The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-05
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
LEen ADDIrIoNAL LOCAL ITEMS SEE TuIRD PAenI

LENT-THE END OF THE CARNIVAL SEASON
ASH WEDNEsDAY.-The first day of the Lenten
season, Ash "Wednesday, falls this year on the
tions of the Christian Church, in accordance
with an ancient custom, celebrate as period
of fasting and prayer, in commemoration Of
temptation, the forty days Immediately prece-
ding Easter; The word LENT-used to mark
used by the SaXons to indicate spring, meaning
the time Of the lengthening of the day. In time
long past this period commenced on what is
now termed the first Sunday in Lent but by
the order of Pope Gregory the commencement
was placed at four days carrier, theHreeDy taxing
1t having been found necessary to do this in
order to Incorporate the full forty days in the
period OF Lent, for it was ascertained that when
commencing on Sunday. as heretofore, and by
emitting the intervening Sabbaths, four days
were lost. making the period then but thirty-si;x
walton from the ceremonies ofthe day, Instituted
by the Roman Catholic Church. The faithful of
ment Of the period Of Lent, reminded that they
were but dust and ashes, celebrated by the
sprinkling of holy water on quantity of ashes
by the priests; who then, reaching down and
touching the ashes, marked the sign of the
cross on the head of the penitential worshipper
as he approached, while saying, 'Remember,
man, that thou art but ashes, and to dust Will
return" The ashes were those of the burnt
palm trees which had been consecrated with holy
rites on the Palm Sunday of the year previous,
The rules of the Catholic Church at the pre-
sent time, given to the congregations some days
upon to obey sud engage in them truly, are as
follows:-That an of the faithful in the holy
Church, who have entered upon the twenty
first year of their age, shall, and are in duty
bound, to observe the Fast of Lent, unless 1t be
dispensed with for lawful reasons That they
shall partake of but one meal q day, with the
exception of Sundays and not to be eaten until
noon. That both meat and fish are to be
eschewed, even on those days when 1T is usual to
eat of them, and not to be even used as a relish.
There shall be allowed during the eveninga
partial meal, by way of refreshment, at which
there shall be permitted bread, butter, cheese
salad, vegetables, fish, and fruit of all kinds,
but at which mil1Gand eggs shall be prohibited.
1t is allowed that the faithful shall, in the
morning, partale, OF some warm liquid, e. g.
tea, coffee, or chocolate made with water, in
accordance with ancient customs But by
necessity lard shall be used instead of butter in
the preparation of fish, vegetables, etc.
obseTvo1ces Of these rniesNai under twenty~
one years of age, tnvalids, etc, those who are
necessitated to hard labor, and all to whom 1t
would cause injury were they to obey the strict
rules of the Church IN this manner. And by
dispensation, the people can partake of flesh
meat any time during the sabbath, and on
Mondays Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
once a day, excepting Holy Thursday and the
two last Saturdays in the period Of Lent and as
q further exemption, 1T is allowed that persons
engaged at laborious occupations are not re-
stricted to the use of meat but once a day.
Many were the popular observances of Ash
Wednesday and the sports thereon engaged IN,
such as the erection of scarecrow- like figures
as mark for every manner OF MISSILES IN con-
tinuation of the previous days sport.
There was observed in Great Britain, in years
long gone by, an ancient custom, inaugurated
under the reign of George l, in the following
manner: An officer, under the euphonious name
of the Kings Cock -crower," would, during the
Lenten season, crow the hour each night within
the palace walls, instead of the usual manner OF
the regular watchman. But one of these watch
men almost came to grief on Ash Wednesday,
the first as he entered the palace hail. after the
accession of the House of Hanover, wherein sat
at supper George the Second, who was so much
startled by the shrill call OF the Waterman
resent what to him appeared as gross insult,
and it was with difficulty that his Majesty could
be restrained from inficting summary punish
ment on the author of such great indigntty.
From this time this custom gradually declined,
until at present it is only known through
history,
The Episcopal Church in this country OBJ
serves the day by religious, penitential SER
vices, which continue daily throughout the
season of Lent, with such degrees OF fasting and
abstinence from food, worldly amusements,
ETC., as the consciences of the members dictate,
issued or epjoined.