The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-03-06

ing for good while after Socrates
ceased to record events. After much
diversity of opinion, Pope Gregory the
Great, in $50, fixed the sixth Sunday
before Easter as the beginning of the
quadragesimar fast, but this, giving
only thirty-six days, the last four days
of the preceding week were
AIDED to this period, fixing
Ash Wednesday as the first day of
Lent. Therefore, while this is the first
Sunday in Lent, Dominica in quadra-
gesima, last Wednesday was really the
first day of this ecclesiastical season.
Roman Catholics and many Protest
ants maintain that This fast is of apos-
tolic origin, while the greatest body
of the latter believe it to be Of purely
ecclesiastical origin. The generally
accepted opinion is that it was estab-
lished as preparatory for the
anniversaries Of Christ's cruel
fxtion and resurrection, and in rrrunem-
berance of the oavior's fast of forty
days in the wilderness. AS to the
nature of fasting there has been, and
still is, as much diversity of opinion as
in early days there were differences re-
garding the period and time Of fasting.
Holy Week, the seven days immedi-
ately preceding Easter, seems to have
been kept by all as obligatory, while
the remainder OF the forty days has
been assumed as voluntary. The first
council, that of Laodicia, in
: 1863, prescribed entire abstinence
from food on Holy Thursday, and the
exclusive use of "dry food" during all
the fast days of Lent; the Orleans
council, 541, demanded that those who
;. did not keep the fast should be con-
sidered as transsressing the laws Of
. the church! and at Toledo, 646, the
t use of the flesh meat was forbidden
The Latin church permitted the use
:, Of wine, oil and animal food, and this
I gave reason, in no small degree, tC
: separation and to the formation Of
the Greek church, In the Twelfth
i century the use of all kinds Of
food, except fish, eggs, cheese ant
wine, were permitted, and thereafter
: even the use Of those were permitted
. flesh alone being denied, except unde
: especial dispensation. Under the oil
regime the use of but one meat day
:, in the evening, was admissible, an,
hat had to consist of dry food" o.
" bread and water. AS rigorous rule
> regarding fast fell into disuSe. 50 wa
. the daily period of reflection curtailed
/ Under Theodocius the Great
Z an edict went abroad tina
e corperial punishment should 10
(. be inflicted during Lent, and Pop
II Clermont declared for universal peac
II the Truce of God-from Ash Wed
IL nesday to Whitsuntide. Under pres
e ent Catholic regime one meal is al
. lowed, at which flesh meat is prohit
- iteC, but custom has fixed a reflection
- Of two ounces in the morning and
collation. of eight in the evening; an,
. still these rules are modified b
, dispensation according to climate an,
:" occupation. In this country fesl
u meat is allowed several TIMES durin,
L the week, according to direction O
the bishops, but fish and flesh ar
never permitted at the same mea
In the Protestant churches Of Europe
, the Lutheran, especially, Lent is
10 penitential season. The Church OF
Is England adheres to the Lenten fast
Ie as does the Protestant Episcopa
II church in the old and the new world
Is The fourth Sunday in Lent is know
= as Passion Sunday. The sc
10 verities Of the fast are pre
a coded in many countries with
s season of pleasures. In Italy and i,
lie Spain, and to less degree in France
VI carnival week is universally observed
- The custom grows in this country
L In New Orleans there is a day O
is great rejoicing and display and OF sus
o pension of business.
q Mardi Gras, at GALVESTON, is as nea
4 as NC approach 3rrrrT3a Oh the carnival in Texas
!" But it was merely our purpose t.
IS give in a concise style the historical
7, features of Lent. Lenten service
t will be held at some Of the churche
o OF Austin to-day, and the devou
y words OF preachers will be entertain
Ing. Go and hear them,