The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-08-14

1t may sound strange that a man should
dislike to become a lord, but the cases of
peerages being refused in England are
Tar more frequent than one would imag-
Inc. The present Lord CoIeridge. son of
the late Lord Russelrs predecessor as
lord chief justice. was so anxious to
avoid succeeding to mis- fathers peerage.
which was an hereditary one. that ne
actually went to the length of appealing
10 the courts for the purpose OF ascer-
tanning whether he could not remain a
commoner and avoid becoming a peer He
ueclared mat by succeeding to his faith
ers peerage, he was debarred from the
pursuit OF his promising political career
IN the house OF Commons, while his in
come as a successful member OF the bar
would pe diminished and possibly stopped
a!togetner. subsequently the courts de-
cided that a peer of the realm, and as
such d member OF the highest tribunal
Oh the landr could at the same time prac-
ice al the bar. AS 1t is, Lord Coieridge is
cut on from portion of his fathers in
come, as he can only plead as a peer In
certain courts and is shut out from others
"hich formerly yielded him big receipts
only few years ago the Crown gave
OF prehXinS the word honorable" 10
their Christian Eanes, and gave them
precedence over bsronets This caused a
great outcry among the latter. for when
the order of baronets was first instituted
by King James /, who demanded A5(,x,
IN cash for each patent that he granted.
it was expressly stipulated by the Dur
chasers of this hereditary honor that no
grade DCrUppn
should be established by the Crown. an
shat baronets should have precedence i'm
mediately after the children of barons.
the latter constituting the lowest grade
Of the peerage. Formerly-in fact until
| the close Of the last century-the ba-o-
nets were officially accorded the prefix
Of honorable to their Christian name.
But this has been withdrawn from them.
and the fact that it Should have been
! conferred upon the children OF individuals
who are not fulI-1edgtd peers Of the
realm, but mere life lords, that Is to say.
/ lawyers who have a seat in the upper
chamber as judges, is gall and worm
wood TO the baronets as it is also to the
bishops and archbishops
These latter contend that inasmuch as
their spiritual peersges are not heredi-
I
IS the life peers. and that their wives AMI
children should be accorded the same
privileges; that bishops or archbishop $
wife should be authorized TO prefix the
word lady" 10 her family name or "a
that Of her husbands see, and that the
children should have the pas" over baro-
nets and BE- entitled 10 the predicate o.
honorable" But the Crown resisted this
3 6er0a and m the Of 4
archbishops of England and Wales, who
alone have seats IN the House Of Lords
ana their wives and children continue 10
be deprived OF any place whatsoever
in the official table OF precedence or m
the social scale, this being a remnan,
of the pre-reformation. when celibacy was
The rule among the preIates Of the
church.
The late Lord Russell I may add. came
fron a specially gifted family To his
Uncle, the Rev. Father Russell, belongs
| the credit Of the conversion OF Cardinal
Newman 20 the Church OF Rome, the
cardinal in his "apologia pro vita sua"
/ describing DR.. Russell as the dear
| friend, 10 whom, under heaven, / am IN.
| debted for my conversion" The late
LORD Rusgell's brother, Father Matt
| Russell, of the Order OF the Jesuits
( is the editor Of that lively and populal
paper known as the Irish Monthly
; He is the very antithesis OF The ordinary
! conception of the willy Jesuit" Simple
/ frank. unsslfish. he is never so happy
learned and able though he be-as wher
. he is devOting himself 10 his labors a.
a missionary priest among the poor Of
! Dublin.
/ The late Lord Russell was a member OF
1 the Jockey Club. and counsel % the latter
I prior TO his elevation 20 the bench. III
was a strong Home Ruler. a sturdy radi-
cal. an adversary 10 the principle OF he.
/ red.;ary legislation. and commenced hi
( career as reporter for the press In the
! gallery Of the House OF Commons devOI
! ing his spare time 10 reading Cor the bar
!. !.