The Placer herald. [volume] (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991, 1861-11-23

and another for the Church of Scotland ,
In our own country it is usual, in some of
the New England States, for the Governor
to appoint day in the Spring to be observ
ed by fasting, humiliation and prayer.
The Roman Catholic Church observes as
fast days, the forty days of Lent. the En-
Der days, the Wednesdays and Fridays OF
the four weeks in Advent, and the vigs OF
the great ecclesiastical festivals; also every
Friday aud Saturday throughout the year
except Christmas day, should it fall on Ell.
ther Of those days However, the Saturday
is rarely observed by the members of that
church, except in strictly Catholic countries
Among the Romanists flesh alone in prohib
tied rs food on fast days, and fish, eggs,
milk an butter are allowed in quantities
According to the strict rules of the Church
however, in Passion week, or the week be
fore Easter, no produce Of anything living
is permitted, and in this week oil has to
take the place Of butter in the cookery of
The vegetarian diet that is then consumed
The fas.s Of this church appear to partake
little of the nature of days of abstinence
as flesh in many forms, omlets and other
dainties, are the invarable edibes consumed
on such occasions.
In the Greco Russian Church there are
fonr great fasts: |. The LeDton, which
fast appears to be esteemed by the Greek
Roman Catholic and EpiscopaIian churches
as a tradition from the age of the Apostles.
Although throughout the forty days of
| which it consists, this fast is more riGidly
observed than the others in the Greek
Church, still the first and last days are con
sidered as extra devotional, these being
and preparing for the Sacrament. The
Petrotf or Peters fast, from Whitsundav to
St. Peters Day, June 29th, lasting from
five weeks, accordingly as the day of its
commencement falls. 3 The Oosponks or
Conception Fast, called by the people the
Gozposinki, from the first to the 18th of
August. The Phippof, or St. Philips
Fast, which comprises the six weeks before
Christmas.
Besides the above, the Wednesdays and
Fridays of every week are fast days, and the
common people scrupuousIy keep them all.
The Jews have added to their list several
fass not COMMANDED 10y the law Of Moses.
In addition to their great fast Of the Day
Of Atonement, which is most strictly oh
served they have no others, which are COM
me,norative of great national calanities
The Mahomme,Ians observe the month Of
Ramahan rs a period of fasting in memo
rv OF mans creation. and the exactness of
their dervises with regard to its strict obSer
vance is extraordinary. Among the first
practical duties of Moselem are not only
fasting during this month, hu, prayers
directed towards tn, Temple Of Mecca at
five appointed hours of the day. and alms,
to which the torlielh part of a person's prop
erv must be bestowed even on foes and on
the brute creation. They consider that
prayer will carry the M 'seem half way to
God, that fasting will bring him to the door
of His palace, but that it is charity and
benevoence towards his fellow creatures by
which the Supreme Being is best Worship
ped, and it is this alone that will gain him
admittance Cleanliness of body and fire.
qnent religious ablutons are also strongly
recommended, as well as attendance every
Friday at Divine service in the mosques, and
once in the course of mans ife if posi-
BILE, the performance Of a holy pilgrimage
to the Temple of Mecca, the sacred birth
place Of Islam.
The Chinese even have their stated feasts
with forms of prayer for preserving them
from barrenness inundations earthquakes
and other caamites