Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 13.djvu/202

* MASTEB IN CHANCERY. 174 MASTERS. III. The otlice has been abolished in England, where the duties fornierlj- belonging to masters are discharged by judges or registrars. .In most of the United States the olUce still exists, the oflicer being sometimes called a master and some- times eonimissioner (q.v. ), as is the case in the Federal courts, with the duties already described annexed to it, suliject to statutory modification in the various Stales. MASTER OF ARTS. A degree conferred by colleges and universities. In those of the United Htates and Great Britain this title follows that of Bachelor of Arts. In the United States a cor- responding master's degree follows a bachelor's degi'ee in science, i)hilosoi)hy, or other baccalaure- ate designations. The master's degree is the highest in the faculty of arts, but inferior to that of bachelors of divinity and the doctorate of philcjsophy. In the early universities the mas- tership or licentiate, as it was then called, was the one degree conferred, the baccalaureate then being a mere preliminary degree, and the doc- torate being either a synonymous term or one used to indicate the ceremonial and official aspect of the licentiate. In the universities of Ger- many the terms mastershij) and doctorate are yet sometimes used as synonymous, though the latter term alone is in general use. In the Brit- ish universities the degree of Master of Arts is the highest degree commonly conferred. A mas- ter there becomes a regent shortly after obtain- ing his degree, and thereby obtains the privilege of voting in Congregation or Convocation at Ox- ford and in the Senate at Cambridge, and in the Scotch universities of becoming a member of the General Council. In the United States the de- gree carries no such privilege, but simply indi- cates the completion of one year's study beyond the baccalaureate course. See B.chelor's De- cree; Decree; 1'.iersity. MASTER OF COURT. The title given in England to the chief officers of the courts under the judges, their duty being to attend the sit- tings of the courts, during term and make minutes of their proceedings. They also tax all the bills of costs of the parties arising out of the suits and matters before the courts. They are ap- pointed l)y the cliicf judge <if the court, and hold their offices for life or during guod behavior. MASTER OF THE BUCKHOUNDS. In Great I'.rifnin, an officer in the ilastcr of the Horse's department of the royal household, who, in conjunction with the hereditary lord falconer, has the control of all matters relating to the royal hunts. . salary of £loOO is attached to the office, which is regarded as one of consider- able political importance. The Master of the Buckhounds goes out of office on a change of Alinistry. MASTER OF THE HORSE. In Great Brit- ain, an cill'icer of llic Cnurl who lias the superin- tendence of the royal stables, ami of all horses and breeds of horses belonging to the sovereign. He has the privilege of making use of the roval horses, pages, and servants, and rides next to the sovereign on all state occasions. The Master of the Horse is appointed during pleasure, by letters patent; but his tenure of office depends on the existence of the political party in power. The office was an important post under the Bviiantine emperors, where the lount of the royal stables, the comes slahuli or Constable. • exercised far greater powers than are conveyed by the mere title. In ancient Rome, when, in times of crisis, recourse was had to the creation of a dictator, the latter appointed a master of the horse as his chief lieutenant, corresponding to the modern chief of stair. MASTER OF THE HOUSEHOLD. In (jrcal Britain, an officer in the Lord Steward's department of the ro.val household, whose specific duties consist in superintending the selection, qualification, and conduct of the household ser- vants. He is under the treasurer, and with the controller examines the accounts of the depart- ment. The appointment is during pleasure of the sovereign, and is not dependent upon any jjolitical party. MASTER OF THE REVELS. An official of the Englisli (.'ourt { Mdi/istn- joconim rcrcllorum et iiiascoruiti ), who had charge of the ro.val fes- tivities. The office came into prominence in the reign of Edward VI., though established at an earlier date. MASTER OF THE ROLLS. The president of the chancery division of the High Court of Justice in England, and in rank next to the Lord Chief Justice of England and the Lord Chan- cellor. He is the keeper of the rolls of all pat- ents and grants that pass under the Great Seal, and of all records of the Court of Chancery. He was originallv an officer of the Court, and was formerly the chief of the masters in chancery. He is the only superior juilge in England who can now be elected to represent a constituency in the House of Commons. The Slaster of the Rolls had originally the custody of the rolls or records; in the course of time this charge became merely nominal, the custod.v having vested in officers not in his appointment or control, an anomaly which was remedied bv 1 and 2 Vict., c. 94, which restored the custody to him with extensive powers. MASTER PLUMBERS, Xational Associa- tion OF. . organization of the leading master jdumbers of the United States, founded in New York in ISS.'? and having for its object the pro- motion and enforccniciit of sanitary legislation, both municipal and State, and the education of the community to a realization of the benefits of hygienic condititms in the home. It is also the exponent of trade protection in the sale of sanitary requirements. An annual convention of delegates from the local associations is held each year in some im])ortant city, at which papers tending to inculcate the necessity of the adoption of sanitary measures, and their en- forcement, when necessary, by means of munici- pal ordinances, arc presenled and discussed. .t the second convention, held in Baltiiiiore in 1884, a code of trade requirements, known as the Baltimore Resolutions, was passed, which has become the basis of fixed trade relations between the manufacturing and operating branches of the plumbing trade. The headquarters of the a.ssociation is located each year in the particular city in which the business of the newly elected president, who must be a master plumber, is car- ried on. The membership is about 0000, dis- tributed among the leading cities of the Union. MASTERS, Maxwet.t, TYT.nEN- (LS.IS-l. . English biilanist. bom at Canterbury, England. He was educated at King's College, London, and