Divine Service
Defined in 6 dictionaries — Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Black's (1891), Stimson (1881)
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
A species of feudal tenure, by which the tenant was required to say masses, to distribute such a sum in alms or the like. It differed from frankalmoign in that, for breach of a duty of divine service, the lord could destrain without complaint to the visitor; the particular service being always expressly defined and prescribed. 2 Bl. Comm. 102.
Ballentine's Law Dictionary
James A. Ballentine · 1916
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
The name of a feudal tenure, by which the tenants were obliged to do some special divine services in certain, as to sing so many masses, etc. 2 Bla. Com. 102; Mozl. & W. Diet. In its modern use the term does not include Sunday schools; Appeal of Gass, 73 Pa. 39, 13 Am. Rep. 726.
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
A Dictionary of Law
Henry Campbell Black · 1891
Divine service was the name of a feudal tenure, by which the tenants were obliged to do some special divine services in certain; as to sing so many masses, to distribute such a sum in alms, and the like. (2 Bl. Comm. 102; 1 Steph. Comm. 227.) It differed from tenure in frankalmoign, in this: that, in case of the tenure by divine service, the lord of whom the lands were holden might distrain for its non-performance, whereas, in case of frankalmoign, the lord has no remedy by distress, but only by complaint to the visitor to correct it. Mozley & Whitley.
Glossary of Technical Terms, Phrases, and Maxims of the Common Law
Frederic Jesup Stimson · 1881
v. Tenure.