the sign of the colony added to its folds in these far-off lands, signals to the beholder that it is an Imperial Union Ensign of the British Empire.

These are the union ensigns of the self-governing Dominions of the outer Empire, which have been adopted in succession in each, as a Union Parliament for their Dominion has been created, to embrace the several Provinces or States of their continent, and endowed with powers from the Union Parliament of the Parent Realm.

As in the sixteenth century the forces of the Percys raised the cross of St. George in their ensign (Pl. III., fig. 1), to show that of whatever district they might be they were all Englishmen, so the younger nations of the Britains over the seas raise the Union Jack in the upper corner of their Dominion Union Ensigns to tell that their bearers are all Britons, sons and daughters of the Family, loyal to the British Crown.

When the Canadian sees the union crosses displayed on his Canadian ensign, or the distant brother colonist on that of his colony, it speaks to each, not only as his own native flag, but yet more as his sign of brotherhood in an empire wider than his own home, broader than the continent on which he lives, for it is the visible evidence of his citizenship in the Empire of Great and Greater Britain.

The fervid eloquence of Daniel Webster, in 1834, described that empire as "a power dotted over the surface of the whole globe with her possessions and military posts, whose morning drum-beat, following the sun and keeping company with the hours, circles the earth with one continuous and unbroken strain of the martial airs of England."[196]

If this heart-rousing testimony of the majesty of the empire, of which the dominions and colonies form a part, had been given by one of ourselves, it might have been tinged with the suspicion of self-glorious boasting; but springing from the lips of so distinguished a citizen of the United States, its fervid utterance is the candid acknowledgment of a nation wider than his own, whose grandeur compelled his admiration.

If over half a century ago this ascription was true, how much more so is it in these later days when the ideal of the "morning drum-beat" has been transmuted into actual fact in the "continuous and unbroken strain" of the "Diamond Anthem" of the rejoicings at the Jubilee of Queen Victoria,[197] when, commencing at Suva at 4 p.m. on that Sunday afternoon, the National Anthem was taken up in the assemblies in almost every place in the outer British Dominions as the sun came over them in succession around the world, until it had come back again to Fiji on the following day.

Those "possessions" which fired the statesman's imagination have marvellously increased; that "power" has expanded beyond his utmost dreams. Since that time no nation, not even his own, has progressed like has the British nation. Canada, then lost to view in a solitude of far-off forests or of pathless plains, has arisen like a young lion, and carrying the Union Jack in continuous line of government from the Atlantic to the Pacific, has gripped the American continent from sea to sea. Australasia and New Zealand have risen beneath the southern star, India in itself has become an empire, and Africa, youngest born of all the lion's brood, is welding fast another continent beneath the imperial sway.

These are the nations of the Union Jack, the galaxy of parliaments of free men, which have arisen round the centre isles and the throne of Her who, with Her statesmen,

In this Nation of nations, brothers join hands with their brothers around the world, and raise aloft the Union Jack of itself, and in their ensigns as the glad emblem of their united allegiance, a union for which the Britains beyond the seas have proved their faith, and ever stand in foremost rank ready and willing to defend.

There is something marvellous in the world-wide influence of this three-crossed flag of the parent nation, whose sons have followed its ideals through all the centuries. Sometimes they have made mistakes, or blundered into difficulties, but undaunted, masterful and confident, have profited by the hard-won experience, and progressing with the march of time, find at the beginning of this twentieth century that they "have builded better than they knew."

Thus, when in the opening month of 1890 Britain stood alone, as said a Canadian statesman,[198] in "splendid isolation," there was heard coming, not only from Canada, but from every daughter nation around the seas, the same brave refrain which had been sung by a Canadian poet in 1861, when the sanctity of the flag had been violated in the stirring times of the "Trent affair":

And yet again in 1899, when brother Britons in Africa were suffering injustice, when our British colonies were being invaded and the Union Jack attacked by a mistaken foe, the Empire arose, and the bold refrain passed into chivalrous action.

In ships that ploughed furrows around the world the sons of the Empire came—colonists, yeomen and imperial forces—"in one united armament blent," to give their glad devotion in life or death for Queen and Union Ensign on the South African hills and veldt.

