change ; and, since the rubric of this Prayer-book has not been formally repealed, a ritualistic movement in the English Ciiurch has reintroduced, in some places, almost every detail of the Roman costume in the com- munion and other services — an innovation which has given rise to vigorous resistance in many instances, and some very bitter controversies.
See Marriott, Vestiarium Christianum ; Eock, Bie- rimjia; 'i^vaXe, Holy Eastern Church; lilunt, Annuiated Book of Common Prayer ; also the monographs cited by Yolbeding, Index Frogrammatum, p. 171.
Vestry (flHribl], meltachdh, from an obscure root nrb, to ■•<j)read out as clothing; Sept. ol/cot" v. r. juEtr^a- oX ; Vulg. restes}, the wardrobe chamber of a temple, e. g. that of Baal (2 Kings x, 29) ; containing, doubtless, the fine official apparel of the priests.
VESTRY, in ecclesiastical phraseology, is a room at- tached to a church in which to keep the vestments and sacred vessels. The ordinary place of the vestry was at the north side of the chancel at the east end. There was not unfrecpiently an altar in the vestry; and some- times it was arranged with an additional chapter so as to form a domus inclusu for the residence of an officiat- ing minister.
From their meeting in this room certain assemblies of the parishioners, for the despatch of the official busi- ness of the parish, are called vestries or vestry meetings. Such meetings, however, may be held elsewhere in the parish as well as in the vestrv, provided the proper no- tice of time, place, and purpose of the meeting be given. The officiating minister, whether he be curate or vicar, is ex officio chairman of the meeting. All persons rated to the relief of the poor, whetlier inhabitants of the par- ish or not, are entitled to attend the vestry and vote; and this right is also extended to all inhabitants com- ing into the parish since the last rate for the relief of the poor, if they consent to be rated. But no person is entitled to vote who shall have neglected or refused to pav' any rate which may be due and shall have been de- manded of him, nor is he entitled to be present at any vestry meeting.
In the year 1831 an act was passed l)y the British Parliament, which has been very generally adopted, en- titled "An Act for the Better Regulation of Vestries, and for the Appointment of Auditors of Accounts, in Certain Parishes of England and Wales." This act does not alter the law in any parish by which it is not adopted l)v a majority of the rate-payers, nor docs it in- terfere with parishes governed by select vestries. The most important provisions are that, in all parishes adopt- ing the act, the vestry shall consist of twelve vestry- men for every parish in which the number of rated householders shall not exceed one thousand; twenty- four where they exceed one thousand, thirty-six where they exceed two thousand ; and so on in the proportion of twelve more vestrj-men for every thousand rated householders; but in no case is the number to exceeil one hundred and twenty. The rector, district rector, vicar, perjtetual curate, and church-wardens are to con- stitute part of the vestrj-, and vote in addition to the vestrymen so elected; but no more than one such min- ister is ex officio to be a part of, or vote at, any vestry meeting. One third of the vestrymen go out of of- fice annually, and others are elected in their stead. Select vestries have arisen from a practice which ob- tained in large and populous parishes, especially in and about the metropolis, of choosing a select number of the chief and most respectable parishioners to represent and manage the concerns of the parish for one year. The practice has been held by the courts of law to be a good and reasonable custom.
In the Protestant Episcopal Church in America the vestry is a committee chosen annually by the parish, who, in conjunction with the church-wardens, manage its temporal concerns.
The term vestry is also applied, by accommodation,
VESTRYMAN
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VIAIXNES
in other churches, to the rooms provided for lectures, prayer-meetings, and other week-day services. Vestryman, a member of the vestry (q. v.).
Vestry-press, a cupboard to hold the eucharisti- cal and other vestments belonging to a church.
Vestry-trunk, a box, originally made out of the trunk of a tree, hollowed, in order to contain tlie ecclesi- astical vestments belonging to a church.
Vesturer, a sacristan (q. v.), or sexton (q. v.), a keeper of the vestments; a sub-treasurer of a collegiate cluirch or cathedral.
Vetch, James Edwauds, A.B., an Euglisii Congre- gational minister, was born at Zacatecas, JMexico. Aug. 17, 1836. Mr. Vetch graduated at New College, and commenced the work of tiie ministry in Australia in 1858— first at ]Melb()urne, and latterly at Woolhara, near Sy(biey — and won the respect and affection of men of every denomination. lie died June 17, 1870. " His character was that of au exemplary Christian gentle- man, and ever preferred principle to prosperity." As a jireacher he was thoughtful and instructive; as a pas- tor and friend he was respected and beloved as few men are. See (Lond.) Cong. Year-book, 1871, p. o58.
Vethym, an old form of the word fathom, a meas- ure of six feet in length.