at the bottom, and have braid or narrow fringe at the sides.
The ecclesiastical devices on frontals, which one so often sees, are not in harmony with Catholic tradition. They are usually of a cast-iron, soulless, and altogether objectionable character; quite unlike the free and gorgeous designs they are supposed to imitate, as can be seen by a visit to the South Kensington and other museums.
The Linen Cloths. It is a very ancient custom that there should be three linen cloths on the top of the altar, the object no doubt being to provide against accidents with the chalice, as well as to secure a smooth and substantial surface. The dirty habit of making with the frontlet a permanent velvet cover to the altar is not to be commended.
The outer cloth (the ‘fair linen’ of the Canon) should be long enough to reach down to within a few inches of the ground at each end. It may have five crosses embroidered in linen thread on it,[1] as a quincunx, and it may also have embroidery at the ends, or it may be altogether plain. The ends may be fringed; but there is no English precedent for any lace on them. It may be exactly the width of the altar; and I think it looks better if none of it hang over the frontlet.
The two undercloths should be exactly the size of the top of the altar, and quite plain. One of them may, as we have seen, be tacked on to the frontlet. It is an ancient custom that no other material but linen shall cover the top of the altar.[2] The linen for altars should be stout: undercloths may be of diaper.
- ↑ In the instances given by Mr. Atchley (S.P.E.S. Trans. iv. 3) there are not only crosses of silk on altar-cloths, but also black crosses, ‘fflour-de-lusis and crownyz with 5 red-crossis thereon and J H S in the middis,’ another ‘with 3 part blew starres,’ another with ‘3 blew kayes at each end,’ another with ‘blew kayes’ in the middle, another with I H S in red silk in two places.
- ↑ There were many exceptions to this in the way of undercloths, such as a cloth of ‘hair.’ But the use of a cere-cloth is extremely doubtful. (See Mr. Atchley in S.P.E.S. Trans. iv. 3.) Horsehair is apt to breed fungi. Cotton is to be avoided.