Such, then, is the story, such is the meaning of our Union Jack; the emblem of combined constitutional government, the proclaimer of British liberty, the Union sign of British rule, the signal of the Realm of "Great Britain and Ireland and of all the Britains beyond the seas."[199]

Mindful of its story, happy in their lot, facing the World, its sons and their sons' sons stand up to their Union Colours and encircle the earth with their glad anthem,

APPENDICES.

APPENDIX A.

THE MAPLE LEAF EMBLEM.

The maple leaf emblem of Canada, as compared with the rose, shamrock and thistle of the British Isles, has but so recently entered into the realm of national emblems that some of the reasons for its adoption may well be given.

The maple tree is found in luxuriance in every province of the Dominion. Varieties of it grow, it is true, in other parts of America, but the tree is in its greatest glory in the northern zones, where throughout Canada, extended along her line of similar latitude, it attains to its greatest and most robust development. It flourishes in Newfoundland, in the Maritime Provinces, and in Quebec. It is the finest forest tree in Ontario. Manitoba maples form the foliage of the North-West, and anyone who has seen the giant maple leaves of British Columbia will say the maple leaf is the natural emblem of Canada.

As well as being the natural emblem, it is also the typical emblem. It was held in high esteem by the early settlers of Quebec, and was adopted, in 1836, as the French Canadian emblem for the festival of St. Jean Baptiste. It was placed on the coinage of New Brunswick early in the century; a whole maple tree was shown on the coinage of Prince Edward Island before the time of Confederation, after which event maple leaves have been used on all coinage issued by the Dominion. At the creation of the union in Confederation it was placed in the arms of Quebec and of Ontario, and was heraldically recognized as the "emblem of Canada."

Maple leaves form the wreaths on the flag of the Governor-General of the Dominion and on the flags of the Lieutenant-Governors of all the provinces. The maple leaf was the emblem placed by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales on the Colours of the "Royal Canadians," the 100th Regiment, raised in Canada in 1865, and it is still worn as the regimental badge of their successors, the Royal Leinster Regiment.

It has been worn on the breasts of all the representative champions of Canada—at the oar, on the yachts, on the athletic fields, in military contests, and at the rifle ranges—as the emblem of their country.

It is on the "Canada Service" and "North-West" medals, and on the uniforms and accoutrements of the Canadian Militia, of the North-West Mounted Police and all official Services.

It was the distinguishing emblem on the uniforms and helmets of the lusty and loyal sons of the Canadian contingents who served in South Africa in 1900, where the presence of that emblem reminded them of their far-off home and nerved their hearts for deeds of duty and devotion to Canada and their Queen. The wounded Canadian who, lying wounded on the veldt at Paardeberg, touched the maple leaf upon his helmet and said to his companion, "If I die, it may help this to live," spoke that which burns within the heart of every Canadian lad and fires the inborn energy of his race.

It has been extolled in poetry and prose; it is the theme of the songs of our children; and the stirring strains of "The Maple Leaf" form an accompaniment to our British national anthem.

Everywhere throughout the world the maple leaf has won recognition as the emblem of the Canadians, and surely might well be displayed upon their national flag.

If, instead of the Dominion coat-of-arms, a green maple leaf were placed on the shield in the Canadian ensign, the flag would be fairer to see and more easily distinguished. Green is the emblem of youth and vigour, or, if the colour used were scarlet, the colour of courage, then in either case the natural and emblematic attributes of the leaf would be represented.

It was suggested[200] that in that year of the Diamond Jubilee a white diamond of one-third the size of the "union" should be substituted for the present shield and coat-of-arms, making a flag (69) which would signalize an historic epoch. The single maple leaf on the white diamond in the fly of the red ensign would tell as bravely and more clearly the story of the "coat-of-arms" on the shield, and it would also be a national tribute to that Queen under whose commanding influence the colonies have arisen around the empire, and be a record of that Diamond Jubilee of Victoria which was the revelation of their union and the united testimony to their affection and allegiance.

If for similarity with the flags of other branches of the Empire a white escutcheon or circle should be preferred to the diamond, the maple leaf upon it would be equally well displayed and the sign of Canada on the red fly of the ensign be clearly distinguished.

