Sentence:  Men began to build Churches on their own Grounds, at their own Charges, and to <WSD>endow</WSD> theſe; and they were naturally the Maſters, and in the true Signification of the "Roman" word, the Patrons of them. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To give property to (someone) as a gift; specifically, to provide (a person or institution) with support in the form of a permanent fund of money or other benefits.