Vestry.--The name given to the room attached to or within the church building, used for vesting in, or in which the vestments are kept. From the old custom of parish meetings be held in it, such meetings were called the Vestry; a name that has since been applied to the representatives of the parish elected annually to manage its financial and secular affairs. It is to be noted that there is nothing to be found in the Primitive Church corresponding to the modern Vestry. This fact may explain why it is that the Vestry System, as such, is ever presenting problems difficult to solve. The "Vestry Problem" has commanded the attention of the General Convention from time to time, but so far nothing has been presented for its solution. The purpose and duties of the Vestry as commonly understood may be stated as follows: It is the duty of the Wardens and Vestry (it ought to be always with the advice of the Bishop) to consider and determine upon the election of a minister when the Rectorship is vacant; to see that the minister is well and properly supported, sufficiently and punctually paid; to make and execute all contracts for the erection of church edifices, rectories and other church buildings; to provide for their furnishing and repair and due preservation; to hold all Church property as Trustees of the Parish, and as such generally to transact all temporal and financial business of the Parish. (For the duties of Wardens, see Church Wardens.) Via Media.--A Latin term, meaning _middle course_ {270} as between two extremes. The term is used to describe the Anglican or Episcopal Church as avoiding Romanism on the one hand, and Protestantism on the other. Viaticum.--A term used to describe the Holy Communion administered to a dying person. A Canon of the Nicene Council (A.D. 325) provided that no one should "be deprived of his perfect and most necessary _viaticum_ when he departs out of this life." The word means "a provision made for a journey." Vicar.--A term introduced from the English Church and applied to one who has charge of a chapel connected with a Parish, as his sole charge. For example, the term has been applied to certain clergy of Trinity Church, New York, who have charge of chapels which possess the dignity of parishes, but the support of which is derived mainly from the Parish Corporation. In the English Church, the Rector, or chapter, or religious house or even a layman, has the whole right to the income of the Parish but the Vicar only to a certain portion of it as the Pastor of the Flock. The origin and meaning of this title as used in the Church of England are thus given in Blackstone's Commentaries, "These appropriating corporations, or religious houses, were wont to depute one of their body to perform divine service in those parishes of which the society was the Parson. This officiating minister was in reality no more than a curate, deputy or vicegerent of the appropriator, and therefore called _vicarius_ or _vicar_."