_Costumes of the Early Church._ What could be more dignified and beautiful than a mask built upon the history of the early church! The costumes for such a mask would be ecclesiastical in character and would reflect the influences of the Eastern and Western worlds. The materials of these costumes would be rich and colorful and of Byzantine design. The lines of the costumes would very closely resemble the state dresses of the Roman official dignitaries. The illustration shows how elaborate were the vestments of a bishop. In marked contrast but equally interesting were the habits worn by the monastic orders. Here is a brief description of the habits of several of these: Benedictines wore gowns of black, white, or russet cloth, with white or black fur, and black cape and hood. Augustines wore black cassocks under white full-sleeved tunics, over all black cloak and hood, square black cap. [Illustration: _Scene from Christmas Mask given by ninth year Fairmount Junior High School pupils at the Cleveland Museum of Art._ _Lady-in-Waiting_| | | _King_ ] Dominicans or Black Friars wore similar habit to that worn by the Augustine monks. Franciscans or Gray Friars wore long, loose gray cassocks girded with a cord, a hood or cowl, and a cloak of the same. [Illustration: _Ecclesiastical Costumes_ _Bishop_| | | _Nun_| | | _Monk_ ] Carmelite or White Friars wore habits of white throughout, but from about 1240 to 1290 their cloaks were parti-colored, white and red. Crossed Friars wore blue habits with a plain red cross. In the early church there were various orders of nuns. They lived in convents, apart from the world, and took the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Their costumes were of extreme simplicity and dignity, in keeping with their religious ideas. Each order had a distinctive costume of gray, blue, brown, white, or black. The materials were wool and linen. Note the full mantle, sleeves, and head-covering.