[ noun ] a person who is paid to pray for the soul of another <noun.person>
Beadsman \Beads"man\, Bedesman \Bedes"man\, n.; pl. {-men}. A poor man, supported in a beadhouse, and required to pray for the soul of its founder; an almsman.
Whereby ye shall bind me to be your poor beadsman for ever unto Almighty God. --Fuller.