has worked in men and nations. Building, as God ever builds, in an orderly way, we find, first, a physical or Hamitic Christianity, with signs and symbols appealing to every sense-perception, moving the unenlightened mind through hope and fear. This is expressed in organic form by the magnificent ritual and elaborate institutions of the Roman Catholic Church.

The second stage, the Japhetic or intellectual manifestation of Christianity, is shown in the varied sects of Protestantism.

The third, the Shemitic or spiritual, has already been begun in the consciousness of many. It is to be the distinctive mark of this and the coming age. It is the universal Christ to be born in the souls of men, to make them free through knowledge of the truth, which is the perception of the relations of things as they are, as distinguished from belief in illusory appearances.

THE PROROGATION OF THE BRITISH PAR

LIAMENT.

BY GENERAL MARCUS J. WRIGHT.

DURING a visit to London in the summer of 1889, I was enabled, through the courtesy of our Minister, the Hon. Robert T. Lincoln, to witness the ceremonies of the prorogation of the British Parliament by the Queen's commission. The prorogation occurred on the 30th of August.

The members of the House of Lords began to assemble on that morning about twelve o'clock. Neither the House of Commons nor the House of Lords were as full as usual, but this did not deprive the ceremony of its quaint and interesting character. In the House of Commons the few questions, of which notice had been given, were not answered, on account of the absence of ministers. Even if the ministers had been present in full force, the House of Lords would have given but little attention to any serious business, because they regarded the work of the session as over.

The House of Commons met punctually at twelve o'clock, and the usual prayers were offered up. In the House of Lords the members began to assemble before twelve o'clock.

The first one to appear was the Lord Bishop of Lincoln, in long black gown and white surplice. Next came the Lord Chancellor, followed by others, when prayers were said asking the blessing of Heaven for her Majesty the Queen, and all the royal family. The Lord Chancellor retired, but soon reappeared and with him came the members of the Royal Commission, Lord Lothian, the Earl of Coventry, the Earl of Limerick, and Lord Knutsford. These were all dressed in long loose robes of scarlet, with white sleeve bands. They all wore the traditional black cocked hat.

Soon after their arrival, the yeoman usher of the black rod made his appearance. He was an old gray-haired man, feeble of step, with ancient and eccentric dress, with sword hanging

from his side. He stood, with reverential look, before the bench occupied by the Lord Chancellor, and his colleagues who were there as representatives of her Majesty the Queen. He bowed profoundly, with a solemnity which is indescrib able. The Lord Chancellor returned his bow with due gravity, and said, "Notify the members of the House of Commons that the Lords require their immediate presence." The yeoman usher bowed to the Lord Chancellor, at the same time lifting his gold knobbed-stick to his forehead, and marched with stately step to the door of the House of Com

mons.

He passed without let or hindrance through the outer hall, and into the inner lobby. On his arrival at the main entrance of the House of Commons, he found the doors closed. He drew from his side a number of keys which he rattled together, and tapped them against the lock. This was answered by a tapping from within, when the bolts were withdrawn and the door opened.

The sergeant-at-arms of the house made his respectful bow to the yeoman usher, and invited him to enter. In a tone of superiority he commanded the members of the House of Commons, in the Queen's name, to immediately attend the House of Lords. The members of the House at once formed in procession, headed by the Speaker, and the sergeant-at-arms bearing the mace on his shoulder. These were followed by members of the House in two's, Unionist, Liberals, Tories, and Parnellites, moving like soldiers.

