VESTMENTS IN CHURCH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 182, 19 December 1912, Page 6

VESTMENTS IN CHURCH.

SEE HOW GOOD A TttOTESTANT I AM." HAYS THE VICAR OF ST. PAUL'S.

Auckland, December 10. A fortnight ago the vicar of St. Paul's (the Rev. Cecil A. B. Watson) commenced wearing Eucharistic vestments at the early celebrations, and so ushered in a new era of High Church Ritualism which caused a considerable stir among vestrymen and parishioners. Last night, in accordance with his announced intention, the vicar stated specific i'easons for the innovation. The church was crowded. , The preacher held that the use of Eucharistic vestments extended back to the very earliest days of Christianity. They were many centuries earlier than the surplice, which, according to the "Dictionary of Christian Antiquities,"-' was. a late modification of the alb, and the we of which could not certainly be traced before the twelfth century. "Thus," said' the vicar,. "the Eucharistic vestments come to us from the primitive and best days of Christianity, whilst the!surplice is medieval, and might more reasonably than the chasuble be associated with the corruptions of'the Middle Agcjs."- . Referring to the reasons for his adoption of Eucharistic vestments, Mr. Watson said he Was glfid'bf the opportunity to make this widely known, ; and yet- he regretted that controversy had beeii aroused Still, even otrfc of controversy good would come, if they spoke and actea as CliristiahlggrCtljem'en. He would d'mde his reason under two headings—general and local. The first of {the former was "seemliness."' Be- . lining the celebration' b'f : the'Holy 'Com 1 munion to be so solemn.and. mysterious a thing as alreacfy iippearecl ; .unseemly'that tlve 'celebrant should be dressed in no difffertat mariner from that which he' ilfeed'' wfreir 'sayiiig 'merely matins or evensongj in facty-to'be wearing; little more tlurir the garments which any choir boy wore at the most ordinary of services. His second general reason was loyalty' to; the Prayer Bqbk.' Hap- | pily, that book left.fchfem in'rio d'oubt., I Firstly,. because it reveled' .that the . wrbng of I in (the conduct generally ofdivine worship was one bf 'the v Tyors'ti \ l of Protestantism, with its 'excessive iftdi'vidujilism, and was roundly ctWdeirinM by Article XXXIY, of^tK^Cliprch;.secondly,; the authorised' uniform' for'the conj dupt of public worship was la,id down j with no uncertain veiy i opening Rubric' 1 of " the Pra^ er* Bijrok..''Me I against tlii .use' '|of" vestments ' was ' steadily becoming as' greater' I light was tfyrowji on the requirements; of ]'the Book of Cofnmon Prityer/ ' . 1 ■|' The, preacher. quoteil" a. number , of : eminent Churchmen 'in support : of his' viejws on the' nta'ttef. ( WMf 1 t'lie man in.the street saw 'the' Soman" Catholic bishop and' dlergj»; : dreSsed' in subsitantiaj% tlie' I same'gatanefrt& .'as 'lie' fayf by 014 pictures and'feffigies werfe .in' ui?e in the Church before tlife : 'Reformation-, and th? Anglican Bishop" and clergy ministering in so different - a' driess, ; lii's festimajte of'tile Roman Catholic claim thati th£ Anglican ChtoirA\ts.''ii'(fo^istent ( before the Reformation' was stVertgthen :! ed. Externals "tfere '6'f enWrm&us/Yal'ue. Let the man in the street' see own Arlglican clergy in""s'imlliir 1 attire, and then outwardly was presented' to his mind evidence; qf ■ tli£ of], fti's own church. "It is not in copy of Rclme," said'the-preaclter, "bufr m-pro--1 test against the claims of Rome, . Ipn. se£ how good Pr6te?ftnt,I f anl'tiia't : ( wear these vestments.'' "