The Church's Object Lessons

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 30, Issue 4, 1 June 1939, Page 1

The Church's Object Lessons

Much of the value of the "appeal to the eye" may be lost if no explanation has ever been given to church people or their children of the historic significance and symbolism of things seen and used m our services. Robes, and Vestments are special clothes used m church by clergy, choristers and other responsible for leading or assisting at worship. Vestries are rooms where the sacred garments are kept, and put on by their wearers. The word vestry also applies m New Zealand to a parochial management committee whose meeting place is the room of this name. Christianity is a historical faith and its worship contains much that has come down from Old Testament times and was m use m Our Lord's own day. In our worship the crudity of animal sacrifice has been superseded by the sacrament of the altar m which is commemorated Our Lord's own offering of His life for the sins of the world. The churches and cathedrals of to-day succeed the synagogues and temple of New .Testament times. And the special garments used by us are reminiscent both of the everyday garments of oriental life m those periods, and of the priestly robes of the temple. • v Of the Bishop. In civil life special emblems are associated with particular officers. For example, members of the judiciary sit m wig and gown, and municipal leaders put on the mayoral robes and chain for state occasions. These ensignia are not used as adornments of the individual, but as indications of the responsibilities of office. So also m the Church of God it is customary for the Bishop to be attired m special vestments reminiscent of his solemn duty m fulfilling the apostolic office of overseer or elder.

The Mitre as first designed for Aaron the brother of Moses and to which reference is made m Exodus 28.4 and 39.28 was a form of conical shaped linen turban. In front was a plate of gold bearing m Hebrew characters the words "Holy to the Lord." And this was attached by a violet ribbon whose ends were tied and hung down at the back, and symbolised the high priest's function of making atonement for any unholiness of the people. The word "mitre" means "wound round" and describes the process of making the article itself. For many centuries the mitre has been m the Christian Church the emblem of a bishop and part of the vestments worn by him. A reproduction of it surmounts the coat-of-arms of each Diocese, and is incorporated m the bishop's seal, and inscribed upon the episcopal ring. It is worn normally, m conjunction with the cope and when m procession, giving a blessing, during the performance of peculiarly episcopal acts such as Confirmation, Ordination, or the Consecration of a Church etc., but not during prayer (except the Litany). At the Holy Communion it may be used when the Chasuble (eucharistic vestment) is worn. The Cape is a garment of dignity, and has developed from the "cape" or cloak of earlier days to which a hood was attached. By a somewhat similar process of change academic "hoods" are now made and used m separation from ecclesiastical vestments. These are facts of interest which point back to the days when the monasteries and churches were the only centres of education. Use of the cope on occasions of special solemnity is not restricted to bishops only.