Flags are signals to be used for conveying information to persons at a distance; their details should, therefore, be simple in form and be displayed in simple colours. The multi-coloured quarterings of the Dominion arms, as shown on the shield upon the Canadian ensign (Pl. IX., fig. 1), have not been found entirely efficient, for they fail in being easily recognizable.

Whatever the colour may be or the shape of the escutcheon, the single maple leaf on a white ground would tell at a glance that the emblem was the emblem of its people, and that the flag was the Canadian ensign.

APPENDIX B.

LETTERS FROM THE PRIVATE SECRETARY OF HIS MAJESTY KING EDWARD VII.

Buckingham Palace, June 4th, 1902.

Dear Sir: In reply to your letter, I am afraid that the Royal Standard, which is the King's personal flag, can only be hoisted on the Coronation. If permission were given in one case, it would be impossible to refuse it in any other. I must remind you that you can always fly the Union Jack.

Yours faithfully, F. KNOLLYS.

The Vicar of St. Michael's, Folkestone.

Sandringham, Norfolk, Dec. 29th, 1907.

Sir: In reply to your letter of the 9th inst., I beg to inform you that the "Union Jack" being the national flag may be flown by British subjects, private or official, on land.

Yours faithfully,
KNOLLYS.

Barlow Cumberland, Esq. Port Hope.

APPENDIX C.

CANADIAN WAR MEDALS.

The War Medal (62) was granted in 1848, to be worn by the men of the British forces who had served in the fleets and armies during the wars from 1793 to 1814. Among these the Canadian militia was included.

Clasps were granted to those men who had been present at the actions of St. Sebastian, Vittoria, Salamanca, Talavera and Vimiera, in the Peninsular campaign; and in the Canadian campaign, for the actions at Fort Detroit, August 16th, 1812; Chateauguay, October 26th, 1813; and Chrystler's Farm, November 11th, 1813. The medal from which the drawing is made is engraved, "A. Wilcox, Canadian Militia," and bears the clasp "Fort Detroit."

The Canada General Service Medal (63) was granted in 1898 to the survivors of the Canadian militia and Imperial troops who had been out in active service in Canada in repelling the Fenian Raids of 1866 and 1870, or in the Red River Expedition under Wolseley in 1870. There are three clasps—"Fenian Raid, 1866," "Fenian Raid, 1870," "Red River, 1870." Upon the reverse side is the Canadian ensign surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves. The drawing is made from the medal of the writer, as engraved, "F. B. Cumberland, Ensign, 10th Royal Reg't."

The North-West Canada Medal (64) was granted in 1886 to all who had served in the Canadian North-West in 1885. The clasp "Saskatchewan" was accorded to all who were present at the actions of Fish Creek, April 24th; Batoche, May 12th; and Frenchman's Butte, May 27th, 1885.

The force serving in the operations of 1885 was drawn entirely from the Canadian militia and the North-West Mounted Police, with the addition of the Imperial officers on the staff.

APPENDIX D.

A RECORD OF THE "DIAMOND ANTHEM."

20th June, 1897.

From Sons of England Record.

The imaginative description given by Daniel Webster in 1834 of the "Morning drumbeat which, following the sun and keeping company with the hours, circles the earth with one continuous strain of the martial airs of England" has been for many years the ideal example for estimating the world-spread area of the British Empire. It seemed at the time, and was, a poetic fancy, but since that time the domiciles of the British peoples have been more amply developed and more closely spread so that the world is now encircled not simply with isolated military posts, but by a continuous line of happy British homes.

The time for the celebration of the 60th year of the accession of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, so aptly named, by His Royal Highness Prince of Wales (now Edward VII), the Diamond Jubilee, was approaching and many projects were rife to give expression to the loyalty and affection of Her Majesty's subjects.

The official day set for the celebration was Tuesday, June 22nd, 1897, a date which was preceded by Sunday, June 20th, the actual anniversary of Her Majesty's accession.

