Show vestments old as Anle america rica folded away in a wooden cabinet in the little church of st edward the martyr in east street new york is a set of church vestments that are probably the oldest and most valuable aole garments of the kind in america they date from the six century they were purchased in rome by J pierpont morgan from the descendants of the prince of the church who owned them originally mr morgan presented them to el bridge T gerry who in turn gave them to the rector of the church of st edward the martyr the rev ed ward wallace nell the vestments consists of a cha auble stole silk burse and veil they are made of the finest pale gray satin elaborately embroidered in colors and trimmed with gold lace the weight of the embroidery and lace makes them so cumbersome that they are rarely used and only in services ot of the most formal character it Is pre fumed from the style of the decora tion that they were made in belgium they were made for a roman cardinal who was a prince in his own right for use in his private oratory and they remained in the possession of his family until five years ago when mr morgan bought them at a private sale old as these vestments are and they are almost as old as the history of america the lustre of the satin is 1 still and the sheen of the heavy gold lace Is only slightly dim med the embroidery in silver and gold thread is so brilliant as to take on the appearance of varying colors an effect that is heightened by the countless flowers embroidered in pale L ants that have lost only a little of their freshness at |