The term “men of the cloth” originally referred to anyone who wore a uniform for work, but in the 17th century it became exclusive to clergy. The collar is seen as an essential part of their uniform, symbolizing both service and restriction. The term is now mostly used by Catholic priests.
Today, when we hear the term “men of the cloth,” we are almost always referring to members of the clergy, who can be distinguished by the special attire they wear all the time, or simply when performing religious services. In reality, the origin of the term was not specific to priests; special clothing worn only for one job meant that a worker was a man of the cloth and carried no special reference to clergy. Anyone who wore a uniform while working, such as a cook’s coat or servant livery, could be described by this term until the 16th century.
In the 17th century, language changed, as it often does, to apply the term “men of the cloth” exclusively to members of the clergy. He was no longer a servant or a page with uniform included. Also, the priesthood in general can be called “the canvas.”
Some also refer to the collar as an essential part of cloth uniform men. In fact, several ministers who were also poets wrote about the collar. The 17th-century poet, George Herbert, used the collar as a metaphor for the restrictive yet inspiring nature of ministry. The poem “The Collar” refers to the word seed several times. He questions that, even though he’s escaped the priesthood, “Do I still have to be dressed?” Later in the poem Herbert states, “He who bears / To satisfy and serve his need, / Deserves his burden.” The collar and all garments associated with ministry become the symbol of service, which both limits and restores with the final lines of Herbert’s poem:
But as I went mad and grew wilder and wilder,
With every word,
I think I heard a call, Childe:
And I answered, my Lord.
Clearly, the collar first antagonizes and secondly befits this man of the cloth. It is likely that Herbert would have described himself as one of the men of the cloth since he lived in the 17th century, when such usage became common.
You may still hear the term today, but it is fast becoming an archaism. Most often, Catholic priests use it since there are no female priests.
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