2'S6 THE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS 



this country of each mdlvldual of the congrega ticn 

 making fome offering in money on thefe occafions, 

 which, if done in the church, is paid as a mark of 

 refpe6l to the clergyman. This cuflom, which is at 

 prefent confined to North Wales, has doubtlefs 

 been retained from the Romifli religion, where the 

 money was intended as a recompence to the priefls 

 for their trouble in fmging mafs for the foul of the 

 deceafed. In fome cafes, where the clergyman is 

 not refpefted by his parifhioners, the offerings are 

 made on the coffin at the door of the houfe where 

 the deceafed refided, and are diflributed amongft the 

 poor relatives. When, however, the offerings are 

 made in the church, and the other mode very rarely 

 cccurs. The whole of the morning or evening prayers 

 for the day, and the ufual part of the burial fervice 

 in the church, are firfl read : the next of kin to 

 the deceafed then comes forward to the altar table, 

 and if it is a poor perfon, puts down fixpence or a 

 fhilling, but if he is fufficiently opulent, half a crown 

 or a crown, and fometimes even fo much as a guinea. 

 This example is followed by the other relatives, and 

 afterwards by the reft of the congregation whofe 

 (ituation in life will afford it, who advance in turns, 

 and offer. When the offering of filver is ended, a 

 fhort paufe enfues, after which, thofe who cannot 

 fpare any larger fum, come forward, and put down 

 each a penny (a half-penny not being admitted). 

 Colledions on thefe occafions have been known to 

 amount to ten or fifteen pounds, but where the re- 

 latives 



