New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-01
TILE END OF LINT.

Now that Lent IL nearing lts cioSe, "o
feryor of those who observe 1T deepens IN IN
tensity. The church bells have seldom been
silent during this week, and the crowds OF
worshipers passing continually to mass or
service make a noticeable feature OF the street
panorama. How much actual benefit may
have accrued to these devOut EpiscOpaians
or Catholics from their fasting and prayers
il matter we do not discuss. Ihs
secular, plain, common sense view OF the
matter would seem to be that religious
zeal, like love, friendship, party spirit, or any
other human force, which is based upon our
reasoning or emotional nature, would be
stronger and more effective for an occasional
stimulant, whether it come in opposition, feast,
fast. or what we please. We may not our
selves have any especial faith in abstaining
from meat, or in hearing sermon on
MauDdy-Thursday but if these things help
our brother to care for the fatherless and tho
widows and to keep himself unspotted from
the world, shall We stand on the sidewalk to
jeer at him and at themf
We only hope that he, whether he be dis
ciple of Conservative or Radical EpiscOpaian-
ism, or an Old or New Catholic, will remember,
now that Lent is almost over, that true reli-
gion lies, after all, in those two points OF
cleanliness of soul and charity toward our
brother. Another very wholesome and
strengthening reflection ia, too, how much
moro easy it is for us to fulfill the latter part
of Christian duty than for the poor fishermen
and tax gatherers of that first and darker day
If the Christian i'm Jerusalem showed kindness
to Samaritan or leper, he was held unclcan
among his own people; if he preached these
new tidings of great joy which had come to
him, it was with the certainty OF poverty,
persecution, and q cruel death. The world has
moved since that day. Let the Christian in
New-York hold out helping hand to his
poorer brother, open soup-house for tho
parahs of the back alleys, or give education
or the Gospel to our colored Samaritans of
freedmen, and how ready everybody is to ap-
plaud! The only danger is that he may be
flattered into self-glory. Nothing is easier.
too, than the way of reaching our needy
brother, though it seems to most Of us like
sheer trampling upon impossibilities. Many
kind hearted. hard-working man looks down
on the great mass of poverty and vice below
him with hopeless sigh. What can he doS
He cannot give schools or soup-houses: his
daily drudgery barely clothes and feeds his
own children. Many woman, with money.
culture, and tenderness of nature, sits idle at
home day after day from not knowing how TO
reach these her brothers and sisters, from fear
of being imposed on, from want of faith In
great organized charities.
One such woman in England, being pricked
by her conscience one November afternoon.
put on her cloak, and going round the corner
hired for trifle clean vacant room, paid .
poor woman in the house to keep it warmed
and lighted at certain hours; walked a block
further to the Office of mill where women
were employed, and left an invitation for a.
many of them as would come to meet her at
this room in their off-hours in the evening.
1t was the work of fifteen minutes. Half .
dozen girls struggled in when evening came;
the room was clean, bright, warm, flowers
in the window. one or two prints
on the wall. She gave them plain
sewing (of which the mill woman knows No
more than a chimpanzee), showed them how
to do it, read to them a. they worked. As
their number increased, other women came TO
her aid; one sent a few books which She
could spare; others copies of newspapers.
which were put on file. The mill girls, instead
of shiverng in their miserable garrets or
Haunting In GIN palaces through the evenings,
wero taught womens work and something Of
the cleanliness and gentleness of women's
ways, by tho mere force of cOmpanionship
with those whose chances IN life had been
fairer than their own. When the women's
reading rooms were found TO succeed, similar
clubs were opened for workmen; coffee and
tea were served at cost prices; chess, draughts-
domino tables were set up; books and news.
papers were supplied; occasional concerts and
lectures were given. These clubs have ex-
tended over all England, supplanting tho
grog-shops and ale-houses. IL out OF the fasts
and prayers Of Lent some such practical iruit
mora meaning and cause " rejoice IN EAslar.