Towanda daily review. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1879-1921, 1881-03-25
LEN IT..
Susie Williams Stoddard writes to the


Elmira Advertiser:
The observance Of Lent in this country
is mostly confined to the Roman Catholic
and the Episcopal churches. But we do
not see why they should have a monopoly
of the fast. IF there is really any splritu-
al profit to be derived from this custom
of the Christian Church, which is unques-
tionably Of very ancient origin, we see
no reason why the members of other
churches should exclude themselves from
it's benefits. Now although we do not
find in Scripture any authoritative COM
mand to fast forty days and forty nights
at this particular season Of the year any
more than we do to eat fish on Friday,
yet there are very good inferential reasons
for doing so, and the Bible furnishes at
least three examples of forty days fasting
in Moses, Elijah and Jesus.
But whether it be a solemn duty in
cumbent upon every protesting Christian
this much at least may be said of 1.-THE
retle1 influence on every individual who
practices selfdenial even for the short
period of our conventional Lent, is un-
doubtedly wholesome and beneficial.
Every endeavor to attain higher level
of living and thinking is a splendid effort
in the right direction. Therefore, we
say We are in favor of observing Lent,
not necessarily in the manner of the two
churches referred to, that of denying
ourselves the food which is the usual sup
port of the physical system, but of all
that nourisheS the gross and evil tenden-
Cies Of our natures.
For instance, many well meaning Chris
tians permit themselves to be carried
away by the popular amuSements of the
day to the sacrifice Of their intellectual
and spiritual development. Let such
fast from these recreations and turn for q
time to the graver obligations of this life,
which may prepare them for the life to
come.
Among protesting Christians we some
times meet one having temper which,
even with the exercise Of the greatest
vigilance, at times surprises him into
modification and chagrin. Let such
prayerfully avoid everything that may
tend to excite this passion for forty days
and SO literally starve it into subjection.
Again we have known Christians to
treasure up malice against an evil-doer
for years, little thinking that they were
building up barrier between themselves
and Him who said, s'FirSt be reconciled
to thy brother" Let such give these un-
holy thoughts forty days fast, and ten
to one the bitterness will be removed and
sweeter and holier thoughts will take it's
place. Others-and we are sorry to
make these a vast number-put them
selves on an unseemly level with non
professors. by listening to and joining in
idle and vulgar stories and jokes, best ap-
preciated by their associates, thereby
losing their Christian dignity and worse
than all their entire influence over them for
good. Let such Christians keep them
selves aloof from pastime so pernicious
and give this Satanic propensity forty
days fast. Yea, if they put in the whole
of 1881 so much the better. God would
bless them and his name be glorified
thereby.
We might speak of the Christian fault
finder, the Christian gossip, the Chris
tian Sunday breaker, and fill whole col
umn with the weaknesses of poor human
ity, but we forbear. From the above
hints some one will recognize his beset-
ting sin and thus be led to guard against
it's indulgence.
Let us then wage an unprecedented
war with Satan, and fast as we never
tasted before. and we may hope that God
will vouchsafe to us a glorious triumph
before we celebrate the resurrection of
our Lord on Easter day.
-.-~-.-A-
Senator VOORHEES, offered the following
resolution in the U. S. Senate Tuesday.
Resolued, That the hostile attitude as
sumed by National banks toward refund
ing the National debt at a low rate of in
terest and the recent attempt to dictate
legislation to Congress on that subject,
are contrary to the best interests of the
people and well calculated to excite their
alarm for the future.