The New York herald., 1871-02-23
ASH WEDNE SDAY.
Its Observance Yesterday in the CatholA
and Episcopal Churches-Early His
tory OF the Lenten Season.

Yesterday was the 1rst dny or tue Lenten srascn
ana the day was honored In all the Catholic cbnrcnes
of the city by the usual ceremonies so well aJ,ntea
10 time OF prayer ana fasting. Mass was celebrate1
at an early hour IN each church, and the ashss
blessed by the priest and then devoted to the Dlous
observance which the faithful for centuries hava
steadily adhered to. There was no pompous display
Of ntualistic ceremony, either IN the blessing
o the ashes IN the imposition Of IA
upon the forehead5 OF the congregation
The ceremony was simple and In accord with tha
penitental season or the year. The priest after
mass as the crowds knelt aJ the sanctuary railing
made the sign OF the on the forehead OF each
saying while dong 80, "Remember man, thou ars
but dust and
UNTO DUST THOU SHALT RETURN"
the meaning OF this ceremony being TO Impress upon
oil an admoation designed TO remind them or their
mortality and their origin from dust and Therefore
OF the necessity prepare well for the death that ia
Inevitable.
The last OF Lent Il OF the oldest institutions i'm
the Catholic Church. Its establishment IA prac-
t,ce or q precept dates back TO The very earliest
ages OF Christianity, ana In the first centuries there
were even ncresies originated whose foundation
rested upon denial OF the observance Of this
fast. the Latin and Greek names fok
this fast signify the fast of forty Gays,
and In modern languages the terms
used have similar significance. The
English word Lent means the spring fast, Lenten
tide in the ancient English-Saxon languages, having
the meaning Of the spring season. There IL men,
ton made by ecclesiastical writer's Of the observ-
ance OF Lent even far back as the first century,
when the imme late disciples OF the Apostles were
In charge or their respective Secs. In tho second
cenury dispute regarding the time for the cele-
brauon OF Easier-or, III other words the close Of
| the solemn yearly iast-occurrcd, and then It was
| agreed all sides tnat the
| SOLEMN ANrE-FAScHAL FAST
| OF Lent should be Kept There Is doubt aq Ia
| whether IL was a5 nrst understood that tae iass
shouiu last tor forty days but al last a the Council
OF Ancyra IN the fourth century, 1t was confirmed
that it wa; by precept necessary 10 fas tne ior.y
| days Of Lent, using only Ie1ophige or dry meats.
! The Je,ophogie required that nothing snould De
eaten nc the meal aiter sunset Dut Dread,
salt ana water; but IL would seem II
ihIs the strlctcsJ part OF the fast was only to bo
observed during the six days preceding the FESTIVAL
OF EASTER That the fast In the very earliest tines
was Of lorty days may be concluded FROM the iact
cecding age aiude to 1t as that Of the forty days,
anu II Vas known by the same name IN
| tive 10 the Observance OF the Easter fc tIval on
| the fourteenth day OF the first lunar month--us
,w ws o W asys M 'he n, ,Sm hrc III on e mn
In the year III there sprung up IN PhryRia the
heresy Of Moblanus, wnea the hercsiarcn, calling
himself the paraclete promised BY Christ Insulated
three tents IN The year. but this The cnutc IgaOred,
OF course, maintaining her own Lent OF iorty days,
which Was tnen generally observed all over the
word. 1t IL popuary believed, and with truth, that
the forty days last III Imitation or tue SavourS
| last Tor the same ilue, and the
RECORDS Of ECCLES IAjrTCAL HISTORY
furnish sufficient evidence to show that tue iinmc.
date VI the Apostles continued to ncul-
cate The observance ol tne fast, Dy sirict law In
memory the SayIour's DEATH Il Is admitted by
ri, relgious denominations that the last IL oi the
greatest antiquity, but there are various Opinions a5
10 he iler IL s'lodld be of choice merely pre-.
! cep,. The catholic Church believes IN the latter
and cites numerous authorities oil the primitive
times show tha the violation OF IL believed "a
be sinful, ana that even tie Nestorians EutychiAns
| ArnenIans and other ancient hcritics IN the East
agreed with the Church Of Rome regard to the
forty days last.
Tie institution then, the first days observance OF
winch began yesterday ali over the world. Ia an
cicilt ori4n. Tire ensuing six weeks before Easter
Will be III ceremonial, as well as In more essential
Particulars OF the most simple and solemn cbarac.
1 penitentiai closhiDg, indicative of the fasting
season. fne peculiar religious exercises OF
| the Eoman Religion are practised Ire4
4 qucntly by the laity, amt cAhortauOns to
| sinners become more constant OH the part
| OF the clergy during this time The music at the
masses even Is especially selected for season OF
| penance, aud mourning and ashes In order IN
place OF the gorgeous brilIiancles which usually sur.
round the CathOic service.
IN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCHES
appropriate services were also he'd No sermons
were delivered, however, and only the prayers and
lessons prescribed by the ritual were gwen.