Read the second stanza of "some keep the sabbath going to church." some keep the sabbath in surplice – i just wear my wings – and instead of tolling the bell, for church, our little sexton – sings. what is the effect of the word “surplice,” which is a garment worn by the clergy, in this stanza?

in this second stanza from   "some keep the sabbath going to church," the word "surplice" reinforce the difference between those for whom the important part of the sabbath are the rituals -going to the church, wearing special clothes-, and those, like the speaker, who believe that spirituality can be lived through nature.

this is what i put and it was correct

it's a way for authors to communicate with reader in this time period. books from the past can teach us about life.