CURIOUS CHRISTMAS CHARITIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3275, 20 December 1916, Page 59

CURIOUS CHRISTMAS CHARITIES.

LOAVES FLUNG FROM CHURCH TOWERS. When Joseph Hopkins, of Wedncsbury, made his last will and testament three centuries or more ago, it was a kindly impulse that prompted him to make a bequest of £2OO to provide with its income a Christmas gift of three coats for three "deserving poor men'"' and the same number of gowns for as many indigent dames of his native town. But he little dreamt that his modest bequest would grow to its present value of £7OOO, and that the half-dozen beneficiaries would swell to 250, who every Yuletide would bless his memory. It was a century later that Henry Greene provided by his will for an annual present to each of four poor women of a green "waistcoat," adorned with green galloon lace, to bo, worn by its recipient on Christmas Day. And a similar but less eccentric benevolence inspired James Moss, when in 1705 he bequeathed £IOO for the yearly purchase of five gowns for as many aged women living in Manchester. The gowns were to be of "a sad blue colour," and to be given on "Christmas Day morning, before" prayers, in the south porch of the Parish Church of Manchester." More than two centuries have gor.o since one William France, of West Leigh, devised lands of the annual value of £lO for Christmas doles to the poor of his native place. Since that day the revenue from the land has grown, until to-day it it little short of an annual £SOO, and in addition to doing its original work of charity, it has provided many thousands of pounds for the local technical schools, infirmary, and grammar school. .. Even more remarkable is the siory of the Harrington bequest, which for many a long year has brought gladness to poor homes in Bourne, Lincolnshire. In the seventeenth century, when the benefactor died, the revenue from his Leytonstone acres, left for this purpose, was but a few pounds a year. To-day, thanks to the expansion of London, they yield nearly £2OOO annually. The poor of Hull have cause to bless William Robinson, an old-time sheriff, whose will provided that every Christmas there should be given "twelve loaves of bread to as many poor widows of the town" —the loaves to be delivered to the applicants by the side of William's grave in Holy Trinity churchyard. A romantic story is told of the origin of a charity of coals and bread distributed every Christmas by the j->arish clergy of Paddington. A century ago two poor maiden" ladies journeyed to London to prove their claim to a* certain estate, and fell on such evil days before their claim could be established that they would have died of starvation but for the kindly charity of the Paddington clergy. When at last success crowned their efforts, they showed their gratitude by bequeathing a yearly sum for the purchase of bread and cheese, to be thrown from the belfry of Paddington Church every Christmas' Eve to the poor of the parish. So great, however, were the crowds which collected to scramble for the gifts that, after a few years, it became necessary forthe public peace to discontinue the custom, and to distribute the charity in a quieter and more peaceful manner.