New-York tribune., 1900-09-09
rHE ouEsrIoN OF CLERIcAL CLorHEs.

The clergy as a rule. are inclined to be con
servative in the matter of dress. By un
written law black is prescribed as the proper
color for the outer garments of the men who
bring to the world a message of good news
Looking at the matter on its merits, ii s some
what puzzling to say why this should be so for
white Is much more suggestive of happiness
and 10y, which is what the Gospel really IL, ars
But the arbitrary ruling of custom is more
powerful even than common sense. So much so
that on the hottest days of this unusually hot
summer the clergy in the cities have uncom-
plainIngly worn their hot and closely but
toned black clerical Clothes when they might
have done their work far more comfortably
and effectively in a negligee suit of crash linen
And yet unthinking people say that there are
no modern martyrsi
In most cases the clergy of the liturglcal
churches cling to the traditional clerical style
of dress, and good many others follow their
example. But the utility of the clerical suit
is nevertheless an open question. Much may be
said In it's favor the assumption that an
ordained minister is ecclesiastical officer, set
apart from the ordinary church members. If
that is to be the dominant note Of his ministry,
doubtless It is we'll that his aloofness and ruler
ship should be indicated by a uniform that
will impress the common crowd with his rank
and power But, a matter of fact the domi-
nant note Of the modern Christian ministry is
coming to be the idea of teaching The Founder
of Christianity loved to be called Teacher and
the name which He gave to His personal fol-
lowers was that of disciples, or learners. If
such be the case, it is difficult to see the need
Of a uniform for the ministry any more than
for the teachers of the public schools.
It will be said. Of course that the clerical
dress is approved by tradition and consecrated
by ages of use There is perhaps, some force
in this consideration, if the custom increases
the influence Of the clergy with their people,
or, at least, does nothing to impair ii. But
there is reason to believe that in some instances
at least Christian ministers are handicapped
by their clerical clothes. Instead of inspiring
respect and inviting confidence the clerical
dress arouses the antipathy of many men to-
day. 1t suggests to them all that is unworthy
in the history of the Church. and with an In
justice that can be understood though not ex-
cused they put the unfortunate wearer down
either as a canting hypocrite or a brainless
ninny. It is for each minister to decide
whether 1t is worth while to put himself out
of sympathetic touch with many people for
whom he has a message merely for the pleas
ure he will personally derive from wearing
clothes of a certain color and archaic cut When
the theological seminary and the bishop have
furnished the young cleric with the spiritual
armor for his fight against sin, 1t is somewhat
of an anticlimax to see him hurriedly repair
to the clerical tailor for the final insignia of his
office
Curiously enough, some Of the clergy who
have surrendered their own liberty in the mat
ter of dress think they have the right to cur
tail the liberty of other people. One pastor in
New-Jersey has forbidden bareheaded women to
appear in his church. on the ground that the
practice is unscriptural and unchurchly ST.
Louis clergyman has banned all women who
wear certain style of shirt waist, and an
other repels from communion men who ap-
pear without eeats In all these cases the
tacit assumption is that the Divine Being who
pervades the whole, universe and upholds It
by His will is vitality interested in the ephem-
eral fashions Of certain insects Of a day.
and for no Inherent reason disapproves some
and favors others. This conception of the
Godhead is undoubtedly fattering to the tran
sient beings who crawl painfully for a mo-
ment on one of the most insignificant of the
planets; but it does not commend itself to rea-
son common sense.