By deacons it is worn, as in ancient times, over the left
shoulder only, hanging down before and behind; by priests, over both
shoulders, hanging down in front only, and was formerly crossed on the
breast and passed through the girdle at the waist; bishops have always
worn it over both shoulders, and not crossed. It was once considered in
some sort as a mark of authority, and as peculiarly appropriate to
preachers; thus the sub-deacon wore no stole, because he had no
authority to preach the Gospel in public. So in the Roman Catholic
Church at the present day, when a number of clergymen are assembled
together, except on a few extraordinary occasions, no person wears the
stole but the presiding or principal clergyman, and the person who
preaches or officiates. The stole was originally a linen handkerchief
used for wiping the face, but being afterwards made of embroidered silk
and other rich materials, it was retained as a decoration. Previous to
the Reformation, the stole was one of the vestments used in the
celebration of the Holy Eucharist, and consequently, in preaching also,
but not at vespers or the ordinary services. The authorities for these
statements are Paley's _Gothic Architecture_, the Oxford _Manual for
Brasses, Popular Tracts illustrating the Prayer-book_, No.
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