Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-03-25
Graveyard Superstition.


ton of railway and school boards. Thus
in the north of England it was custom
airy, only few years ago, to carry 'thc
dead with the sun" to the grave--a prac-
cice corresponding with the Highland
usage of making "thc deazil," or walk
ing three times around person accord
ing to the course or the sun. On one
occasion in the village of Stranton, near
West Hartlepool, the vicar was standing
at the churchyard gate, awaiting the ar
rival of the funeral procession, when,
much to his surprise, the entire group,
who had come within few yards of him,
suddenly turned back and marched round
the church-yard wall, thus traversing its
west, north and east boundaries On
inquiring the reason of this oxtraordna-
ry procedure, one of the mourners quick
ly replied, "Why. yo wad no haze them
carry the dead again the sun the dead
"'""h Nv WI eho SUI LUIS IN not I'M
like Welsh custom mentioned by PEN
nent, who tells that when u corpse was
conveyed to the churchyard from any
part of the town great care was always
taken that it should be carried the whole
distance on the right hand side of the
road From time immemorial there has
been strong feeling of repugnance
among the inhabitants of rural parishes
to burial without the sanctuary" This
does not mean in unconsecrated ground,
but on the north side or the church, or
in remote corner OF the church-yard.
Tho origin of this prejudice is said to
have been the notion that tho northern
part was that which was appropriated to
the lnterment of unbaptized infants, ex-
communicated persons, or such as had
laid violent hands upon themselves.
Hence it was popularity known as the
''wrong side Of the church - In many
parishes, therefore, this spot remained
unoccupied, while tho remaining portion
of the church-yard was crowded. White,
in his History of Selborno,' abiding
to this superstition, says that, as most
people wished to be buried on the south
side of the church-yard, it became such
mass of mortality that no person could
be Inferred without disturbing or dis
placing the bones of his ancestors"
Great attention has generally been paid,
also, to the position Of tho grave, the
popular one being from east to west,
while that from north to south has been
considered not only dishonorabe but un.
lucky.
A curious, strang surviving custom at
Welsh funerals is termed the parsons
penny" After reading the burial SER
vices in the church, the clergyman stands
behind table while II psalm is being
sung In the meantime each Of the
mourners places piece of money on the
table for his acceptance. This ceremony
is regarded as a token of respect to the
deceased. although it was no doubt origi-
nally intended to compensate the clergy
man for masses for tho soul Of the de- |
parted. In some Welsh parishes also
similar custom. called "spadc-money,"
is kept up. After the corpse has been
committed to its resting place, tho grave
digger presents bis spade as receptacle
for donations, these offerings, which often
amount to goodly sum, being regarded
as his pcrquisites. In Yorkshire. at the
funerals Of the rich in former days, il
was customary 10 hand burnt wine" to
the company in silver Aagon, out Of
which every one drank. This beverage
seems TO have been a heated preparation
OF port wine with sugar and spice, aud
should any remain, it was sent round in
the hagon to the houses of friends for
distribution. This, of course, was
species Of funeral feast, called in the
north Of England an "aryal"-a linger-
ing survival of the offerings that origi-
nally were made to the ghost of deceased.
Among tho 5uperstitions that still cling
10 the church-yard may be mentioned
one that has existed from the most re-
mote period, and which has invested il
with an atmosphere Of dread. il having
been generally supposed that they are
haunted by speclres and apparitiors.
Indeed, il has been truly pointed out by
Mr.. Tylor that, through all the changes
Of religious thought, from first to last,
in tho course Of human history, tho
lowering ghosts Of the dead make the
midnight burial ground a place where
mems flesh creeps with terror.