11.

WHITE APPAREL.

III. CONFIRMATION.

"Ye shall be as the wings of a Dove, that is covered with silver wings."

SPEED on, ye happy Sunday hours, O speed
The moment when a richer gift shall crown
A riper faith when Childhood, casting down
Her innocent vesture, the pure Chrisom weed,
Shall claim the sevenfold radiance, erst decreed
Where true hearts kneel 'neath Apostolic hands.
White are his mantle folds, who ready stands
Before the shrine, to bless and intercede :
And duteous maidens, skilful in Love's law,
Unbidden use in stainless white to come :

As doves, that to the bright clouds upward draw,
Plume the soft lily breast, the more to win
Of splendour from the Light's far cloudless home.
O deep, that hour, the bliss or curse within!

11.

WHITE APPAREL.

IV. PRIESTS IN WHITE.

"When they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments."

AND even the very walls of the dread place,
And the tall windows with their breathing lights,
Speak to the adoring heart, and say, No base.
Or week-day garb may him beseem, who writes
God's message here in hearts of men,-invites
To the bright nuptial feast of joy and grace.
But Angels waiting on our awful rites
Should in our frail and mortal Angel trace

Some hue of their own robes, what time they raise
The censer, heaped with prayer, before the throne :
And Innocents, in wonder moved to gaze

On the new glory, mantling forms well-known, Should ask and learn the clue to Angels' ways :— "The vision is for the pure heart alone."

11.

WHITE APPAREL.

V. CHORISTERS IN WHITE.

- the Levites which were the singers,......with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen."

WITHIN a reverend Minster I have stood,

As one to whom, for many a godless deed,

The Choir was clos'd :-fit penance and due meed
Sad conscience own'd it :-one by one I view'd
With wistful eye the entering multitude.
At last with joyous step, but sober heed
Of holy things, like fawns in forest mead,
Timid yet happy, the white-robed brood
Of Choristers swept by :-then musings came,
"What happier dawn of being than to meet
Matins and vespers here with punctual feet?
What happier close, than here in peace to lay,
Wearing the white robe still, th' exhausted frame,

And so, through life, Heaven's garb and speech assay ?"

11.

WHITE APPAREL.

VI. BRIDAL WHITE.

"And unto her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, white and clean."

ONCE more unto thine Altar, Lord, once more,
In vesture of thy Saints: for Joy and Love
Have vow'd, to day, their best on earth to prove,
And Pureness, guardian sole of their rich store
Of blessing and delight. Arm we the more
Both heart and limb with brightness from above:
So may we scare the noisome beasts that rove

There busiest, where Earth's rapture most runs o'er.
Well are they warn'd, who in that dangerous bliss
May on some Innocent look down, array'd

In bridal white, flower of the nuptial band,
Unconscious, yet o'erjoy'd: nor far amiss
Deem they perchance, who in that smiling maid
Heaven's youngest Angel see, with wreath in hand.

11.

WHITE APPAREL.

VII. PENITENTS IN WHITE.

'Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him."

BUT what if chrisom robes be sin-defil'd,

If nuptial white of broken vows bear trace,
If he who daily in the holy Place

Wears the bright albe, in heart be gross and wild,

So that the stones, whereon the shrine is pil'd,

Seem to cry out,

"Who hath requir'd this grace

Of thee, the consecrated floor to pace,

Thrice pledg'd and thrice forsworn ?" O Saviour mild,

Hast Thou, for these, a white robe yet in store?

Yea the Church path is by the fount of tears,

:

And a grave Angel stands beside the door,

Laden with vests for contrite pilgrims meet.

Him trust with all; sad memories and dim fears ;

Then kneel in white before the Mercy-seat.