Master

One having authority; one who rules, directe, instructs or superintends ; a head or chief; an instructor; an employer. Applied to several judicial officers. See infra.

— Master aud servant. The relation of master and servant exists where one person, for pay or other valuable consideration, enters into the service of another and devotes to him his personal labor for an agreed period. Sweet.

— Master at common law. The title of officers of the English superior courts of common law appointed to record the proceedings of the court to which they belong; to superintend the issue of writs and the formal proceedings in an action; to receive and account for the fees charged on legal proceedings, and moneys paid into court. There are five to each court. They are appointed under St. 7 Wm. IV. and 1 Viet, c. 30, passed in 1837. Mozley & Whitley.

— Master in chancery. An officer of a court of chancery who acts as an assistant to the judge or chancellor. His office is to inquire into such matters as may be referred to him by the court, examine eausdb, take testimony, take accounts, compute damages, etc., reporting his findings to the court in such shape that a decree may be made; also to take oaths and affidavits and acknowledgments of deeds. In modem practice, many of the functions of a master are performed by clerks, commissioners, auditors, and referees, and in some jurisdictions the office has been superseded. See Kimberly v. Arms, 129 U. S. 512, 9 Sup. Ct 355, 32 In Ed. 764; Sehuchardt v. People, 99 111. 501, 39 Am. Rep. 34.

— Master in lnnacy. In English law. The masters in lunacy are judicial officers appointed by the lord chancellor for the purpose of conducting inquiries into the state of mind of persons alleged to be lunatics. Such inquiries usually take place before a jury. 2 Steph. Comm. 511-513.

— Master of a ship. In maritime law. The commander of a merchant vessel, who has the chief charge of her government and navigation and the command of the crew, as well as the general care and control of the vessel and cargo, as the representative and confidential agent of the owner. He is commonly calied the "captain." See Martin v. Farnsworth, 33 N. Y. Super. Ct 26O; Hubbell v. Denison, 20 Wend. (N. Y.) 181.

— Master of the crown office. The king's coroner and attorney in the criminal department of the court of king's bench, who prosecutes at the relation of some private person or common informer, the crown being the nominal prosecutor. St. 6 & 7 Viet c. 20; Wharton.

— Master of the faculties. In English law. An officer under the archbishop, who grants licenses and dispensations, etc.

— Master of the horse. In English law. The third great officer of the royal household, being next to the lord steward and lord chamberlain. He has the privilege of making use of any horses, footmen, or pages belonging to the royal stables.

— Master of the mint. In English law. An officer who receives bullion for coinage, and pays for it, and superintends everything belonging to the mint. He is usually calied the "warden of the mint." It is provided by St. 33 Viet. c. 10, § 14, that the chancellor of the exchequer for the time being shall be the master of the mint.

— Master of the ordnance. In English law. A great officer, to whose care all the royal ordnance and artillery were committed.

— Master of the rolls. In English law. An assistant judge of the court of chancery, who holds a separate court ranking next to that of the lord chancellor, and has the keeping of the rolls and grants which pass the great seal, and the records of the chancery. He was originally appointed only for the superintendence of the writs and records appertaining to the common-law department of the court, and is still properly the chief of the masters in chancery. 3 Steph. Comm. 417. Under the act constituting the supreme court of judicature, the master of the rolls becomes a judge of the high court of justice and ex officio a member of the court of appeal. The same act, however, provides for the abolition of this office, under certain conditions, when the next vacancy occurs. See 36 & 37 Viet. c. 66, §§ 5, 31, 32.

— Masters of the supreme court. In English law. Officials deriving their title from Jud. (Officers') Act 1879, and being, or filling the places of, the sixteen masters of the common-law courts, the .queen's coroner and attorney, the master of the crown office, the two record and writ clerks, and the three associates. Wharton.

— Master of the Temple. The chief ecclesiastical functionary of the Temple Church.

— Master's report. The formal report or statement made by a master in chancery of his decision on any question referred to him, or of any facis or action he has been directed to ascertain or take.

— Special master. A master in chancery appointed to act as the representative of the court in some particular aet or transaction, as, to make a sale of property under a decree. Guaranty Trust, etc., Co. v. Delta & Pine Land Co.., 104 Fed. 5, 43 C. C. A. 396; Pewabic Min. Co. v. Mason. 145 U. S. 349, 12 Sup. Ct. 887, 36 L. Ed. 732.

— Taxing masters. Officers of the English supreme court, who examine and allow or disallow items in bills of costs.