Mr. Barlow Cumberland was then the President, and Mr. Jno. W. Carter the Secretary, of the Supreme Lodge of the "Sons of England Benevolent Society." This is an organization which had been initiated in Canada in 1874 for the purpose of joining together colonists who had emigrated from England, or their descendants, for patriotic, benevolent and social purposes; to welcome new-comers and be of fraternal assistance to one another. The Society had flourished and Lodges had been formed in all parts of Canada. A branch organization had been established in the Colonies of South Africa and connections had been opened in Australia. A compact and energetic organization therefore was ready to hand in the larger parts of the Colonial Empire. The members of the Society were actively joining in the arrangements for all the local celebrations for the 22nd, in which they afterwards took fullest share. Mr. Cumberland made the proposal that they should do something more and should in addition, organize a world-wide incident which their far-spread organization would enable them to do, and which would be the further tribute of the Sons of England to their Queen and a testimony of the fidelity which they had carried to their new homes beyond the seas. Besides being President of this, and of other National Societies, Mr. Cumberland had for many years been actively engaged in steamship and railway operations, so was peculiarly qualified for the requirements for completing such an enterprise.

His conception and proposal was the "Diamond Jubilee Anthem," to be sung around the world, following the sun, on Sunday, June 20th, the actual anniversary day.

His project was that, commencing at the time of the earliest hour in the morning on the 20th at Windsor Castle, where Her Majesty would be in residence, the sons and daughters in the Colonies should encircle their Queen with the never ceasing upraisal of their loyal acclaim and prayer by taking up the singing of the National Anthem in succession at their far distant homes throughout all the hours of that great day of her life. It was to be as though deputation after deputation from the Colonies, each carrying the Union Jack, were presenting themselves minute after minute and singing below the Castle walls.

On the opposite side of the world from the Heart of the Empire at Windsor Castle are the Fiji Islands, the Colony situate nearest to longitude 180°, which is 180°, or 12 hours, from the centre of time at the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, and is the dividing line of the days of the world's time—where day begins and midnight ends. At these Islands, being on the opposite side of the world, it is 4 o'clock in the afternoon at the same moment at which it is 4 o'clock in the morning of the same day in England. The problem was therefore to have the National Anthem commenced in Fiji at the beginning of Her Majesty's day, and arranging to have it sung thereafter precisely at 4 p.m., as the sun arrived at that moment in succession over each place in the Colonies and passed onward around the world.

A form of service was devised, suitable for any Sunday afternoon service to be held in any church, open air service or assembly hall, in which the National Anthem should be arranged to be sung at the exact moment of 4 o'clock.

A time-table of longitudes, prepared by the Meteorological Department of Canada, showing the meridian or sun time at each place, and full descriptive circulars with forms of service and a time-table showing the hour at Windsor Castle and the corresponding hour at each place, were sent in multitude to friends and correspondents in these Colonies and Dependencies owning allegiance to the Union Jack.

With the co-operation of the Right Rev. the Bishop of Toronto, who was a member of the Order, and the Heads in Canada of all religious bodies, communication was opened up with the Colonial bishops and clergy, and their services were enlisted. Patriotic societies and the secretaries of the Royal Colonial Institute were asked to assist, and letters were also sent to the captains of every British passenger ship which would be at sea on the 20th of June, asking them to sing the Anthem, fire a gun, and note the position of their ship at 4 p.m. on that day.

The brethren of the Society in Newfoundland and Canada took the service up with energy and enthusiasm. The Sons of England in South Africa answered with alacrity, Australia and New Zealand joined in heartily, and thus, by prompt and efficient action, the organization was completed and ready for the eventful day.

Copies of the services and time-table beautifully illuminated, were sent to Her Majesty, by reference to which it could be seen at any hour how far the Anthem had proceeded on its way and in what Colony it was at any moment being sung.

In acknowledging receipt the Colonial Secretary, the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, said to His Excellency Lord Aberdeen: "I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch of the 24th April, with its enclosures on the subject of the Continuous Service around the World which is being arranged by the Sons of England in commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the Queen's Accession to the Throne. I have to inform you that, in accordance with your request, the matter has been brought before the notice of the Queen, and that Her Majesty was graciously pleased to express her sincere appreciation of the loyal feelings that have prompted this interesting method of Commemoration."

Two thousand six hundred personal letters were written, 60,000 copies of the service sent out, and after months of work the 20th of June came and the Anthem passed around the world.

Each one knew that they had done their duty, but had others far away done theirs so that the links might be complete?

