National Republican., 1877-02-15
THE LESTEN SEISON.
Society in Sack Cloth and Ashes-Observ-
snce OF the Fast Days.


ance OF the Fast Days.
Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the begin.
ming OF Lent. Ball dresses and party costumes
have been folded away, the bellies of the season
have become demurc, and society reporters have
been furloughed. The day was appropriately
and solemnly observed yesterday in the Pro;es.
tant Episcopal and Catholic churches of the
city. In the former special services were pro-
viG'd. In the Catholic churches the devout
members, after services, received the mark of
ashes on their ioreheads, from which custom the
day takes ils name. Easter Sunday, the end of
Lent. comes on the first day OF April.
With the decadeuce Of ritual pract ice in all
churches, the rlsor Of
LEsTES oDsERvASCEs
has been much softened, and the strict fasts are
no longer kept as they were Of yore. But the
spirit OF the season still exercises suflcent In
ht e1ce upon the community to give It II marked
social importance, and among the Catholics and
Episcopalians at least, q strong religious signia.
canec.
From this time until tire beginning of Easter,
society, or large part Of 1t, will take meta
phorieal sack cloth and ashes, and putting Off tho
trappings Of worldly hnery, devote itself to acts
OF religion and deeds of charity. Small family
dinner parties will take the place oflirge balls
and receptions, and there will be decrease In
the number of public entertainments. Tho thea
ters will suffer; the butchers will sustain q loss
of trade, which will result in q proportIonate
benefit to the FISH mOngcrs; clergymen will
preach oltcner and TO larger congregations, ani
even those who care little for Lent as religious
observance will respect It as an element of fash.
ionable life. Society bellies will wear darker ma
torals In their toilets and fewer buttons on their
gloves; in short, the beau monde will take IN air
Of religion. The almost universal re.
speet for Lent as q fashionable instItu-
tion, thus boldly outlined, may be guagcd by
lnat alAst h. hall n.tI.
during the next six weeks will not equal In
lumber those that have taken place during the
past ten days.
A mong the
WORKING CLASSES
the first Is allimportant. This is especially
true Of the Catholics, who abstain strictly from
the use Of meat on tho prohibited days and arc
usually regular in their church attendance. It
Is claimed BY the church, and with a good show
ofreason, that viewed from this aspect alone tho
Lenten season is OF great benefit to tho people,
in thnt II serves to recall TO them their too Oft
forgotten religious duties and responsibilities.
The dieting laws governing the observance OF
the fast days Of Lent among the Catholics arc
numerous and interesting. The Council Of Lao.
dry food during all the fast days Of Lent.
TIE Council of Toledo N 90 forbade
animal food were on on and ans and
so still in the Greek Church. In the West the
use Of all kinds Of food except flesh, eggs, cheese
and wine, was allowed, and became general after
the eleventh century; later eventhese were per.
mittod, flesh alone being excepted. In the present
one meal is allowed, and at this the use OF meat
10 prohibited. Custom allows a slight refresh.
ment, not exceeding two ounces, In the morning,
and another, not exceeding eight ounces In tho
evening In most parts OF the United States
meat Is allowed two or three tines week accord.
ing TO tho rules laid down by each bishop for his
diocese, but fish and hosh are nevor allowed at
tho same meal. In other churches, where the
rules are less strict, the Lenten term is stlll
garded as penitential season. and observed ac.
eordingly.