337 



Third, some curious notices occur. Priests are forbidden from cele- 

 brating mass upon a wooden table, as had been the practice introduced 

 by Saint Patrick, (the council of Epone, which first condemned such 

 altars, not having taken place till the year 517,)* and all altars are 

 enjoined to be for the future of stone ; " and if a stone of sufficient 

 size to cover the whole surface of the altar cannot be had, that in such 

 case a square, entire and polished stone be fixed in the middle of the 

 altar where Christ's body is consecrated, "-f- an ordinance still preserved 

 in the altar stones used at the celebration of masses in country cha- 

 pels or private houses. The chalices of monasteries or rich churches 

 were also, in the same synod, ordered to be of gold or silver, but that 

 in poorer places of worship pewter might be substituted. Immoveable 

 fonts were directed to be fixed in every baptismal church, many beau- 

 tiful specimens of which still maintain their places in the churches of 

 Ireland, as well as in those of the sister country. Tithes were ordered 

 to be paid out of provisions, hay, the young of animals, flax, wool, 

 gardens, orchards, and out of all things that grow and renew yearly; 

 other decrees are made respecting the celebration of mass, the vest- 

 ments, the coverings of the altar, &c. and also concerning Christian 

 burial as hereafter stated, J and it is observable, that in the thirteenth 

 canon of this very synod, it is expressly said, that " the clergy of Ire- 

 land, among other virtues, have been always remarkably eminent for 

 their chastity. "§ There are also numerous evidences that extreme 

 unction of the dyingH and prayers for the dead** were of constant 

 practice in this interval. 



Even if Cambrensis had not so expressly informed us that tithes 



• Lanigan, vol. iv. p. 272. f Ware's Bishops, p. 316. 



X Post, section 6 of this Period. § Ware's Bishops, p. 317. 



II Post, section 6 of this Period. ** See post, sections 3 and 4 of this Period. 