The idea when first made met with immediate acceptance as a happy conception, but many doubts were expressed as to the possibility of its being actually accomplished, for it seemed to the faint-hearted almost an impossibility to arrange for a connecting line of services, which should take place in succession around the whole circle of the earth for the space of twenty-four hours. Yet the President was able to inform the Grand Lodge that the Jubilee service had been carried out in actual fact and in completest detail.

Of this record it is not possible within the limits of this notice to give more than a sketch.

Reports and letters kept coming in for month after month from the far distant continents in reply to the request, and giving an account of the proceedings. A few extracts only can be given here as samples of many hundreds of similar character which were received from the continuous line now recorded around the world, telling of how the Diamond Jubilee Anthem was sung at each place as shown in the time-table attached.

The service commenced on Sunday afternoon, 20th June, in Levuka, Fiji Islands. Dr. Garner Jones, headmaster of the Levuka Public Schools, writes: "Owing to geographical position—viz., 178° 51' e. long.—the inhabitants of Levuka, Fiji Islands, enjoyed the unique honour of initiating 'The Wave of Song' that hailed the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty's Ascension. The service was an open air one, being held in the Government school grounds, Rev. W. Floyd, of the English Church, officiating. The attendance was large and included representatives of various races who claim Her Majesty as their Sovereign. English, Scotch, Irish, Australian and New Zealand Colonials, Chinese, Germans, Swedes, and among them the characteristic bushy hair of the Fijian and other South Sea Islanders was prominent, there found themselves shoulder to shoulder in the antipodes of the British Empire earnestly rolling forth our grand old National Anthem, thus giving the keynote of thanksgiving to the entire world. The Masons and Oddfellows appeared in regalia and the Levuka brass band was in attendance. Surrounding the main body of the assembly were the Levuka school boys, drawn up with their wooden rifles. Punctually at five minutes to 4 o'clock the procession of choristers left their temporary vestry and slowly approached their stand. At 4 o'clock precisely, meridian time, the British Ensign was hoisted, which was the prearranged signal, the band immediately struck up, and every throat commenced 'God Save the Queen,' while the public school guard stood at the 'Present.' Undoubtedly the occasion was unique, and Levuka never forgot for a moment that her geographical position was unique also, in so far as she enjoyed the proud distinction of being allowed to start the wave of song which in its course would pass over in rotation all the British possessions on the face of the globe."

At this same moment at which it was 4 p.m. Sunday in the Fiji Islands, and 4 a.m. Sunday at Windsor Castle, where Her Majesty was in residence, the Executive of the Sons of England met at Shaftesbury Hall, Toronto, it being then precisely 10.55 p.m. on Saturday, June 19th, and sang the National Anthem, commenced that same minute in Levuka on Sunday afternoon, and which for the next seventeen and a quarter hours was to be coming steadily nearer with the sun as it passed in succession over each of the loyal gatherings in other lands until it was over Toronto at 4 o'clock (4.18 Standard time) on Sunday afternoon, when the Sons of England and Britons in Toronto again joined in the loyal strain as it passed by them onward toward the West.

Three minutes after Levuka had commenced, Suva, the Fiji capital, took up the strain. Mr. Hamilton Hunter says: "I am glad to report that the Special Jubilee Service was a great success in this Colony. It was not merely confined to the English Church, but was heartily taken up by the Roman Catholic, Presbyterian and Wesleyan Churches. The National Anthem was sung on the stroke of four. I have to thank you for having enabled us to set 'The Wave of Song' in motion by your timely warning."

Seventeen minutes later, or before the services in the Fijis had closed, the Anthem was taken up in Napier, New Zealand. The report says: "The Jubilee services at the cathedral yesterday will be remembered by the Napier people for many a long year, and it is questionable whether a more imposing ecclesiastical spectacle was ever witnessed in New Zealand. The cathedral was crowded to excess, all the friendly societies of Napier being present." The Dean writes: "As Dean of the easternmost cathedral in the British Empire, the cathedral upon which the rays of the rising sun first fall, I have to report that, in accordance with your wishes, we joined in the great circle of Anthem singing, as arranged for by the Sons of England, at 4 o'clock on the afternoon of Sunday last. The service was a very magnificent and enthusiastic one. I convey my most hearty good wishes to you and to the members of the great organization you represent."

