Today is Maundy Thursday, so called not because itis the occasion of the annual distribu tion of the King's Maunds toa number of poor persons corresponding with the years of" his own age, but because It was the day when, fatter Christ had washed His disciples' feet, He said, "Anew commandment give 1 unto you, that! ye Jove one another." 'The day since been "called in Latin Dies Mandatt the day of Christ's great' mandate. Tu the monasteries it was the custom to. wash the feet of as many oer people. as there were monks in each me tution, and for centuries in England the King, fas a token. of humility, performed, the same fanetion, Thus mention is. made in the. Wards robe. Book of Edward I of money being given fon Easter Eve to 18 poor people Whose foet the [Queen had washed, and it is said that the custom Was continued as Tate as the time of [Tames If, when it was discontinued, leaving only' the distribution of Maundy Money. as a lie of the old custom. he term "maunds" as representing the Royal Alms, in. this. instance, comes from the word "maund", "basket", dating paci to the time when on the day before the [Great Fast good Catholics brought out all their {Groen food in baskets to distribute to the poor. This afternoon, unless the war has interfered with an. age-old ceremony, there should. be a service in Westminster Abbey at which 4 poor people will rees ive gifts of the silver money Specially coined, done up in small white purses fand carried in a basket. These used to be distributed by the Lord High Almoner, but since 089 the Clerie of the Almonry OMice has been responsible, the last monarch to distribute the oles personally being James. 1
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.