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Mr. W. Lewis Grant said that none could dispute the 
claims of York to be the scene of a great Pageant in which 
should be presented episodes of the events which so richly 
endow the history of the great northern city. The city 
contains numerous relics of the past, and her characteristic 
glories have not been swept away. The purpose of the 
Pageant was put forth ; it was essentially a part of a great 
religious celebration, a festival of thanksgiving to God for 
blessings received, a festival of friendship, brotherhood and 
loyalty. One thing stood out clearly in the York Pageant — - 
the part which religion has played through the nation’s long 
history. It has been associated with royal acts and military 
movements ; with civic schemes and labours ; with education- 
al institutions ; with architectural and artistic achievements. 
In this connection Mr. Grant touched upon the episode which 
set forth the foundation in the eighth century of the celebrated 
school of York — St. Peter’s. Archbishop Egbert figured in 
the scene and also Alcuin, the great teacher and man of 
learning. Then Mr. Grant referred to the Master of the 
Pageant — Mr. Louis N. Parker— the one to whose genius 
the modern Commemoration Pageant owes its inception. 
Their thanks were due to one who had done so much to bring 
home to the people of England the glory of her history. 
The fascinating evolution of the name of the city as dis- 
closed in the Pageant was touched on, and two scenes were 
specially selected for description. In one of them appeared 
the treacherous Queen Cartismandua ; the spirited Venusius, 
stubborn in his patriotism ; and the brave, high-minded, 
but luckless Caradoc. The other depicted the death of 
Siward, the great Earl of Northumbria. Then came reference 
to Brunanburgh, the place of the famous battle associated 
with King Athelstan. To commemorate that victory the 
great Hospital of St. Peter was founded. This renowned 
institution was dissolved in the time of Henry VIII., and 
within the Pageant grounds stand only the ruins of it. 
Great praise was bestowed on the music of the Pageant, 
which was under the mastership of Mr. T. Tertius Noble, 
Organist of the Minster. Mr. Grant instituted comparisons 
with the Pageants of Sherborne and Winchester with regard 
to magnitude, the impressiveness of the episodes, and the 
site upon which the scenes were enacted. The Pageant was 
a triumph of organization, of instruction, of comradeship, 
of patient and persistent effort, and of literary, musical, 
scenic and dramatic skill, 
