NO. 2 IN THE NEWSPAPER WRITINGS OF KEN WRIGHT

BACKGROUND FOR MY DAD'S "VOICE OF THE PEOPLE" COLUMN ON THE ROCK OF MANY NAMES: The Stone of Scone, also known as the Stone of Destiny, and often referred to in England as The Coronation Stone, is an oblong block of red sandstone that was used for centuries in the coronation of the monarchs of Scotland, and later also when the monarchs of Scotland became monarchs of England as well as in the coronations of the monarchs of Great Britain and latterly of the United Kingdom following the treaties of union. Historically, the artifact was kept at the now-ruined Scone Abbey in Scone, near Perth, Scotland. It is also known as Jacob's Pillow Stone and the Tanist Stone, and in Scottish Gaelic, Its size is 66 cm (26 in) by 42.5 cm (16.7 in) by 26.7 cm (10.5 in) and its weight is approximately 152 kg (335 lb). A roughly incised cross is on one surface and an iron ring at each end aiding in transport. The Stone of Scone was last used in 1953 for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

On Christmas Day 1950, a group of four Scottish students removed the stone from Westminster Abbey in London for return to Scotland. During the removal process, the stone broke into two pieces. A major search for the stone was ordered by the British Government, but proved unsuccessful. The custodians of the "stolen" stone inadvertently left it on the altar of Arbroath Abbey on 11 April 1951, in the safekeeping of the Church of Scotland. Once London police were informed of its whereabouts, the stone was returned to Westminster four months after it had been removed.

In what would prove to be one of his last newspaper submissions, Ken Wright expressed lead-off joy over the return of the stone to West Minister Abby, but dismay over the fact that it had been removed in the first place. Here is his take on the incident, bearing in mind that Canada still belonged to the United Kingdom at the time (70 years ago).

Sometimes I wonder what has become of the rock of solidarity that once was the foundation of all English speaking people, particularly the Scotch and English.

Once it was considered expedient, wise and comforting for these two neighboring countries to be one. As a matter of fact, we once thought that the Scottish were more English than the English were themselves. We said that England owned it, the Scotch ran it, and the Irish ruled it.

The British flag brought orderly government to a troubled Canada, a troubled India, a troubled Egypt, a troubled Africa and an oppressed Israel. These nations prospered and international strife came to an end within their borders. They grew, prospered and became strong.

Next came the inevitable urge for separation -- divorcement from the Empire of England. Anti-British forces worked untiringly for years to bring this about.

Each nation in turn was given its separation -- Ireland, India, Egypt and Israel. Now there is a Scottish nationalistic movement and even some talk of Canada severing connections and having a new flag and national anthem.

Perhaps this is progress. Perhaps it is destiny. Perhaps it is the will of our Heavenly Father. What you will...The English bow to the will of the majority and grant separation but in the granting, the great rock of solidarity is made smaller and weaker.

There is saving grace, however, in the rock of our faith and the body of individuals who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior. We must have that kind of Christian unity and trust among English speaking nations. 

We are too few to afford cunning trickery one with the other as peoples fighting for survival against terrible odds in the face of mounting unrest between nations.

We must return the Rock of Ages to its proper place in our hearts, council chambers and houses of legislature to once again gain unity that everyone can trust.

As we move into the next decade we do well to keep the words of Jesus foremost in our minds and hearts: "Without me ye can do nothing."

Signed "Cordially yours"

NOTE FROM DICK: My father passed away in his 53rd year, less than two years after writing this piece which of course is now history. He never got to see the Canada he loved become a nation unto itself some 30 years later. He also escaped the drawn out civil unrest in Ireland after the Irish Free State broke its remaining ties with Britain and became a Republic. It's just as well! Consolation, however, may be in the fact that Scotland has remained part of the United Kingdom.

Most will remember that The Canada Act 1982 was passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom in response to the request from the Parliament of Canada to take over authority for amending its own constitution. After unpromising negotiations with the provincial governments, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau proclaimed that the federal Parliament would unilaterally patriate the constitution. After numerous references by the provinces, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in the Patriation Reference that provincial consent was not legally necessary, but to do so without substantial consent would be contrary to a longstanding constitutional convention. Trudeau succeeded in convincing nine provinces out of ten to consent to patriation by agreeing to the addition of a Notwithstanding Clause to limit the application of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as a result of discussions during a First Ministers' conference and other minor changes in November 1981.