46 THE BRITISH APPROACH TO POLITICS

party, however, is obliged from time to time to create Peers
because the Peerage, alone among Honours, carries with it
some political power.

THE CHURCH.

As the words "ecclesiastical as well as civil" imply, the
King is Head of the Church of England, He is accordingly
forbidden by the Act of Settlement to be, or to marry a Roman
Catholic, and, at his Coronation, swears to maintain the rights
of the Established Church. He is crowned by the Archbishop
of Canterbury. The Coronation is, indeed., a religious ceremony
and an occasion for merrymaking. It has no constitutional
importance; as soon as the reign of one King ends, that of his
lawful successor begins. As Head of the Church, the King
appoints Bishops, in accordance with the advice of the Prime
Minister and is specially referred to in the Prayer Book.
Henry VIII was the first King to take up this position. At that
time it was of great political importance because it meant that
the Pope had no longer any .authority, even in Church matters,
in England. Curiously enough, Henry VIII was also the first
King to bear the title Defender of the Faith; it was conferred on
him by the Pope, before they quarrelled, irj. recognition of an
attack which Henry had made on the views of Martin Luther;
it has descended to the King of England to this day.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES.

When the King's 'political and semi-political work is done, a
host of social activities waits for him,. He will be asked to open
hospitals, libraries, public buildings of all kinds; to lay foundation
stones; to hold Courts and garden parties. In recent years these
activities have been extended so that the King shall have the
opportunity of seeing* the lives of his poorer subjects, as well as
those of the Court cirde, Here also he must be careful to avoid
any suspicion of party bias. Edward VII once withheld invitations
to an M.P.'s garden party, from Keir Hardie and two other