Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-03-07
DAVENPORT, IOWA. THURSDAY MARCH Z 1867


SERVICES yEsrERpAY-The usual services
and ceremonies Of Ash Wednesday were
observed by the Catholic nnI Episcopolian /
Churches in our city yesterday. The name !
o: this day is the memorial oi ancient cus>
toms and is popularity called the tirst day Of
Lent, but BY the Fathers Of the Latin
Church Caput J.junii or Dies Cinerwm.-
The customs Of rolling In the dust, covering
the head With. ashes. was in early times, .
mark Of deep grief and whoever appeared
with person, hair and dress covered with
ashes announced by such exterior his hu.
initiation. Examples Of this are frequent in
the Scriptures. being mentioned in Job, the
Kings, the Prophets. and ais, in the Cos
pels. David to express the bitterness Of his
grief says he ate ashes like bread. In the
first centuries of Christianity when public
pennance was imposed. ashes we're cast up-
on those who were condemned. and they
were obliged TO stand without the gate Of
the church amid the lamentations
of the people within. In soms of
TIE Roman Catholic countries the cer>
emones of Asa Wednesday are continua-
ton Of this primitive usage. "Thc old lin
en- Of the altar ard fragments Of consecra.
ted wood are burned and the ashes are care
fully collected Before the celebration of
the Mass, the Priest in mourning robes re-
cites peniten,ial psalms and solemnly bess>
es the sacred ashes. Then all the faithful
approach and PROSTATE themselves while the
Priest makes sign Of the cross with tire
ashes upon the forehead Of each OF them,
repeating each time the words Of the ansth>
ema pronounced upon Adam for his sins.
Aemeato homo quod puiris Is. ct IN pufcer
im r,rerteris' Remember man, that thou
art dust, and into dust shalt thou return
The people having thus listened TO the SEN
tencc Of death and each bearing upon his
brow the prophetic ashes, return TO their
places The sembre monotony Of the Ger
emony, the silence which follows il, the
confession Of all ranks, and the humiliation
Of all pride which attend this common rec
ognition Of al transientncss Of human life
and the fearfulness Of destiny. render il one
Of the rravcst and most impressive of all
religious rites. II is the overture Of
the 40 days Of penitent mourning and
follows Immediately the wild excite
ment OF tho carnival. the horrors
and delirious and clamorous folliss Of
orc day. Kneeling on the next in si>
lencc and contrition around the altar Of the
church, and thus the utmost !rivolity and
disorder Of a worldly spirit. and Christiani>
~ in oil its severity and sadness as the YER
liable law Of fallen humanity stand in i'm.
mediate contrast"
The use Of ashes is omitted by those
branches Of the Protestant churches who
retain any observance Of Ash W Wcdnesday,
while It is principally confined to the Prot
estant Episcopsls, most Of the other Protaet-
ant sects make no distinction, AID have no
days Of particular observance except Christ
mas. In the English church the ceremo
nes consist in reading the maledictions de-
nounced agains. impenitent sinners. at the
end Of each sentence the people repeat
amen"
lNrRovRxENrs.-Ther seems 10 be every
indication tha. the coming season will he
busy one for obbers and builders. We have
from time TO time noticed various improve
ments which are to take place, xome Of
which will be great credit to the city We
learn this morning from VIM. I. Dittoe, at,
torncy for the Catholic church, that the
property known as Catholic Church Square
has been leased for fifteen years TO parties
who will build upon il early the coming
season. The building to bc erected will
face upon Brady street from Fifth street 50
feet towards the river, and from the corner
76 feet down Fifth street. 1t will be Of
brick, two stories high. and be divided into
four stores, the frat % feet front, and the
other three, 30 feet each. The building now
standing on the corner Of Fifth aud Brady
streets will he moved back and uaed for a
dwelling. Several parties are negotiating
for the corner store, the second from the
corner has been leased to John Haley, Esq.
the third to Mrs. Eliza Oliver, and the
fourth to James Thacker. Tne entire builds
ing will probably cost from ST 900 to s.. 900
and when completed will add materially to
the appearance Of that locality.
IL is also the intention Of the church au-
thorities to lease the property on the south.
east cornx Of Perry and Fourth streets. II
the parties now negotiating for the property
obtain it, they will also build upon it du>
ring the coming summer.
AZ soon as plans can be completed, the
Catholic society will erect new church for
the accommodation Of their large member
ship which, rs we stated few days ago,
number upwards Of three thousand The
new church will be etuated near the Catho
lie cemetery, and will bs made Of brick. It
is the intention to build this season, and in
such manner that larger additions can be
made when desired. The Catholics have
for some time felt the want Of another
church for the accommodation Of their own
members. as we'll ~ fos that Of visitors, and
this will in measure relieve them.
THR ISLAND CRY HorEL.-This, the most
popular hotel in Rock Island. closes its
doors against the travelling public and turns
i,s boardess out in the cold to-day. Mr..
Stanord's reign has expired, and an inter-
regnum Of two months has been inaugural.
ed, during which time NJ. Ben Harper, The
new proprietor, will thoroughly repair and
renovats the entire building. Floors are to
bs torfPup. partitions torn down, . new
kitchen TO be built in the rear of the dining
room. and m army Of carpenters and paint>
ers will hold possession until the house 10
thoroughly Reconstructed"
Our friends Of the Argms and Union were
yesterday strayine about like lost sheep,
and the cry Of "wanted, boarding house.