The wave swept across Australia. At Melbourne, Victoria, B. Cowderoy, Esq., Secretary R.C.I., reports: "Both cathedrals (Anglican and Roman Catholic) were crushingly full. In the Exhibition building several thousands, after addresses by leading Wesleyans, took up the National Anthem at our Standard time. In the Town Hall the Anthem was sung with fervour at 4 p.m. by 4,000 with most impressive effect. I am an octogenarian, but in this matter I am as young as my eight grandsons, and thank you, Mr. Cumberland, for your happy suggestion which has given added interest to all that is being done." Adelaide, South Australia, reports: "The Bishops of the Diocese entered heartily into the scheme. The Governor and his staff were present. The National Anthem was sung with intense fervour and most thrilling effect." So it passed through the other cities and over the continent of Australia.

Across the Indian Ocean.—S.S. Empress of India marked the latitude 26° 6' n.; long. 120° 26' e.: "Rockets fired and National Anthem sung at 4 p.m. off Alligator Rock."

It first touched Africa and was hailed by the lodge of the Sons of England at Durban, Natal, and then in continuing line across South Africa, in all the principal cities, and at Cape Town the record was maintained.

On the Atlantic Ocean it was taken up on many British ships at sea, among which a few only may be mentioned. R.M.S. Tantallon Castle, lat. 7° 17' n.: long. 14° 33' w., off west coast of Africa: "Guns fired and Anthem sung at 4 p.m." S.S. Greek, lat. 18° 10' n.; long. 17° 38' w.: "Fired rocket and sang National Anthem." S.S. Numidian: "'God Save the Queen' sung precisely at 4 p.m." Ship's position, lat. 54° 42' n.; long. 20° 43' w. S.S. Catalonia: "At 4 p.m. I had two explosive gun signals fired on my ship in lat. 50° 12' n.; long. 22° 6' w. It was blowing a south-west gale with high seas, and it was a great disappointment to me that we could not hold the service I had intended, but all classes of passengers were so seasick."

By the equivalent time of 7.31 o'clock in the evening at Windsor Castle the Anthem had crossed the Atlantic, and first touched the shores of America at St. John's, Newfoundland, when it was met by Lodge Dudley S.O.E. assembled, together with the Governor-General and all the friendly societies in the cathedral. "The service was impressive in the extreme." From here westward through Canada the records of the reports in the time-table appended show how that as the sun crossed the continent the line through the villages, towns and cities of Canada was so complete that the singing of the Anthem in one place had not ceased before it was taken up in the next. Brief extracts from the reports of a few only can be given. Charlottetown, P.E.I.: "The First Methodist Church was crowded to the doors with members of the Orangemen, Good Templars, Oddfellows, Masons and the Mayor and City Officials. At the proper moment the church rang with the grand old strains of the National Anthem." Halifax, N.S.: "St. Paul's Church was filled to its utmost. Among those present were Countess Aberdeen, General Montgomery Moore and Admiral Erskine with their staffs. At 4.14 o'clock the Anthem was sung right loyally." Montreal, Que. "Services were held in four churches and all well attended. At Christ Church Cathedral a large military church parade was held and as in the others the Anthem sung at the appointed time." Ottawa: "All the local societies joined in a church parade to Christ Church Cathedral. At 4.03 o'clock the Guards Band struck up the National Anthem, which was heartily joined in by all." Pembroke: "The form of union service was held in the Town Hall, all societies joining. In order to join in the Anthem at the right moment the Mayor cut down his remarks." Brockville: "Every corner of the church was occupied. As the Town clock struck four the entire congregation rose and sang. An indefinable emotion passed over the people as they joined in the continuous hymn of loyalty as it circled with the sun around the world. Surely in the history of the world no monarch ever received such a glorious tribute of hearty affection and respect from her subjects." Orillia: "As the familiar words were sung with lusty fervour by nearly a thousand voices, until the volume almost raised the roof, the sun passed the hour of four. In imagination the congregation could hear the strains as they rolled up from the east and died away into the west." At Toronto: "3,000 people were packed into the cathedral. After completion of the prayers there remained four minutes before it was our turn to take our place in the circle of song. By direction of His Lordship the Bishop the congregation knelt in silent prayer for Her Majesty and the welfare of the Empire. An immense throng of 6,000 to 7,000 people filled the churchyard and the adjacent streets outside, and a regimental band had been stationed outside on the cathedral steps to lead their singing. At the first stroke of the cathedral bell, which had been arranged to strike at 4.18 p.m., being the real meridian time for 4 p.m. at Toronto, the congregation rose to their feet and at the second joined with those outside in uplifting with heart and voice their loyal prayer, 'God save our gracious Queen.' Those were moments of a life-time while we waited in silence for the coming of the Anthem." Hamilton: "The biggest hall in Hamilton is the Armory, but it wasn't big enough to hold every one who wished to take part, although 5,000 did manage to pack inside. Precisely at 4.20 o'clock the opening strains of 'God save the Queen' came from the band and the immense gathering rose and sang the Anthem with a vigour and earnestness never before heard. It was a time for everyone's heart to swell with pride that he or she was a Britisher, although thousands of miles distant from the Mother Land." Collingwood: "When at 4.21 the united choir and congregation joined in singing the National Anthem every heart responded to the noble thought that a link was being formed in the chain of prayer for the Queen that passed round the world that day from sunrise to sunset." Owen Sound: "It was a happy thought that suggested the gathering of the Fraternal Societies in the Queen's Park. Every face in the great throng beamed with pleasure as the grand chorus swelled upon the air from many throats." London: "The service was a memorable one, in every feature it was remarkable. The singing of the National Anthem which took place exactly at the appointed hour, 4.26 p.m., will not readily be forgotten by those present." Winnipeg, Man.: "The Sunday service surpassed anything ever known here before." Chilliwack, B.C.: "The great company joined enthusiastically in singing the National Anthem, which took place at 4 o'clock, astronomical time."

