The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-17
LORD HALDANE GETS
DESERVED PROMOTION

was frequently occupied by eccles'as-
ties. and at one time the chancellor
ship and the primacy OF the church
were held by one and the same per-
son. among the most notable instances
OF this kind being Sir Thomas a Beck
81. Cardinal Woisey. and Archbishop
Williams. bishop of Lincoln. who sue
ceeded SIR Francis Bacon AS Lord II Sn
Chancellor. the Office has invariably
been filled By n more or less d'stin-
Euished lawyer. the wooltack being
indeed regarded as the highest prize
OF the legal profession.
The Lord High Chancellor has the
appointment OF ull justices Of the
peace. as we'll as OF all the rectors OF
the crown or government "livinSs." lie
Is the supreme guardian, cH-ofhco. OF
an infants. idiots and lunatics. anu rs
such has the legal right TO d'vest
Of the guardianship any persons who
have been appointed as such by Will,
but who have shown themselves, in
MS opinion, 10 be- unworthy Of the!r
trust
The Court OF chancery, over witch
he presidcs has Two instinct triDu-
nails, as II court OF law ana n court
OF equity. AS president of the lat
ter 1t l.. by ancient statute his high
prerogatiNe To jud"e according 40
equity. conscience and reason. when
he finds the law of the land so de-
iective as that the subject would be
injured thereby"
the official title OF keeper OF the
Kings conscience" when he s,iil
bears Of course dates back to the days
prior 10 the Reformation, when the
! office OF chancellor WAS mostly held
by an eccleslastic dignitury, Who was
usually the sovereigns spiritual ad-
wiser. and so far as | am aware, thu
d'gnitary Of The realm whose kiliirg
lie not punished as ordinary murder
/ nut treason
There seems 20 be a general i'm
preston even in England, that the
| lord chanCellorship must necessarily
| be held by Protestant. But the late
NJ Gladstone. who at one moment
thought of appointing the late Lord
CHIEF Justice Russell. who was a de-
vout Roman Catholic TO the post
made a careful investigation of the
! matter, and ascertalned that there was
no law or clause Of the Constitution
| N existence to prevent the woolsack
| being occupied by member OF the
| Church of Rome.
lorship OF Ireland which is. of course
| Inferior in rank to the lord high
CHARACTERISTIC Of England. is required
| by statute to be filed by a Protestant
Ronan Catholics being explicitly bar
! red. The law bearing on the sub
ject. however. dates back TO the day;
! when religious fanatic!sm and bigotrs
were the principal sources OF d'scort
and strife in the Emerald Isle. ant
! 1t is likely to be repealed at an early
! date.
ne Lord ftlsh Chancellor ts th'
| keeper of the great seal OF the Brit,
ism Empire. which. Indeed, Is the prin'
| ctpal token OF his office. The grea
| seal is the emblem OF British SOW
creiGnty. and Is used on all solemn
f, occasions when the will OF the mon
/ arch Is to be expressed.
Its impress in wax is attached tc
| every royal charter. warrant, or Of
| ictal document bearing the sign man
ual OF the sovereign. 1t Is used fol
all acts OF state. for writs to sum
| mon Parliament. for the ratification
| Of foreign treaties. and other paper.
| or state. All these documents hav;
no legal value unless sealed with tn.
| great seal.
| Copyright, 1912. by the Brentwood
Company