enotes lands or other effects left to churches or religious houses, on condition of praying for the soul of the donor. Hence,

Free Alms was that which is liable to no rent or service.

Reasonable Alms was a certain portion of the estates of intestate persons, allotted to the poor.

Alms Box, or Chest, a small chest, or coffer, called by the Greeks Kladia, wherein anciently the alms were collected, both at church and at private houses.

The alms-chest, in English churches, is a strong box, with a hole in the upper part, having three keys, one to be kept by the parson or curate, the other two by the church-wardens. The erecting of such alms-chest in every church is enjoined by the book of canons, as also the manner of distributing what is thus collected among the poor of the parish.

Alms-House, a petty kind of hospital, for the maintenance of a certain number of poor, aged, or disabled people.