The Commons were compelled to rap at the door of the House of Lords and go through with some ceremony before being admitted. On their admission they were assigned to seats which had been prepared for them. Then the Queen's message was read to the two Houses assembled, in which she addressed them as "My Lords and Gentlemen." The first sentence of the Queen's speech was: "It is with much sat

isfaction that I release you from the labors of a protracted session." The speech then referred to the relations with foreign powers, and special reference was made to a conference upon the affairs of Samoa, consisting of representatives of Great Britain, Germany, and the United States, which was assembled at Berlin, and which agreed upon a convention for regulating the government of those islands. This statement. concluded with the words: “This instrument has been ac

cepted by me, and by the German Emperor, and now awaits the assent of the Senate of the United States." After referring to other relations with foreign powers, the speech recited, "Gentlemen of the House of Commons, I gladly acknowledge the care and liberality with which you have provided for the wants of the public service." Concluding, addressing "My Lords and Gentlemen," the Queen thanked the Parliament for its general measures, and concluded the speech as follows: "In the hope that under the operation of your wise councils, it may be strengthened and prolonged by the hearty concord of all of my subjects, I commend you reverently to the care of Almighty God." On the conclusion of the reading of the Queen's speech the Hon. Slingsby Bethell, the reading clerk, arose and read the titles of the bills passed during the session. On the conclusion of the reading of each bill, the clerk of Parliament arose and bowed to the chair, and then gave notice in old Norman French, "Le Rein le veut" (the Queen wills it). This is the mode of the approval of acts of Parliament by the Queen.

An exception is made in the approval of a bill of supplies, or as we call it in our Congress, an appropriation bill. The words then used are "La Rein remercie sees loyal subjects, accepte leur benevolence et aussi le veut."

Blackstone says of this mode of approving bills that the old Norman French words serve as a reminder that the liberties of England were once lost by a foreign force, and vigilance is required to prevent a recurrence.

Under the government of Cromwell, this mode was discontinued. The mode then adopted was to say on the reading of any ordinary bill, "The Lord Protector doth consent," and to a bill of supply, "Understanding it hath been the practice of those who have been chief governors to acknowledge with thanks to the Commons their care and regard for the public, I do very heartily and thankfully acknowledge their kindness therein." At the termination of the Commonwealth the old system came into use, and has continued down to the present day.

The ceremonies being ended in the House of Lords, the Commons returned to their chamber in the same order of procession as they came. The Queen's speech was then read by the Speaker, and the business of the house ended.

The members flocked around the Speaker and engaged in a

hearty handshaking and leavetaking, and soon the chamber was deserted.

On this occasion and for this time only, ladies were admitted to seats on the floor of the House of Lords. This was confined to ladies of the nobility, wives and members of the families of members of the House of Lords, and certain privileged persons. As an exception to this rule I give the following incident: A lady came to the door of the Lord's entrance desiring admittance, but found she had lost her ticket or card. The stern usher refused her admittance. She was of course quite embarrassed and about to retire, when one of the Lords came to the usher and asked him to admit the lady to the floor. The usher replied, “My Lord, she has no ticket." His Lordship replied, "She is an American lady and has lost her ticket; admit her on my order." She was at once admitted and comfortably seated.

When the Lord Chancellor enters the House of Lords to open the sitting, he is preceded by the bearer of the seals and mace, who lays them down when his Lordship has arrived at the woolsack, and then the chaplain reads prayers.

The Lord Chancellor is ex officio president of the House of Lords. As president, or moderator, he sits on the woolsack, but when acting in his judicial capacity he occupies a chair.

In both houses of Parliament the ministers and their supporters occupy benches on that side of the house which is to the right of the speaker or Lord Chancellor.. When there is a change of government, the parties change sides. The front seat is occupied by the ministers, which is called the Treasury Bench. There is one exception to the rule of changing places on change of government in the House of Lords. The Lord's spiritual archbishops and bishops always remain on the right behind the treasury bench. Many members sit with hats on, but the proceedings are conducted with great gravity, quite out of keeping with the proceedings of the lower house.

There are five classes of peers in Great Britain. 1. Peers of England. 2. Peers of Scotland. 3. Peers of Ireland. 4. Peers of the United Kingdom, and 5. Peers of the Episcopal Bench. All peers of England are entitled to seats in the House of Lords; so also those of the United Kingdom, though their locality be either in Scotland or Ireland. Every peerage has a locality, though the possessor may remove and