I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service
face, so tremendous a burden as is hers, but in a new dedication she reiterates that of five years ago: “I pray that God will help me to discharge worthily this heavy task that has been laid upon me so early in my life.” To those who endeavour to follow Christ, such a rededication comes as a glorious benediction to their faith and confidence. God save our gracious Queen!’ The cover of the 16 February Musician was devoted to a tribute to King George VI. Inside was the letter of condolence that General Orsborn had sent the Queen and the royal family, which concluded: ‘Salvationists … offer your Majesty, with our humble duty, sincere affection and unshaken loyalty.’ To mark the Queen’s Coronation at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953, the 30 May Musician included a short feature on ‘Salvationist musicians serving with Her Majesty’s forces’. It noted that one of the eleven RAF bands taking part in the Coronation procession had Salvationists making up a third of its membership – ‘surely a tribute to Salvation Army musical teaching’. First-Lieutenant Brindley Boon wrote an article about the Coronation music and its composers, while Colonel Arch R Wiggins recalled how the Coronations of George V in 1911 and George VI in 1937 had been reported in the Army papers. Looking forward to the Coronation, General Albert Orsborn wrote: ‘Salvationists everywhere will say “Amen” to the Queen’s Coronation vows and prayers. Mrs Orsborn and I will be honoured to represent you among the 7,000 very privileged worshippers and witnesses in Westminster Abbey, and we shall certainly say “Amen!”’ All 16 pages of the 30 May Coronation issue of the War Cry had articles and photo features on a royal theme, with the colour cover again exclaiming: ‘God save the Queen!’ Three ‘songs for Coronation meetings’ were published,
The Queen receives flowers from Beverley Gardner, ‘War Cry’ 23 February 1952 including one – whose writer went simply by the initials WEH – to be sung to the tune of the National Anthem. God bless our native land; May his almighty hand Protect our shore; May peace her reign extend, May foe be turned to friend, The nation’s might depend On war no more. God save our Queen, and bless Her reign with righteousness, Her strength maintain; Her heart direct and move With wisdom from above; Throned on her people’s love Long may she reign. May just and equal laws Uphold the people’s cause, And sin confound; Home of the brave and free, While thus we pray for thee, May all men brothers be, The wide world round. The War Cry editorial focused on the place of women in society. It looked back at the emancipation of previous generations and said: ‘Now Elizabeth the Second comes to the throne having already served as a nurse, representing Victorian emancipation, and a womansoldier, representing Georgian emancipation. Among her millions of women subjects the Queen of the second half of the 20th century can command the loyalty and affection of
policewomen, members of parliament, engineers, barristers, magistrates, non-conformist ministers, business executives, railway porters, bus conductresses – every one a “scandalous” proposition in the days of Victoria the Good!’ ‘Who can tell what embargoes upon women may be lifted during Elizabeth’s reign?’ it continued, before concluding: ‘Women will most certainly one day sit in the House of Lords, despite today’s opposition, and, looking back over the improbabilities of 50 years ago, is it entirely beyond probability that one day a king may be crowned by a woman?’ An article by Lieut-Colonel Catherine Baird, titled ‘The Queen as a queen’, summed up the thoughts of the contributors to this special issue. Her concluding words were: ‘At the opening of parliament in 1952 journalists described the radiant, youthful and tranquil Queen, never bored, but apparently enjoying each moment which was part of a ceaseless round of service to the nation. To the millions of men and women who also delight in serving, the Queen is never more Her Majesty the Queen than when she is at work, for a sovereign is, above all else, a servant of the people.’
LIEUT-COLONEL JONATHAN ROBERTS Editor Salvationist
Salvationist 4 June 2022
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