Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-02-28

THE SEASON OF LENT.-Iesterday began
the season of Lent a season observed III the
Catholic and Episcopal churches az time
of special devotion. 1t will be marked by
special services in these churches, and by
more or less of self denial on the part of
their members In the Catholic church
special directions are issued, regulating the
matters from which the faithful are to al
stain. In tue Episcopal church the details
of their selfdenial are left to the conscience
of each member but the church prescrlbes
that the forty days of Lent are TO be Kept as
DAYS of fasting and abstinence. The name
Lent" is from an old Saxon word meaning
spring and has no religious significance, be-
my applied to this fast simply as denotlng
the time of the year in which 1t comes. Inc
old Latin name was that of Quadrage5lma
the forty days. This season has been for
Il very long time observed IN the ChrlSllah
church. As far back as can be traced clear
", evidences are found that before the East
or Feast of the Resurrection, Christians com
memorated our Lords sutlerings by sol.
cmn fast. AT first this seems to have been
IL fast of 40 hours, from the forenoon OF Good
Friday TO the morning of Easter Sunday.
Gradually The time was extended, aud at
last fixed at forty days, a number which no
doubt was determined upon in memory OF
the forty days fasts of oar Lord, OF Moses
and Elijah In computingt the forty days OF
Lent the SUNDAYS are TO be omitted, as
each Sunday is regarded as a feast commem-
Grating the resurrection OF our LORD. ne
most solemn days of Lent are Ash Wednes-
day, with which it begins, Good Friday,
which commentaries the cruciiXiou, aud
Maundv Thursday, which commentaries
cur Lords last Passion aud the institution OF
The Lords supper. The whole OF the clos
ing week of Lent, called Passion week, Is
marked hy services of especial solemnlty
Yesterday was Ash Wednesday 50 called by
reason of the old custom of sprlnkilng ashes
on the heads Of penitents at the beginning OF
Lent. Services appropriate to the day were
held in the Episcopal and Catholic churches
in this city During Lent, services VIII he
held in the churches here daily.
Inspection OF FIsH.-The following bill
introduced by Mr.. Meredith, has passed the
State Senate:
BILL. to amend and re.enact section IL Of chap
ter S6 of the Code OF ] S13, relative to lnspec
ton of Fish.
/ Be it enacted by the General Assembly OF
Virginia, That section twelve of chapter eighty
six Of the code of eighteen hundred and seventy
three he amended and re enacted SO rs 10 rean ne
follows:
512 All fish offered for inspection shall &c
packed all OF one kind u barrels Of well seasoned
strong timber, clear Of sap, not less thah i''c
Fights Of an inch thick. made tight with AT least
twelve hoops. contai ing not less than twenty
eight gallons. The barrels shall be well Eaiieo
and peggea, and fnll Of fish well sailed, clean
sound. and mcrchantable But nothing III TINS
section or chapter shall require salt fish packed as
aforesaid. brought into the city of Alexandrls
from any other State or county 10 be inspected
unless the merchant importing such fish shall SC
desire.
y This act shall be in force from its passage
JUDGE MEADE.--The members Of the bar
of this city who were summoned to Rich
mopd to testify before the Legislative com
mittee investigating the charges against
Judge Meade left here this morning for tina
city. The examination was to have com
menced this evening at 30 o'clock. Other:
from this city will leave here to morrow
and on Saturday to testify. The following
Telegram was received at this olhce yester
day, to late for publication
RICHMOND, Va, Feb. p.
Owing to indications OF a suspension OF proceed
ings in the case of Judge Meade. the memorials
the bar pastors, City Council, citizens. and busi
hess men of Alexandria in reply to the chatse
were presented by Speaker Stuart III the Hous
Of Delegates to-day, and on notion OF Juog'
Marshall, of Craig, referred to the committee
investigation.