The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-04-11
oRsERYAAcE OF LENT.
CIOuIng OF the PenIIonliAl Days-HOW
the season was Observed.

CIOSIng Of the PeniIontiAl Days-HOW
the Season was Observed
This ia the closing week Of Lent There
naming days OF austerihss and seltdenlal
are few in number, but they are the most
important days Of the peuitenhal season.
Yesterday was the beginning Of Holy
Week-Palm sundsy-so' called in honor
Of the triumphal entry oil Jesus Christinto
Jerusalem. In memory Of this triumph
the palms are blessed and distributed to
the faithful. This ceremony was performed
in all the Catholic churches previous to
the principal services Of the day, On
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday the
Church commentaries the great mys-
teries connected with the Passion, the
ceremonies on those days being OF the
most solemn ndimpressive character, The
chief object Of the Church In this week Ia
to celebrate the memory Of the Passion
and death OF the Redeemer. Every part
Of its sacred liturgy is directed to this end.
The services in the churches yesterday
were well attended and the ceremonies
impressive. At the Cathedral Bishop
Kahn administered the sacrament 10 about
five hundred communicates. The weather
was unexCeptionally fine, which, per.
haps, brought more people out than would
have attended worship had the weather
been as inClement as 1t has been for the
past week.
A reporter called on several ministers
yesterday to get their opinions as TO the
observance oil Lent as compared with
former years; whether the people were
becoming Indifferent to tho obligations
imposed by the churches, or whether
an increased zeal was manifest in the
Observance OF the season.
Rev. Il. Rush SWope, rector Of st
Matthews Episcopal Church, said ht
thought "that, as far as his observation
and Information extended, the season wal
being more generally observed than las
year, In this opinion comprehend thu
country in general. The Presbyterian
and Methodisls are becoming identified II
measure with Lent by holding speCia
services on Easter, and decorating thei
churches with flowers. In conversation
with ministers Of other cities find tina
the season has been more generally OBJ
served than In former years.".
"How about the observance In thi
city," asked the reporter,
"Candidly, | don't think Lent has beer
) observed as strictly this year as II was last
. perhaps accounted for by attractions o
!. pleasure at the very beginning of the sea
, SON."
"What has been the attendance on tn
8 afternoon seryiCesP"
"At st. Matthews the average attendance
has been about eighty, aud at the Mission
chapel on the Island-a recently organized
r ChurCh-about forty.hve."
! The RI, Rev, ssBlthop Kahn was callel
on last evening by the reporter and wa
! asked bis opinion In regard to the observ
I anCe OF the season In his church.
. ut has been very good" was the Bish
/. ops answer.
'"Do you notice any difference as com
/ pared with former years~
"No; | can't say that do. As far Q
my observation goes, the season has beef
) as strictly observed ss in previous years
The number at confessional has BEEF
very large-larger than usual. To-day
nearly five hundred took communion"
I. In further conversation, tho Bishop OF
a pressed himself as very well satisfied will
/ The spirit and zeal manifested by tn
{ people, and the attendance upon the spe
a Cial AefViCeg,