Vigil
in ecclesiastical and Church history, originally the watch kept on or 12th century) the day and night preceding a feast. The practice of spending the night in public prayer, which is probably older than Christianity, prevailed in the early Church, and down to the 14th century was the usual prelude to the greater festivals. But but in the Roman Church the customs of different countries vary slightly. Also the devotional exercises or services apfestival. festival. of the Civil War, then became a captain ing and newspaper work till the outbreak prisoner at New Orleans in 1862. After federate Diplomatic Commission, he went to Paris in 1863. He was connected with the Alabama Claims Comhis release, as secretary of the Con- prisoner at New Orleans in 1862. After in the 6th Louisiana Regiment; was taken of the Civil War, then became a captain mission in 1872, and in the following the International Metric Conference. He ican legation in Paris in 1875 and first secretary in 1882, serving until 1909. year was a United States delegate to He published several books on Columwas made second secretary to the Amerbus and on early voyages to America. Ame