Ancient Use of Liturgical Colours

While engaged in tracing out the influence of the great doctrine of Sacrifice upon the formation and development of the mouldings, c., of ancient Gothic art, my attention was drawn to the colours of the sacrificial vestments in use in the ancient Church of England. For a time I have put aside the former subject, in order to study and prepare notes upon the latter. Like everything else that is truly orthodox in the system of the Catholic Church, her use of colours for sacrificial vestments is derived from the use of the ancient Mosaic Church: a use which was instituted, not by man, but, by God Himself. In olden time, England was called the island of saints. It was the great orthodoxy of the old Church of England which gained for our country this honourable distinction. Our forefathers were pre-eminently orthodox among the nations of Western Christendom;and our grand old Liturgies and noble Gothic Churches, as well as all the mystic ritual of our ancient worship, testify to the pure