In  the  will  case  of  Doe  y.  Martin,  1  Ney.  &  M.  524,  it  is  said:  "Facts  and  cir-
cumstances relating  to  the  subject  of  the  deyise  are  admissible;  such  as  possee-
«ion  by  the  testator,  the  mode  of  acquiring,  etc.,  and  the  state  of  the  testator's
property."  Such  eyldence  can  neyer  be  received  to  alter  or  to  control  the
sense.  Guy  y.  Sharp,  1  Mylne  &  K.  602.  Of  the  American  cases  for  this
proposition,  the  most  interesting  is  perhaps  that  of  Hinckley  y.  Thatcher,  139
Mass.  477,  1  N.  B.  840,  where  the  testator  left  the  bulk  of  his  estate  in  equal
parts  to  the  agents  of  home  and  foreign  missions  to  aid  in  propagating  the
religion  of  Jesus  Christ.  There  being  many  missionary  bodies  answering  the
description,  the  court  heard  proof  as  to  the  religious  conduct  (not  as  to  the
opinions)  of  the  testator,  and  found  him  "confirmed"  in  the  Episcopal  Churchy
while  usually  attending  the  Congregational  worship.  (And  see  cases  quoted
on  the  admissibility  of  such  proof  from  Massachusetts,  Maine,  New  Hampshire,
Vermont,  and  Connecticut)  Proof  was  also  considered  that  he  was  only
acquainted  with  the  Congregational  mission  societies,  and  the  residue  was
given  to  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.  and  the  Massachusetts  Home  Missionary  Society.
