the Invention The present invention relate:; ro protective relay devices for providing protective control in electrical distribution systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a protective relay device having a modular control and display panel. of the Invention Protective relay devices are necessary elements of an electrical power distribution system, as they provide a v;> currently in a test mode: a "TRIP" indicator to indicate that the protective relay has issued a trip command; an * ALARM" indicator to indicate that an alanr: condition is present; and a "PIC vUP" indicator to indicate that the protective relay has detected a piclcup condition. Event indicators can be provided o indicate the cause or source of a detected condition of the power distribution system. The event indicators can include: a "CURRENT" indicator to indicate that the event was caused by a current coaditica; a "VOLTAGE" indicator t:o indicate that the event was caused by a voltage condition; a "FREQUENCY" or 'OTHER" indicator to indicate a frequency-related or other condition; phase indicators "PHASE A", "PHASE B", "PHASE C", and "NEUTRAL/GROUND" to indicate which phase(s) were involved, ui a detected fault. Of course, it will be appreciated that other suitable status conditions and events can be indicated by the indicators. In one embodirrent of the present invention, the indicators receive light, from light sources contained in the relay processing circuitry, via light pipes (not shown) which extend from the: back of the control panel module between the indicators and the modular indicator array 46. The light pipes can be formed is clear rubes of plastic, glass, or other suitable material. The indicator module 12a of FIG. 5a is shown as including a serial port >W. It should be appreciated that the serial poit 44 can alternatively be provided in a separate module. The serial port 44 is preferably capable of receiving power and data signals, and can be implemented as a RS-232 serial port. The serial port 4^-enables i user to connect an external device, such as a personal computer, for downloading settings, monitoring data; generating sequence of events reports, providing oscillographs, or performing oner functions relating to monitoring, programming, and control of the protective relay. The indicator module 12a of FIG. 5a is also shown as including a reset button and various function buttock. The;.e buttons are operatively connected to the processing circuitry of the protective relay device (e.g., via the controller 42 showa hi FIG. 4), and can be used to reset the de vice and clear the status and event indicators. FIG. 5b shows a display module 12b which includes a display 48 oper^tively connected to the processing circuitry of iie protective relay. Preferably, the display 42 is a vacuum flouresceat display or odier suitable display which is viewable in relatively dim lighting from a wide variety of viewing angles. The display 42 can provide more detailed information, including text messages or digital meter information, to a user monitoring the protective relay, and can be used to provide feedback to a user programming the proiective relay device. To extend the lift; of the vacuum flourescent display and avoid screen "burn-in", the relay processing circuitry is preferably provided with a screen saver, which can scroll messages across the display screen or cause the display screen to go blank after a predetermined period of time. FIG. 5c shows a keypad module 12c which includes a keypad 45 which is operatively connected with the processing circuitry of the protective relay (e.g., via the controller 42). The keypad can include numeric keys and/or command keys which allow a user to program die protective relay. The user can receive feedback from a display module as shown in FIG. 5b. The control panel modules of FIGs. 5a-c are examples only, and it will be appreciated that other suitable modules w ill be contemplated by those of ordinary skill in the an. For example, one or moi e modules can include liquid crystal display meter. Further, blank modules c in be provided in the module spaces where modules are not required. While the foregoing description ii.cludes many details and specificities, it is to be understood that these are included far illustrative purposes only, and are rot limitations of the invention. The embodiments described above can be modified in numerous ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims and their legal equivalents. Claimed 1. A modular control panel for a protective relay in an electrical distribut.on system, comprising: a frame which is securable to a housing containing protective relay processing circuitry, the frame defining a plurality of module spaces; and a plurality of modules for providim; control and display functions; wherein each module is securable ii, and independently removable from, the module spaces, and is replaceable by a substitute module. 2. The control panel of claim :., wherein-the control panel is removably attached to the protective relay housing vii at least one hinge, located at one end of the control panel, and a latch located -at a .second end of the control panel. 3. The control panel of claim 1, wierein the control panel is removable irom the protective relay housing, and is conne:ted to the protective rslay components via a co-nmunication cable. 4. The control panel of claim 3, wherein the communication cable is an 3- wire shielded twisted pair cable terminated with RJ45 connectors. 5. The control panel of claim 1, v-herein me modules can be attached to the module spaces in one of at least rwo orientations with respect to the housing. 6. The control panel of claim 1, wherein at least one module includes a vacuum flourescenc display. 7. The control panel of claim, 6, wherein the vacuum flourescent display is provid