The knell of "the Commons" was rung about
twenty years ago, when a campaign against the abuses prevailing in the
ecclesiastical courts was begun in the London _Times_. It
unquestionably had been the home _par excellence_ of sinecures and
monopolies, which culminated in the office of registrar of the
Prerogative Court of the archbishop of Canterbury. This office was in
the gift of the archbishop, and was at the time these attacks began
held by the Rev. Mr. Moore. Mr. Moore was a member of a family which
had certainly good cause to stand steadfast in the faith of the Church
of England, and not to waver one inch in attachment thereto. It may be
doubted whether since its foundation any family--we except, of course,
those to whom grants were made from abbey-lands--during the whole
history of the Church has drawn such vast sums from it. His father, a
singularly fortunate man, set the ball rolling. Having gone up to
Christ Church, Oxford, as a sizar, or poor scholar, he happened about
the time of taking his degree to cross the quadrangle at the moment
when a nobleman of great position was asking the dean to recommend a
tutor for his son. Young Moore at that moment caught the very reverend
functionary's eye. There is the very man, thought he. He called him
up, presented him to the peer, and an engagement was made.
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