San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-10-29
CLERICAL FASHIONS.
Dress Of the Clergy Of the Pres
emit Day.
A Line of business Entirely Separate
from Ordinary Tailoring-spe-
cial Workmen for the
- Trade.

now in the dress of the clergy of all |
denominations is one among the many |
signs of the modern liberal tendencies. |
At present it seems to be almost wholly |
question of personal taste as to |
whether or not q minister when not |
in the pulpit shall wear distinctly cler-
ical clothes. Years ago, when the |
lines between the different sects were |
much more sharply. drawn, it would |
parture, significant of its immediate |
conversion to Anglicanism or even to |
Romanism, for Baptist, Methodist or
Presbyterian minister to don the regu- |
lation dress of the Episcopal clergy. |
Now the wearers of the cassock vest, |
the clerical frock coat with its standing
collar, and the round linen collar open |
ing at the back, are to be counted !
among pastors of all denominations. |
At Methodist conference held in the |
spring several of the men present were
dressed in extreme clerical style. A
leading tailor in Broadway said the
other day that he made the Episcopal
L
ministers. The climax of novelty seems
to have been reached when Unitarian
clergyman appears in full clericals. |
The gentleman in question goes so far
as to wear the Roman turn-down collar,
with the rabbi or bib-like attach
ment of cloth in front, instead of the
plain, single band of the Anglican style.
But there is an opposite side to the
matter. While ministers in general
are practically free now to adopt the
distinctive uniform" if they desire,
they are also quite at liberty to wear
clothes exactly similar to those of any
ordinary citizen, of whatever color or
come about that the old-time Prince AL
bert coat and white tie, which used to
be the certain signs of the evangelical
preachers a few year9 ago, are now
comparatively seldom seen. Those
which still exist are confined chiefly to
the older men, who find it hard to de-
part from lifelong conventions, and to
country pastors, among whom changes
in fashion are long in making them
selves felt. If a minister to-day does
not choose to adopt the Episcopal dress
he usually wears an ordinary suit, max
ing no attempt at any halfway dis
tinction.
Even in the Episcopal church there
are some clergymen, though they are
decidedly in the minority as yet, who
prefer not to be known as such by their
clothes. When engaged in any outdoor
pastime in the country they put on ap-
propriate costumes, such as bicycle or
golf suits, or light fannels. 1t is the
opinion of clergymen who dislike the
uniform" idea that they lose infu-
ence with a large class of people by
placing themselves apart, and, as it
were, advertising their profession.
Those who favor the clerical dress con-
tend, on the other hand, that the minis
try is a profession which ought to be
distinguished from all others, and be-
lieve that the significant costume goes
far toward claiming the respect of the
general public.
The changes in the dress Of clergy
men when in the pulpit have been less
marked. In the Roman Catholic and
Episcopal churches the preacher is abb
solutely required to wear a certain
prescribed garb. This for Episco-
palians consists of the long, black cas-
sock, moderately tight-fitting under
meath, and the white surpice above.
The stole, long silk or satin band,
symbolizing the yoke of the gospel, Is
worn over both shoulders, the ends
falling down in front. In the Presby-
terrain church the wearing of the black
Geneva gown is optional, but, judging
from what the makers of these articles
say, the use of them is certainly not on
the decrease. The gown worn by Luth-
eran preachers differs slightly in cut
from the Geneva pattern, but bears a
general resemblance to it. Baptist
clergymen do not ordinarily wear
gowns when preaching, but when an
immersion is to take place garment
called baptismal gown is put on. The
demand for these appears to be fully as
strong as ever.
The business of manufacturing cler-
ical clothing and vestments is one en-
tirely separate from ordinary tailoring.
Some clothing establishments and GUS
stom tailors, it is true, do a good deal
of this kind of work, but special men
have to be employed for it, and it be-
comes department by itself. In addi-
ton to these there are several houses
in this city which exist solely for the
clerical trade, and make no other kind
of clothing. Y. Times.
Railway Accident Caused by Heat.
~ e,a,,c, a, +ro;p on tho Mouth pri+