older even than the British Empire.
Eusebius and other writers of the fourth century speak of them as already
existing in their times. It is no wonder, therefore, that these vestments
look odd to the unfamiliar eye.

In the Old Law God prescribed to the Priests the vestments which they
should wear while engaged in their sacred office: "And these shall be the
vestments which they shall make (for the Priest): a rational and an ephod,
a tunic and a straight linen garment, a mitre and a girdle. They shall
make the holy vestments for thy brother Aaron and his sons, that they may
do the office of priesthood unto Me."(433) Guided by Heaven, the Church
also prescribes sacred garments for her ministering Priests; for it is
eminently proper and becoming that the minister of God, while engaged in
the sacred mysteries, should be arrayed in garments which would constantly
impress upon him his sacred character and remind him, as well as the
congregation, of the sublime functions he is performing.

The vestments worn by the Priest while celebrating Mass are an amict, or
white cloth around the neck; an alb, or white garment reaching to his
ankles, and bound around his waist by a cincture; a maniple suspended from
his left arm; a stole, which is placed over his shoulders and crossed at
the breast; and a chasuble, or large outer garment.

The chasuble, stole and maniple vary in color according to the occasion.
Thus, _white_ vestments are used at Christmas, Easter and other festivals
of joy, also on feasts of Confessors and Virgins; _red_ are used at
Pentecost and on festivals of Apostles and Martyrs; _green_ from Trinity
Sunday to Advent, on days having no special feast; _purple_ during Lent
and Advent, and _black_ in Masses for the dead.

One more word on this subject. Only a few years ago the whole Protestant
world was united in denouncing the use of floral decorations on our
altars, incense, sacred vestments, and even the altar itself, as
abominations of Popery. But of late a better spirit has taken possession
of a respectable portion of the Protestant Episcopal church. After having
exhausted their wrath against our vestments, and vilified them as the rags
of the wicked woman of Babylon, the members of the Ritualistic church
have, with remarkable dexterity, passed from one extreme to the other.
They don our vestments, they swing our censer, erect altars in their
churches and adorn them with flowers and candle-sticks.

These Ritua