The Grenada sentinel., 1889-03-16
CONCERNING DOLES.
Interesting Review of an Old
English Custom.
Its Origin-Obiect OF Distributing boles at
Funerals-Some Odd Bequests Made
by Charitably Disposed Peo-
nle of Wealth.

feaStlng at funerals may be traced
back to remote times in the history of
various nations. Amongst the Jews at
an early period we find commendable
custom prevailing. 1t was the practice
when one of their race died for the
friends and neighbors to prepare the
feast for the burial, so that those in the
house of mourning might be spared ad-
ditional trouble in their days OF sorrow.
Under the Greeks and Romans, the feast
ing in course of time took the form of
sumptuous banquets. A redeeming fea-
ture of the usage was the practice of
giving a portion of the provisions to the
poor-a charitable custom, which in
duced the early fathers of the church
to continue funeral feasts. "Doles
were used at funerals" we gather from
st. Chrysostom, 'to procure the rest of
the soul of the deceased, that he might
find his Judge propitious." The Chris
tians were not content merely to give
food; other aims were also distributed
St. Chrysostom observes in one Of his
homilies: Would you honor the dead?
Give aims" Under the early Chris
tians "this festival" according to Mrs.
Stone, in Gods Acre, "was of quite
a religious character, generally at the
tomb of the deceased. There was divine
service; the holy sacrament was ad-
ministered, and q collection of aims
made for the poor. There'was feast
shared, both by the clergy and people,
but more especially bestowed on the
widow and orphan. The softening in
fluence OF grief was ever directed by
the church into heart-opening channels
Of charity and goodwill. In time the
amount and quantity of such doles
came to be specially described and ap-
pointed in the will Of the dying per-
son." The distribution of doles in Eng
land at funerals has come down to COM
paratively recent times. Even to the
present day, in not few instances
bread is given at the graves of the per-
sons who bequeathed it, and in this
manner a custom is maintained which
was instituted before the Christian era.
Torchbearers usually attended funer-
ais in the days of old; they were poor men
and women, who carried lights before
the dead, EN- mblematic of the glorifed
existence the departed were to enjoy
beyond the grave. These people often
received articles OF dress in addition to
food and money. Some interesting de-
tails have been recorded in which torch
bearers played an important part. We
find it stated that Eleanor, Duchess of
Gloucester, in 1899 appointed that iif-
| teen poor men should bear torches at
her funeral, each having a gown and
hood lined with white, breeches of blue
cloth, shoes, and shirt, and twenty
pounds amongst them"
At some places, doles were sent to
the homes OF the inhabitants; and bear
ing on this subject there is an import
ant note in the History of Leicester
shire by Nichols. In the account of
Strathern, in farmland Hundred, it is
stated: "In 1890 there were four hun
dred and thirty-two inhabitants, the
number taken by the last person who
carried about bread, which was given
for dole at a Slneral custom formerly
common throughout this part Of Eng
land, though now fallen much into dis
use. The practice was sometimes to
bequeath it by will; but, whether so
specified or not, the ceremony was sell
dom omitted. On such occasion, a
small loaf was sent to every person
without any distinction of age or cir
cumstances, and not to receive it was
mark of particular disrespect."
OF the many doles to be distributed
on the tombs OF donors, q few may be
named. On the Sth of October, 17OS,
died at Hull, William Robinson--age gen.
tleman who had formerly filled the Of
flee 81 sheriff Of the town, position
only held by the leading inhabitants
left sufficient money to purchase doz-
en- loaves of bread, costing a shilling
| eacn, 10 De given UVbWolNo pun "A.so"e
at his grave every Christmas Day.
John Smith, of Acklam, Yorkshire,
died in 1851, and left two pounds per
annum to the poor of the parish, to be
paid on his tombstone. Over the re-
mains of another Yorkshire man, in
the churchyard of Kildale, is tomb
bearing the inscription as follows:
"Here lyeth the body of JOSEPH DUNN
who dyed ye 10th day of March, l7l6'
aged 80 years. He left ye poor OF Kill
dale, xxs.; of Commondale, xXs.; OF
Dandy, xxs. of Westerdalc xxs.; to be
paid upon his gravestone by equal por-
tions on ye 1st May and ye 18th Novem-
ber for ever"
Two quaint customs are still enacted
annually in London on Good-friday'
The vicar of st. Bartholomew the
! Great, Smithfeld, drops IN row