The Weekly Machen
In writing the following article, which appeared on the front page of the Evening News, Arthur Machen was in his element as he recounted the grandeur and sanctity of a royal wedding. During his career as a journalist, he covered other important events including a funeral and a coronation. In each, his stylistic phrasing arose to the exalted occasions. Witnessing these cultural and religious spectacles certainly impacted Machen. In an excellent essay collected in the Darkly Bright edition of The Terror, Dale Nelson connects the theological conclusion of the novel with the tradition of consecrating Royalty.
The following is not listed in the bibliography by Goldstone and Sweetser.
A Glory of Diamonds:
The Entry of the King and Queen into the Chapel
by
Arthur Machen
October 15, 1913
They came, the White Bride and her Bridegroom, into a place made glad with white flowers for their coming.
Without, soft blue autumn skies, white fleeting clouds, and sunshine fit for a summer day; the day and the hour apparelled fitly for a wedding; within the Chapel Royal decked in the whiteness of chrysanthemums and lilies and roses and heather.
Green smilax starred with flowers drooped all around the walls, and the altar, vested in white and gold, was snowy with massed white blossoms.
Two candles burned upon it, two standard lights burned before it; on it stood a great almsdish of wrought gold, and above the carven dish the cross gleamed golden.
Before the altar, on the lowest pace, stood two stools in gold and crimson, set ready for the devotion of the bride and bridegroom.
Seats of the Mighty
On each side of the altar, before it, and against the walls were chairs in white and gold and crimson for the royal personages who were to assist at the solemnity.
As the hour drew near to eleven the officers of the Household, in dark uniforms, adorned with palm leaves in heavy gold lace, began to be busy in ushering the most distinguished congregation to their places.
Duke and duchess, marquess and marchioness, earl and countess, took their seats on the benches, upholstered in dark red; there was the flame of scarlet uniforms, the glitter of orders, the flash of sword hilts, and above all, the glory of diamonds worn by the great ladies present.
There were wonderful tiaras, all scintillant, as it seemed with coloured fires, necklaces and pendants of right Orient pearls, and diamond ear-drops luminous and splendid.
At eleven the organ began its swelling and triumphant music. The Sub-dean of Chapel Royal, the Bishop of London, the Archbishop of Canterbury, passed up the aisle to the altar, then in groups, the Queen and the Royal guests proceeded to their seats, all the congregation rising as they passed on their way, preceded by the ushers with their wands, walking backwards before Majesty.
High Noon
It was close on the hour of high noon; the organ that had paused awhile broke out anew into its thunderous and resonant rejoicing; and the bridegroom in his scarlet uniform entered.
On one side of him was his father, the Duke of Connaught, also in scarlet; on the other the Prince of Wales in the dark blue of a lieutenant in the Navy.
Now the bells rang noon; we heard the clamour of the word of command, and the Children of the Chapel Royal began the hymn:
Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
O’er the world’s tempestuous sea;
Guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us,
For we have no help but Thee;
Yet possessing every blessing
If our God our Father be
as the bride entered, the King and the Princess Royal with her, and following her bridesmaids, Princess Mary and the rest, carrying bouquets of pink and white flowers.
As The Altar
But the bride was all white and shimmering in misty veils and shining jewels, and also joined the bridegroom before the altar, and the clergy began to solemnise the sacrament of marriage.
The Archbishop’s voice was clear as he administered the interrogatories of the Church, and the Prince repeated the words clearly after him.
And in a low voice that was quite audible the Duchess of Fife made her answers, and pledged her troth to the bridegroom.
“That ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting”—thus the Nuptial Benediction of the Archbishop ended; and the organ, with the choir, began the Psalm:
God be merciful unto us and bless us.
Man and Wife
Now the Prince and Princess, made man and wife, were kneeling before the altar between the lighted torches; and the Sub-dean continued the service of the “excellent mystery,” as the Order calls it.
And the anthem:
Lift thine eyes to the mountains, whence cometh help.
The Archbishop began his address. His text was given him by the words of the Anthem.
“Lift up your eyes,” he began, and he went on to quote the Liturgy:—
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up unto the Lord.
“Memories Transfigured”
“Your memories are transfigured into hopes and prayers”; “The lessons you have learned are going to be focused into an English home”; “God give you grace to serve Him together”—these were some of the sentences spoken by the Archbishop.
The anthem, “O Perfect Love, all human thought transcending,” rose from clear, pure, and delicate voices; and the organ swelled and triumphed and the Children of the Chapel sang in full thrilling chorus as the anthem came to its close.
The ushers took their places, and began to lead the Happy Prince and his Princess from the altar as the Wedding March was announced in high exultation.
And exultantly and gladly man and wife went forth into the sunshine, and onward to the happy years.
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darklybrightpress.com 
This was excellent – many thanks!
What a lot of color it adds – and depth reveals – of the day, earlier and later parts of which were filmed by Pathé – for which, see YouTube…
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