The utmost enthusiasm was everywhere displayed, the churches were crowded, and the details of the service faithfully carried out, immense interest being taken in singing the anthem exactly at the correct moment.

Thus actually minute after minute the Anthem strain followed the hours across this continent to the shores of the Pacific at Victoria, British Columbia, where an open-air service was held in the Public Park at the equivalent of 12.13 midnight at Windsor Castle. "Among those present at Beacon Hill Park were the Lieutenant-Governor, the Mayor, the Admiral and crews of the ships in harbour. At 4 o'clock the bugles rang out, the royal standard was run up to the masthead, and the National Anthem was sung with full force by an assemblage of 12,000 people."

From here, leaving the land, the Anthem wafted its way back to the place of beginning, being joined as it passed by the R.M.S. Aorangi, in lat. 32° 25' n., long. 147° 49' w., and by the R.M.S. Empress of China, lat. 41° 16' n., long. 152° 30' w. until at length it came to the little island which is as far on one side of long. 180°, the central degree of longitude, as Levuka, from where it had started, is on the other. Here the West met the East. As it is so typical, and as the closing report, it may be well to give in full the letter received from the lighthouse keeper on the island:

Here the circle of the world was completed and the Anthem had come back to the place of beginning.

Thus were the fellow-colonists, hand in hand and voice to voice, linked in one continuous line around the world, and the historic but ideal "drumbeat" of the "Martial Airs of England" changed into the absolute fact of the "Diamond Anthem" with which they encircled the earth and accompanied the hours throughout the Diamond Jubilee Accession Day of their beloved Queen.

One of the great records of Her Majesty's reign was the marvellous increase of her colonial kingdom. It was largely through her own personal influence that during those sixty years it had been extended and cared for. Gladly has this tribute of affection been given by her grateful colonists to their Queen by thus joining "Hands all Round" in their rejoicings, in a way which was impossible at the beginning of her reign, but which, by her broad-minded advance, she had herself made practicable, and which therefore marks a record of her great life-work.

Thus was completed in every particular the Diamond Anthem of the Sons of England. A "Service" which was so universally and ardently adopted, is absolutely unique in history, and one which is capable of being carried out only by our British Nation, upon whose Sovereign's Dominions the sun never sets.

A diamond star was added to Mr. Cumberland's Past President's Jewel as a token of appreciation, and every commendation must be given to the officers of the Lodges and kindred associations, to the clergy and municipal, and to the naval and military authorities who so earnestly co-operated in carrying out the celebrations which will long last in the thoughts of those who had the happiness of sharing in them. It was a memorable event.

DIAMOND JUBILEE OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA,

SUNDAY, JUNE 20th, 1897.