Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-27
The HDHSP Of E.oris

The House of Lords is composed OF the lords
spiritual and temporal. In the reign Of Henry
composed the House. AT the time of Henry
VIII. the spiritual and temporal lords were
about equal in number. At the present time
the spiritual lords are the Archb.shops of Can
terbury and York and "a bishops of the Church
OF England. They are lords Of Parliament
only, and not peers. The lords temporal are
dukes. marquises, earls, viscounts and barons,
whose titles are all hereditary. The title OF
duke was first conferred On Edward the Black
Prince, whom Edward III. created Duke OF
Cornwall Marquises were originally lords of
tne tnaIches, OF borders, and derived their title
from the Offices held by them. The first who
was created marquis was Robert de We're
Earl OF Oxford, In 1l9S. Earls were In exist
ence before the Conquest, under the title OF
istration Of the shires was committed After
the Conquest they were called counts and
hence me shlres were called counties. VS.
counts were first created In the reign OF Henry
VI, and the title of baron was In existence
long before the Norman Conquest. The num-
Der OF the House OF Lords Is not limited. In
were only 20; at the death of Elizabeth they
were increased to 90; the SCuarts raised the
number to 49, which William HI. and Queen
Anne still further Increased to 16S On the
union OF Scotland in 1907. Is peers Of Scotland
were added; and On the Union OF Ireland In
1880, Is peers OF Ireland Since that time nu-
merCus additions have been made. so that at
the present time, in addition to 20 lords spirit
ual, there are sitting In the House OF Lords 3
peers Of the blood royal, 81 dukes, 10 marsuises
Il3 earls. "a V1scounts, 25O barons, IA Scottish
ment. and IS Irish elected for life-making a
total In the House of 500 lords spiritual and
temporal. Though the titles OF the lords are
aeTeaioary, the peerage Is constantly under
going changes, resulting from extinctions and
aoditlonS or the sixty peerages In existence
az the death of Elizabeth. forty are now ex-
9 I'll The blood OF the people is constantly
uh9iDg lts way into the channels OF the peerage,
ana new and fresh elements are taking the
place or those which have died out and disap
peared: Diapers, tailors, apothecaries, wool
godsmiths. tradesmen BARRIERS. coal deaIers'
money Lenders, and manufacturers were an.
cestors OF many who now boast OF their noble
nlo6d. The most striking instances are those
OF Lord Ienterden, the grandson OF a barber:
LORD Clifford, the son OF grocer; Lord Beacons,
held, the son OF an author; Lord Truro the son
OF tradesman. who married the cousin of the
queen; Lord Eldon, The son OF a coal agent:
LORD Clyde, the son OF cabinet-maker: Lord
peterborough the son OF country gentleman:
LORD AShburton, merchant; and Lord Lynd-
hurst, the son OF portrait painter, the Amer
In the House OF Lords is the throne occupied
Dy the queen at the opening OF Parliament, and
Ia 'front.' OF the throne is the woolsack occupied
Dy the Lord Chancell0r-a sort of ottoman with
a sack OF wool for seat, an emblem OF the
source Oh England's national wealth. The
spiritual lords and the administrative party
and the neutrals on cross benches between the
Two. A quorum OF the Lords is three and
important measures are often passed with less
than twenty members present Though the
House OF Lords has no power to originate
money bills, 1t has perfect right TO initiate
other measures right SO rarely exercised,
however, that 1t is now generally understood
mat the province OF the Peers is chiefly to
control and amend projects of legislation which
emanate nom the Commons. The most dlstin-
gushing feature of the Lords is their judica-
lure, which relates to the trial OF peers, claims
o OF peerage and offices OF honor. and contested
S,sclollS OF peers OF Scotland and Ireland.
They constitute the supreme court of iudica-
lure, me tribunal OF appeal In the last resort,
anu tne court for trial Of cases of impeach-
menu. Ihough apparently branch Of the
lar Irom oeing an element from which danger
may arse 10 the liberties of the people. The
HOUSE OF LORDS serves emily as a wholesome
regulator 10 the legislation Of the Commons
H0fpe1's Magazine.