CLERICAL OLD CLO’ MEN.
The recent ferment in St. George’s in the East, or Yeast, was mainly caused by the odd clothing of the clergyman who preached there. By the account of an eye-witness, this minister was habited-
“Not in the ordinary linen surplice, with the graceful appendages of scarf and university hood, but in a yellowish white cloak fastened close round the neck, with trimmings consisting of broad hold lace embroidery, with a cross woven in the back.”
Seeing that the Puseyites all they can to make their services theatrical, we should fancy that an extra “effect” might be produced in their “yellowish white cloaks” were fashioned a la opera cloak, and if a crush hat were used by them as headcover. The “broad gold lace embroidery,” which is worn by way of “trimmings” smacks somewhat of the footman rather than the clergyman; but perhaps this is used to indicate humility, and to be a badge to mark the servants of the Church.
In defence of these queer vestments it is urged, that they are merely the “ornaments of a minister,” which are by the rubric directed to be worn: the rubric ordering that-
“Such ornaments of the Church and of the ministers thereof shall be retained, and be in use, as were in the Church of England by authority of Parliament in the 2nd year of King Edward the Sixth.”
But they who quote this in defence of their eccentric way of dressing, need reminding of the fact that “things isn’t as they used to was.” The old clo’ of the Church which these old clo’ men have revived were in King Edward’s reign cut out for a set and special objectl the purpose being to distinguish between the contempt of all ecclesiastical apparel on the part of the severe and strict Genevan School, and the endeavour to retain or reproduce the customs of the Romish priesthood, which were then becoming exploded and disused. There is no more reason now that the clergy should be robed in the apparel of King Edward’s time, than that the laity should wear the costume of that period. Vestments so old-fashioned are not fitting for an age so progressive as our own. They indicate to our mind a back-sliding in the Church; a sliding back, that is, to the costumes of the past, which are like its customs, quite unsuited to the present.
At any rate, however, if the habit be persisted in, we trust our bishops will take leaves from the Puseyitish fashion-books, and come out in the “gorgeous array” of some two hundred years ago. They might, in one respect at least, find the costume not unserviceable. The formidable boots which were in vogue in Edward’s time might be used just now with considerable effect upon such persons as the Church would be the better for ejecting.
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