The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-02-26
The Season Of Lent.
ITS ORIGIN AND oBsERvANoE-spEo1ALs SERVICES
IN TIE ROMAN CATHOLIC AND EPISCOPAL
CHURCHES.

49, OHAAoAAN
IN Tue ROMAN CATHOLIC AND EPISCOPAL
CHURCHES.
To-day-Ash Wednesday-Lent beglns' ana
during the forty days of its continuance al
good Catholics and Episcopalians observe the
requirements of their respective churches Dy
fasting and abstaining from all amusements
that tend to divert their minds from tnose
duties and solemnities which religion enJolns.
Lent is season of remarkable antiquity. Ii
is mentioned by the early fathers OF the
Church, who eulogized it's purposes IN the
sorrowful strains of Job and Jeremiah. In
thousands Of eloquent tones its origin ana
and popularity have been proclaimed not only
to the followers of the Cross, but among the
heathen of the Orient IL is virtually an uDl-
quitous scythe by which the reckless festivities
of early spring are moved down, and the stand
ard Of sackcloth and repentance are reared
above their ruins. 1t is customary IN various
portions OF Europe to have attractive social en-
tertainments on the eve of the first day OF Lent.
Shrove Tuesday is known as "Pancake Night"
among some of the nations of the Old World,
from the custom then in vogue OF presenting
ohome-baked confectionery" especially PAN
cakes containing wedding rings, before festive
proups at tea. The belle or the beau who OBJ
tains the golden pledge of marital union, is
supposed to be on the high road to the hyme-
nial altar. But all the merriment ceases at
midnight, and the morning opens the solemn
ceremonies of Ash ednesday-so-called from
the embems of mortality which are placed on
the toreheads of the members Of the Roman
Catholic Church by the priesthood to denote
their origin and the end of their earthly career.
The ashes used on the occasion are made
of the palms which were consecrated on Palm
Sunday in the previous year. Toa large por-
ton cf the religious world, Ash Wednesday
proclaims the cessation of all the common and
extraordinary pleasures of other seasons OF
the year. Among the members of II -soman
Catholic and Episcopal Churches, especially
the branch OF the latter. known as "High,
balls, parties, theatres, and kindred amuse-
ments are forbidden during Lent; and as the
cycle approaches towards Easter, the patron
age of the places Of public resort is proper
tionately diminished.
In all the Catholic churches of this city on
Sunday the officiating priests read the follow
ing regulations for the observance OF Lent,
issued by the Right Rev. Bishop Lynch:
Ash Wednesday, the first day Of Lent, falls
on the 26th day Of February.
l. ALI the faithful who have completed
their twonty-frst year, are, unless legitimate
ly dispensed, bound to observe the Fast OF
Lent.
2. They are to make only one meal day,
excepting Sundays.
3. The meal allowed on fast days is not to
be taken till about noon.
4. At that meal, if on any day permission
should be granted for eating flesh, both flesh
and fish are not to be used at the same time,
even by way Of seasoning.
5. A small refreshment, commonly called col,
lation, is allowed in the evening; no general
rule as to the quantity of food permitted at this
time is or can be made. But the practice OF
the most regular Christian is, never to let it
exceed the fourth part of an ordinary meal.
6. The quality of food allowed at collation.
is in this Diocese bread butter cheese nee al a
Milk and eggs are allowed.
7. General usage has made it lawful to drink
in the morning some warm liquid, as tea,
coffee, or thin chocolate, made with water.
8. Necessity and custom have authorized the
use of hogs lard instead of butter, in pre-
pairing fish, vegetables, &c.
g. Tho following persons are exempted from
the obligations OF fasting: Young persons un-
der twenty-one years OF age, the sick, nursing
women. those who are obliged to do hard In.
Dor, al who through weakness cannot fast
without great prejudice to their health:
10. BY dlspensation, the use OF flesh meat
will bo allowed at any time on Sundays. and
once day on Mondays, Tuesdays, THURSDAYS,
and Saturdays, with the exception OF Holy
Thursdays, and the second and last Saturdays
of Lent.
II. Persons dispensed from the obligation of
fasting, on account OF tender or advanced age,
or hard labor, are not bound by tho restriction
of using meat only at one meal on days on
which it's use is granted by dispensation.
Others dispensed from the fast for other caus-
es. as we'll as those who are obliged to fast, are
permitted to use meat only at one meal.
BY order OF I kT. REV. DIR. LYNCH,
Bishop OF Charleston.
T. BERsnNaHAM, Vicar General.
Charleston. S. c., February 10, 1868.