(Old French morte meyn, dead hand)
Inalienable possession of land, a dead man's clutch on it. The term signiifies possession in perpetuity; possession of land, or tenements, by any corporation. It was at one time invoked, particularly in England, to question the title of religious and charitable trusts, with a view to misappropriating them, especially such as were invested in the Catholic Church. The policy never found favor in the colonies except in Pennsylvania, in order to prevent dedications of property to superstitious usee, and it can have no place in the jurisprudence of the United States.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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