Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 July 1888 — A Curious Custom at St. Ives. [ARTICLE]

A Curious Custom at St. Ives.

New York Sun. One of the most curious customs ever heard of was that which was observed on Thursday in the parish church of St. Ives, Hants. On a table in the church at the chancel steps were placed six Bibles, and near them a box and three dice. Six boys and six girls, solemnly watched over by t£e vicar,the Rev.E. Tottenham, and a crowd of parishioriers, threw dice three times to see which shold have the Bibl e. Three went to the boys and three to the girls. The highest throw was made by the smallest girl, 37. This remarkable custom dates from 1678, when Dr. Robert Wylde bequeathed £so’ of which yearly Interest was to be' spent in buying' six' Bibles, not to cost more than seven shilling six pence each,to be cast for by dice on the communion table every year by six boys and six girls of the town. A piece of ground was bought with the money, and is now known as Bible Orchard. The legacy also provided for the payment of ten shillings each year to the vicar, not a very high price, for preaching a sermon commending the excellency, perfection, and divine authority of the Holy Scriptures. The will of the eccentric Doctor was exactly observed, and for more than two hundred years dice were regularly cast upon the (fommunion table. Lately a table erected on the chancel steps was substituted, the bishop of the diocese •having considered that the communion table was not for throwing dice. The vicar’s sermon this year was based upon the words: “From a child thou has known the Holy Scriptures.’”