ANCIENT CUSTOMS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 121, 23 May 1914, Page 10

ANCIENT CUSTOMS

KING GIVES MAUNDY MONEY. The King of England was formerly accustomed on Maundy Thursday to have brought before him as many poor men as he was years old, whose feet he washed with his own hands, after which His Majesty's maunds, consisting of meat, clothes, and money were distributed among them. The washing of feet by the Sovereign or even by his representative the Lord High Almoner, has long been discontinued, and ever since the beginning of the reign of Queen Victoria provisions have not been distributed, an additional sum of money being given instead. This change of custom has not apparently destroyed public interest in what remains of the ancient ceremony, and on 9th April a large congregation assembled at Westminster Abbey to witness tho distribution of the specially coined Maundy Money. The children of the Chapels Royal and the Yeoman of the Guard took part in the imposing procession through the nave and choir. The most striking character in this procession was tho sergeant-major of the Royal Bodyguard, bearjng on his head the great alms-dish containing the gold and silver ornaments. The Maundy money amounts to as many pence in silver as the years of the Sovereign's age, given to as many chosen recipients. So this year there were 49 pence for 49 men and 49 women. Most of the recipients of the Maundy money received, as usual, offers in coin of the realm for their gifts, which *are valued by collectors.