Litchfield enquirer., 1859-03-31
LENT.

| Ve aTe IiOW III tuC WiQSC Ol CnlS aDcenl Christian Fast, and as there are about 300, 0OO, 900 of persons in the world who observe 1t with more or less rgidity, We have though, our readers might be interested in brief sketch of its origin and history. Unlike ma ny other lasts and feasts pertaining to Caljs- tlanity, some of which exert but q local Dsflu. ence aud interest, this is universal as the Him. it's of the Church visible: (except only por- tion of the most ultra Protestants.) Wber- ever the Roman Catholic Church has Totaries,
 in the seat of it's original power n Southern Europe, in Asia, iu South America, and the islands of the sea, the observance of this fast has been carried, as all ihseparable part of it's | faith cercmonies-nor is it cobfned to them | the Greek Church, of which Russia is the most powerful representative, is equally exact | ing in the matter of keepug Len! while the Anglican Church theoretically recognizes it, and both ill England aud this country n- menss numbers of Episcopalians regard it's ob- servance as binding.
 Its origu is supposed to have been Apostol- cal. though numerous additions have been from time to time added, until it has attained its present fitness and importance nor is it unreasonable to suppose, that from the very
  crates should be held sacred cby the followers of Christ. As kept however, previous to the 5th century, it consisted of less than forty days beginning, up to that period, with what is now called the first Sunday in Lent Pope Felix III, in 4S7, pretixed four days, begnnng with Ash-W edncs1iay, which brought ti numb,r up to forty-the days of Chrlst's temptation in the wilderness. The obs,rvaDce of Lent was first introduced into England du- ring the time of the Saxon Heptarchy, by Erconbert, King of Kent in the year GAO Since then it has met with more or less tn- coura cement from the Anglican Church aud Government, according as various religious parties prevailed. After the Reformation, it's observance lecame less general but Queen Fl zabeth, on being petitioned by some of her loving subjects" to make the observance of Lent penal, refused, for this very good req son, that the abolisllment of Lent would ill., jure Her Majesty's fisheries" aud, therefore, she rather encouraged than repressed the GUS tom of keeping it.
 During Cro,nwell's time it was in great dis repute, various Parliamentary statutes were passed against the public performance of its ceremonies, and those who still haliowed it were forced to privacy and secrecy. Since his time it has recovered somewhat of its aii- cient prestige, and the first day in Lent (and some others) is now public holidav-alI the public offices being closed except the Stamps, Excise, and Customs. In former tiines-iu those fabulous days of |. Mtrrie England'- persons convicted of notorious sin, were put to open penauce on Ash Wedneslay-uud even HOW the commi,,ation," or ecclesiasti T of ..Ex is still publicly read on this day iu the Anglican churches -.-
 Of ull the days of Lent, none, from their nature, were more generally observed than Palm Sunday, partaking as it dld of the char acter of a feast day rather than fast, and commcmoratirg Christ's triumpi,al entry into Jerusalem. On this day, in most Cathode countries, the branches of palm or other trees, which are carried in procession, are afterwards burnt by the priests and their ashes preserv- ed, for the purpose of sprinkling upon the heads of prnitentS, on the next Ash Wcdnes- day-from which practice the latter day took its name. The carrying of palms on Palm Sunday, was one of the customs encouraged by Henry VIII, eycn after te had quite bro ken away froiu the Rom!sh Church. Even as late as the beginning of the present century, it was common practice ill many parts of England, for the young people to go palming on this day--making up parties aud visiting the woods, returning with sprigs or branches in their hands, or affixed to their dress. Aud, down to q very recent period, small branches (which are mostly If willow, by the way, aud not palm, were off.red for sale by the stall women in Covcnt Garden market. But the practice of palming has now fallen greatly in- to disuse.
 Maundy Thursday or Slcre Thursday, the day before Good Friday, has always been made of much account by the observers of Lent. The derivation of the word maumd seems to be traced to an old English word, meaning basket, and was probably adopted be- cause gifts to the poor were distributed from baskets on this day. The word shere, it is supposed, arose from the practice of the priests being very generally shauen or sheared on this day, so us to be neat and slightly for the approaching Easter Sunday. Maunday Thursday is distinguished as the day on which Christ washed the feet of his disciples.
 In Homs's { Every Day Book" We find this entry concerning Cardinal Woolsey, at (Pe- terboro' A5ee in l53O,) Here he made his moumd in our ,Ladys Chapel, having ffty-nne poor men, whose feet he washed and kissed, aud after he had wiped them, he gave every of the said poor men twelve pence in mouey, three els of good canvass to make them shirts, pair of new shoes, a cast of red herrings, and three white herrings. Royalty often per formed Q similar service and Queen Eliza beth once went through similar ceremony with thirty nine poor women-the number l seems to have been regulated by the age oi the principal performer. James H.was the l last English monarch who chose to exhibit the grace of humility in this manner. His sue I cessor, William, transferred the duty to his I almouer. his Grace the Lord Archbishop o l York Queen Victoria distributes money in stead of provisions. Sr- n .ha doyo of TopA Gon1 Fri