The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-14
ASH WEDNESDAY.
The First Day Of Fasting
and Ashes.
Impressive and Solemn Ceremonies-How Ash
Wednesday Was Observed in the Clden
Time-curious and Absurd Customs.

Oh as the Christian Church itself Is the custom OF
fasting and observance which has been retained
from time mmemorlal under the name OF the
"Lenten Fast" by the Roman Catholic hierarchy.
The forty days preceding Easter are to commence
rate the miraculous abstinence OF Jesus when un-
der Ills marvellous temptations, from "lengten-
ude " an old English word for spring.
Ash Wednesday Is the first day OF Lent ana is
OF the most solemn Of the entire forty, Orgin-
ally the period began on what Is now the first sun
day IN Lent; but 1t being found that when Sundays
as Improper for lasting were omitted, there re-
NAMED only thirty SIX days, the period was
made tOs commence four days earlier by
one OF those Gregories who used to tllunder
eXcom mancaIions from the Vatican-yiz., on
what mas since been called Ash Wednesday. This
name was derived rom the notable ceremony OF the
day in the Roman Catholic Church. On ASH
Wednesday II was tnougnt proper to remind the
faithful au the commencement oil the great peni-
ential season OF forty days that they were but dust
aud ashes, the priest taking quantity OF ashes,
blessing them ana sprnEling the people with molly
water The ashes produced from the burned
palm leaves OF the previous years ceremonies.
The worshlppers then approached in sackcoth, the
priest took up SO me oil the ashes on the end OF MS
finger anu made the sign OF the cross with them
upon the devo,ee's forehead, saying, "Remember,
man. you are OF ashes, and unto dust thou wit re.
, turnn --..-s.,~'--3 r~t~'
Quadragesima Is the Latin term for the forty
DAY aays q kenI, and we numoer OF forty days devoted
10 il is Thought 10 have reference to the Saviour's
forty days last IN the Wilderness to the forty days
/ OF the Deuge the forty years. wanderlngs OF the
Jews, forty days granted TO the NInevehltes Tor
repentance, or the time spent In fasting by Moses
and Elias. ST. Jerome speaks OF the last as
memorial ofthe Saviour's passion. According to the
same writer, as well as ST. Leo, St. Augustine and
most OF the fathers of the fourth and nth centuries.
it was Instituted by the apostles. although Protest,
until the second or Ihlrd century. 1t seems to
have been made obligatory at least az early
Ash Wednesday is the forty sixth day before
! Easter the SIX sundays which interviews between
Lent nor observed as last days. Until lately only
one meal q day allowed. and at this the use OF
always Ha Implying that Of abstinence Of the nesn.
slight rejection, however, was allowed 10 DC taxed
morning aud evening the auaRt S 1000 ann ho se eX
ounces IN the latter. But considerable m0dlca-
tons OF these rules have been made IN countries
their observance injurious to health. Dispensations
are also frequently granted In favor OF particular
persons. In the United states flesh meat Is allowed
several times u week, at the discretion OF the
bishops In the Greek Church the rules are even
more strict and there are four Lenten fas's IN inc
year IL il hardly possible that Inc Grand Duke
Alexis could have been strict member OF the
Greek Church, lie Is too lat robust and nOrld 10
have Kept many Lenten fasts. The fourth sunday
OF Len. is often termed Mld-Lent. or Passion sun,
aud on that day BEANS or peas called "carlines'
used TO be gwen away or eaten The Ritualisis.
win the roman Catholics in their observance OF
Assn Wednesday, and to-day services OF q very ad.
vapced High CHURCH nature Will be held AT Inc
Riuaiislc churches OF ST. sacrament, 81. Mary tho
Virgin ana st. Adams, In TINS cty.
| There were some strange customs In the OLD Gays
connected with Ash Wednesday. For instance, boys
used to 90 "clacKing' at doors to get eggs or
bits OF bacon, W herewith 10 make up least among
themselves and wneu refused would stop the KEY
hold with dirt and depart with rhymed denuncia-
gathered the girls into cart aud drove them into
nver or pool, and there washed them avoredy,,
ment not then neld as one OF the propretes OF
! the day.
have sunk into disuse was sngularly absurd one,
continued even until so late period as the reign OF
denoninaled the .'King's Cock Crower' crowed the
hour each night within the precnc.s or tne palace
, wachmen. on The first Ash Wednesday after the
accession OF the House OF Hanover as the Prince
per tns onlccr abruptly entered the apartment
am, according 70 accustomed usage, proclaimed 10
wss pe len TAKEN by SURPRISE and
lmDerfectly acquainted WITH tue English language,
iation Of the assumed crow as some mockery in.
tended to insult hinl. and instantly rose TO resent
e NOR Inc OF e cSst sa and
satisfied him that a compliment was de-
e S4og sna the peto% we sa
further account OF the exertion OF the Initiative
powers Vi tnlS Important Olcer Dut the court mas
been left to the voice Of reason and conscience To
remind them OF their errors. and not TO that OF the
COCK, whose clarion called back Peter to repent-
ance, which this fantastlcal and silly ceremony was
meant 10 typify.
The ceremonies to-day IN all the Roman Catholic
churches will be peculiarly Impressive aud solemn.
Ashes will be distributed TO the people at the
nv services In all the churches. Last night was
spent IN merriment ana joyous hllarlty, IL being
shrove Tuesday or as the French term It, Mdrdi-
Gras. On the Continent OF Europe this Is one OF
the great annual carnivals, but By the time this
reaches the public eye all fun and frolic will have
ceased and the holy Lenten season commenced.