The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-01
The Lentcn Season.

To-day the vast majority of Christendom
enters upon Its annual season Of fasting
and prayer. In all Roman and Greek
Catholic countries, aud wherever the
Anglican Church and its offshoots have
their communicates, Ash Wednesday
comes in TO silence the voice Of merry
making and to call all the faithful TO bend
the knee in prayer and to so moderate the
sppetites by fasting, that the spiritual part
may gain and keep the ascendanoy the full
forty days through.
Though in this country the Roman Cath
Ollie aud Episcopal churches comprise only
q fraction of the community, yet the
lenten season gets quite general recogni-
ton in the fashionable world, so far rs the
stopping Of gayeties is concerned. Fashion
calls halt on Ash Wednesday, and COM
mands that the accoutremonts of revelry
shall be laid aside. During the forty days
the dancers take rest and only the quieter
forms of amusement are allowable.
This Is one OF the practical benefits Of
Lent for which every mnn should give
thanks, whatever his religious creed. In q
hygienic sense, some degree OF fasting in
spring Is conducive to health. II IL n
transitional season in which the body may
by proper caution be strengthened to en-
dure the coming summer heats, or by in
diligence be so weakened that they will
prove n sore trial. In the old days 1t was
the habit of prudent mothers to dose their
children with physic in the spring, and as
pills W ere not sugar coated in those print
tive times, but honestly administered In all
their original nastiness, the ordeal for the
youngsters was one of great dread but
the fond mother looked away from the
wry face into the futurity of the health to
be secured by the dose and the illness to
| be warded of by the hated drug. Perhaps
| these old matrons chose IA rude means Of
reaching their ends, but that in the sprin 2
time the system should be kept clean and
purged OF the seeds Of disease, is beyond a
| question true. Nowadays, however. we
know that this can be done In better ways
than through the administration Of castor
oil or jalap and those ways are through
| wise prudence in meats and drinks and
pleasures, and due and proper exercise.
II therefore everybody should so far keep
Lent as TO hold in check his appetite and
avoid all excess whatsoever. the benefit of
the forty days abstemiousness would be
| great.
On its religious side the lenteu season is
full OF interest TO the student OF society.
What protraoted meetings, revivals, ava
keninGs. special religious services, are 10
the non-prolatcal denominations, the con-
tinuous fasting and prayer of Lent is to
the Roman and Episcopal churches. 1t is
q season when the communicate is invited
to draw nearer TO GoD, and the whole
family OF the church 10 subordinate earth
ly thoughts and desires TO heavenly ambi-
tons and contemplatons. The sacred edi-
foes are open daily and several times u
uny, iiVui vaiiy ..iVin ine ~ svoNine
the priests offer sacrifice at the affairs, and
enforce the precepts Of religion upon their
hocks. Lent is in truth yearly revival
just as much so in its kind as that which
MOODY and SANREY are seeking 10 create
at the Hippodrome. That the season IL
observed, the fun churches on every day
OF the week can testify. To women espe-
cially II affords n welcome occasion for
the satisfaction OF the religious emotions
and aspirations which so largely influence
their happiness and minister TO their well.
being If Christianity brings to its aid the
intellect of man, il also gets strong sup.
| put iiolh Aut hht'Alphr VI Wolhhuf huu ~
is transmitted from generation to genera
| ton.
There never was more fitting time 10
fast and pray than this. But the absti-
hence and the supplication will do little
good to those who practise them unless
they bring forth the palpable fruits OF
| righteousness. Rend your hearts and not
your garments" The true fasting, OF
which the abstaining from physical food
is the sign, is from all manner Of evil. II
the merchant shall avoid deception and
dishonesty in his dealings, II the clerk shall
give up eye service and labor diligently
for the good OF his employer If the mistres,
shall cease from backbiting and scandal
and give up vain desires, the maid 60 about
her work solicitous only to render faithful
service, and all men and women who re.
cognize the religious obligations OF the an.
nual fast shall refrain from those thing:
they know to be wrong and injurious tc
themselves and their neghbors, this lenten
season will end, ana the Easter chimes and
carols will peal forth over city vastly
better than il now is. We urge on al
priests and pastors 10 enforce the practical
lessons of Lent, and to undeceive all those
Of their tlooks who think that feeling good
is eing good.