Vagnucci, Fkancesco, an Italian painter, was a native of Assisi, where he flourished in the first part of the 16th century. There are some of his works in the churches of that city, whicli Lanzi says are "executed in the sjiirit of the old masters," i. e. somewhat dry and hard. See Spooner, Biog. Hist, of the Fine A rts, s. v.
Vagrants. See Gyrovaci.
Vagum Ministerium, a name applied to the minister who is ordained without any fixed congrega- tion of which to take the oversight,
Vaiano (or Vajaiio), Okazio (sometimes written Vdimti), an Italian painter, born at Florence about 1550. He resided a long time at ■Milan, where he executed many works for the churches and for individuals. See Spooner, Biog. Hist, of the Fine A lis, s. v.
Vail. In the A. V. of the Holy Scriptures this orthography is found indiscriminately together with '• veil," both for the piece of female apparel and for the holy screen of the Tabernacle and Temple. In this art. we propose, for the sake of convenience, to consider the latter only, leaving the dress for the heading Veil.
The word exclusively an<l invariably employed for the "vail" between the holy and most holy places is T^Zn^, paroketh, a fem. gerundial form from TI"'2, '«
debar; and hence signifying separation, or screen. The Sept. renders it by KaT(nriTa(Tfj.a, which is adopted in the New Test. (Matt, xxvii, 51 ; Mark xv, 38; Luke xxiii, 45; Heb. vi, 19; ix, 3; x, 20). Josephus em- ploys ( .4 nf. iii, 6, 5 ) the corresponding Greek verb KarmrtTuvvvfii. Tiie Heb, term occurs in Exod, xxvi, 31, 33, 35; xxvii, 21 ; xxx, 6; xxxv, 12; xxxvi, 35; xxxviii, 27; xxxix, 34; xl, 3, 21, 22. 26; Lev, iv, 6, 17; xvi, 2, 12, 15; xxi, 23; xxiv, 2; Numb, iv, 5; xviii, 7; 1 Ciiron, iii, 14.
We learn from these i)assages (especially Exod, xxvi, 31) that the screen in (piestion was a heavy ))iece of cloth, composed of while linen striped across with woollen threads of" blue, [)urple, and scarlet," either in a triple strand or more probably in alternate bands, and further ornainented with figures of cherubim, embroid- ered apparently with the needle, on one or both sides, with gold thread. This was suspended by means of silver hooks and rods upon the top of the pillars placed for that purpose in the Tabernacle, and doulitless like- wise in the Teinple, In the Herodian structure, as we learn from the Talmudists, the vail was doidde, and of very great thickness, so as to hang vertically by its own weight, and impenetrably close the interior from view. It was this piece of tapestry that was rent by the earth- quake at Christ's crucifixion (Matt, xxvii, 51, and paral- lels) to signify, no doubt, that the way of access to God was then opened to all (see the monographs on the event in Volbeding, Index Progrtiminatum, p. 65), This explanation corresponils with the apostle's key to the symbolism of the vail, which he says represented our Lord's human flesh torn by the atonement (Heb, x, 20). See Braschius, De ]'e/is Tabernaculi et Temjjii (Vitemb. 1718). See Tabernacle; Temple.
Vail, Edward J., a Presbyterian minister, was born in 1811. He entered the New York University, and after finishing the course graduated in 1841. He soon after entered the LTnion Theological Seminary, and graduated in 1844. In 1845 he became a stated supply in the Church at Oriskany, N. Y., where he was or- dained. After remaining a year at this ])lace, he re- moved to Brooklyn, N. Y,, where he was without charge until 1847, when he was called to snpph' tlie pulpit of the Church at .Jamesville, N, Y. In 1848 he was called to the pastorate of the Church in Babylon, L, I. He remained in this charge until 1851, when he accepted a call to Uniontown, Cal., where he remained three years, and removed to San Francisco, and was without charge three years. He was tlien called to Crescent City, anil supplied the pulpit four years, when he returned to San Francisco, and died Nov, 22, 1876, (W, P, S,)
Vail, Solomon T., a IMethodist Episcopal minis- ter, was born in 1814, in Saratoga County, N, Y, He was converted in 1845; received on trial by the Iowa Conference in 1849; and after serving at Anamosa and Big Woods missions, he was, in 1851, admitted into full connection, ordained deacon, and reappointed to Big Woods mission, where he died, July 28, 1852, ]Mr, Vail was intellectual, pious, and a j-ouug man of great prom- ise. See Minutes of Annual Conferences, 1852, p, 127.
Vaill, Joseph (1), a Congregational minister, was born at Litchfield, Conn., July 14, 1751. He graduated with honor at Dartmouth College in 1778; studied theol- ogy privately; was licensed to preach by Litchfield Asso- ciation in INIay, 1779; and ordained pastor of the Church in Iladlyme. Conn., Feb, 9, 1780, in which relation he continued fifty-nine years. He died Nov, 21, 1838. He was a good scholar, an excellent preacher, and dis- tinguished for conscientiousness and untiring devoted- ness to his work. Besides frequent contributions to periodicals, he published a poem entitled Noah's Flood (1796) : — another poem entitled -4 n A ddt-ess to a Deist : — and an Ordination Sermon {\di\A). See Sprague, .) «;«(& of the Anier. I'ulpit, iv, 26, note,