general, something that relates to benefices.

Beneficiary, Beneficiarius, is more particularly used for a beneficed person, or him who receives and enjoys one or more benefices. A beneficiary is not the proprietor of the revenues of his church; he has only the administration of them, though unaccountable for the same to any but God.

Beneficiary is also used, in middle-age writers, for a feudatory or vassal. The denomination was also given to the clerks or officers who kept the accounts of the beneficia, and made the writings necessary thereto.

Beneficium, in military matters among the Romans, denoted a promotion to a higher rank by the Beneficium favour of some person in authority.

Benefield, Sebastian, an eminent divine of Benevento, the 17th century, was born in 1559, at Prestebury in Gloucestershire, and educated at Corpus Christi college in Oxford. In 1608 he took the degree of doctor in divinity, and five years after was chosen Margaret professor in that university. He had been presented several years before to the rectory of Maysey-Hampton, in Gloucestershire. He published Commentaries upon the first, second, and third chapters of Amos; a considerable number of sermons; and some Latin treatises. He died in 1630.

Benefit of clergy. See Clergy.

Benefit Societies, institutions common among the labouring classes in Great Britain, and calculated for the relief of the sick, or the support of the aged. See Supplement.