PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12260, 2 May 1903, Page 4 (Supplement)

PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD

BEQUESTS DECLARED TO BE

ILLEGAL. At Liverpool lately Vice-Chancellor Hal) ruled that it is illegal to bequeath money to a priest or to anyone else for prayers for the repose of a testator's soul.

The decision was on an application for directions concerning the will of Policeconstable ' dish, late of Toxtetb. Park. Cnsh died in 1900, and, having ho kill, lie left to _ Mary Dickenson several leasehold properties, money in the bank, household furniture, and a life interest in four houses.

After her death these four houses were to pass to a trustee, who, after retaining £50 of the proceeds, was to hand the rest to the parish priest at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Park Place, oue-half for the pool-, and the other half for prayers for the repose of the testator's soul. Mary Dickenson died last September. In giving judgment the Vice-Chancellor said that the question before him was whether this bequest fell within the lawful clauses of a charitable gift or was outside the limits so as to become a superstitious use, which the law would not recognise. It was held that sums given to priest* and chapels were not intended for the benefit of the priests personally, but for tlift benefit to be derived from their prayers; and as this was not a benefit which the law recognised as capable of being carried into effect, he concluded that such legacies were void. The gift for the poor was good, but for the rest the bequest was bad, and there must be an inquiry for the next-of-kin.