Maces Continue to ! Be Symbols Showing Authority, Power LONDON — The coronation of Queen Elizabeth m London next June will bring the Crystal Mace, famous symbol of the l ights grant ed to the city by the crown, into active ceremonial use twice within the space of a year. Usually the most prominent ap pearance of London's ancient mace is its annual transfer from the out going Lord Mayor to his successor. This ceremony took place this year early in November. Next June the mace will appear again, at the coronation, when the Lord Mayor will bear the ancient sceptre m the procession. The man to be honored in June is Sir Rupert De la Here, who accepted it from lus predecessor. Sir Leslie Boyce in the November ceremony The Crystal Mace- "perhaps the most prized emblem of the Mayor alty"—is nt such antiquity that its exact origins are unknown. It is 18 inches long and the shaft is [ carved rock crystal, probably of ancient S a \ o n craftsmanship, adorned with gold bands. The head, believed to date from the 15th century, is also of gold, adorned with pearls Use of mace as a symbol of au thority is an exceedingly ancient practice, possibly going back to Roman days when officials bore fasces -an axe bound in a bundle of rods, denoting power to flog with the rolls or put to death with the axe. I he mace continues to represent power Maces are exhibited to show that parliaments in most Brit ish Commonwealth nations are in session, and Colonial English maces are prized possessions of ■South Carolina and of Norfolk, Va.

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