Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-27
The British Ministry.

Nhat is cal!eu the MINISTRY has never been
recognized by law. but grew out Of the custom
OF a few of the Privy or Kings Council meeting
In the royal cabinet and assuming the power OF
advising the crown on important measures OF
the Ministry Is the Cabinet, or Cabinet Coun-
Gil. as the history OF its origin implies. The
only council required by law is the Prtvy
Council, and when official announcement Is
made Of the members Of the cabinet they are
announced simply as members OF that council
appointed to fill certain offices. The Privy
council OF England is cOeyal with It's mon
archy, but as The custom OF confiding advice
and counsel TO the cabinet has grown, its pow
erS have largely diminished, and the whole
council, has not been convened since 1889.
Ihe Prlyy Councillors are appointed without
limit TO their number, by the sovereign, and
they may be dismissed, or the council may be
dlssolVed, at the royal pleasure. No qualifca-
uve.Doin subjects OF Great Britain, and a dis
ability In this respect may be removed by an
act OF Parliament, as it was in the cases of
The Privy Council consists OF the members of
the royal family, the Archbishops OF York and
Canterbury, the Bishop of London the cabinet
ministers ej oHcio, the Lord Chancellor. the
chief officers Of the royal household. the Judges
OF the courts OF Equity, the Chief Justices of
the Courts OF Common Law, the Ecclesiastical
and Admiralty Judges, the Judge Advocate,
ana Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, the Speaker OF
the House of commons. the Ambassadors and
the CHIEF Ministers Plenipotentiary. the Gov
errors of the chief colonies. the Commander
OF Council for Education, and such others as
is styled Right Honorable, and takes prece-
dence OF all baronets, knights, and younger
sons or VlSc0untS and barons. 1t was In the
reign Of Henry VI, that the Kings Council first
assumed the name OF Prtyy Council. and it was
also during the minority Of that King that
select council gradually emerged from the larger
body, which ultimately resulted in the modern
cabinet. In earlier times 1t was wholly sub.
oervient to the Will OF the monarch, and was
irof ranrnf -
arbitrary proceedings, Since the Revolution
IL mas lost much OF its dlgEitttr; and now the
only relic OF its authority 10 criminal matters
is ITS power OF taking examinations and
ISSUING commitments for treason. 1t still,
however, continues to exercise an original ju.
rlSdlct1on In advising the crown concerning the
grants Of charters, and 1t has assumed eSclI
slve appellate Jurisdiction over the colonies and
Prlyy Council retains its ancient supremacy.
and 10 constitutional point of view is pre-
sumed TO be the only legal and responsible
council OF the crown. The Ministry proper,
who are members OF the cabinet, constitute
the chief members of the administration. The
practice OF consulting few members OF the
prlvy Council had existed as has been said,
for long period, but the first allusion to the
cabinet council occurs in the reign OF Charles /.
IL was extremely unpopular at first, and it was
not III l,SS that 1t was regulated by those
rules which it now enforces. Formerly the
hlng met with the ministry; but at the acces
sion OF George l., the first Hanoverian prince
On the throne or England, the practice was
discontinued, merely because he was unable
10 speak or understand the English language
The free and unrestrained discussion of me a.
dTeS IN his absence proved so beneficial that
the OLD practice has never been revived. Be.
lore that time the cabinet was not necessarily
composed OF men Of similar judgment and prln-
clpeS, and at times there were at the same
board Wings and Tories, and High Church
men and DisSenters, and ;t was no uncommon
things for colleagues to take opposite sides In
Parliament. But since 1912 1t has been an es-
Cabnshed principle that all cabinets are to be
constructed on some basis Of political union
agreed upon by the members when they accept
Office. 1t Is also distinctly understood that
members are jointly and personally RESPONSE
BILE for each others acts, and that on the res!g-
nation OF the Prime Minister his colleagues
shall resign also. 1t 1s OF course, well.knoWn
that the crown In organizing cabinet only ap-
points the Premier, and that the other men,
bers are selected by him, and always, except
in rare cases without dictation from the crown.
The first instance OF the resignation OF Prime
Minister resulting from an adverse vote OF the
commons was In the case OF Sir Robert Wal
pole; and the resignation OF the Ministry OF
Lord North, under George Ill, was the first
instance OF simultaneous change OF the whole
administration in Difference to the opinion of
the Commons. From that time however. a
change OF Ministry has been simultaneous and
complete. The number of those constituting
the cabinet ls indefinite. The members who ex
oILcio constitute the cabinet are the Prime
Minister. (or First Lord Of the Treasury the
Lord High Chancellor, the Lord President of
the Council, the Lord Prtvy Seal the Chancel-
lof OF the Ekchequer. the Secretary of State for
forelgn Affairs, the Secretary of State for Home
department. the Secretary OF State for Colonies
the secretary of State for War, the Secretary OF
state for India the First Lord OF the Admiralty.
the President OF the Board OF Trade. and some
times the Chancellor Of the Duchy of Lancas
Ter, the First Commissioner OF Works fhe
PRESIDENT OF the Local Government Board the
Postmaster General, and the Chief Secretary
for ireland.
Like the cabinet, the Office of Prime Minister
Is unknown TO the law and constitution, Heis
SIMPLY The member OF the cabinet who especI-
any possesses the confidence OF the crown, and
Rockingham In 1868, the Duke OF Portland In
IIo2, ana Mr.. Addington In 1912 had never held
any Office when they were appointed Prime
Minister'S Lord Butte became Premier before
ne nau even spoken In Parliament and Mr.
iiII was Lr1me Minister at the age OF twenty
lour. BEFORE 1906 the Premiership was occa
S SS neld IN connection with the of1ice of
state, Or Lord Chancellor, but It is now invaT vi
aoly heid In connection with the Office OF the
First Lord Of the Treasury. -YarOe,,s NTnn,iae
DR.. TYING ON THE MIRACLES AT LouRnps
Rev. Dr. stephen 81. Tying. jr., the WeIi-known
i Episcopal minister OF New York, who on Sunday
iasI preached upon the miracles Of Notre Dame
de Lourdes In the Pyrenees, as heretofore stataS
In the STAR. took the ground that miracles had
actually been wrought there throloh the
power OF prayer He visited LourdeS last sum
mer ana found 1900 visitors week passing
through the little village in the mountains
me DandageS and clutches OF the sick and
letters OF thanksgiving convinced DIR. Tynr
that the faith there shown Was shonorad hS,