Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-03-17
LENTEN PENANCE.
The subject Discussed at Length by Rev.


Lent ana taxing 1Or his general tneme the
story of the temptation as found in the
gospel Of ST. Luke, be said: The observ-
ance of Lent by so many of our fellow
countrymen whose intelligence cannot be
impeached, gives me title TO say q few
words this morning upon the subject of
toe continued practice of sn ancient Christ
ian custom, when the authority which was
first supposed to institute it has ceased to
control the thoughts of men. The story of
the temptation, or The story in the peculiar
form in which it has descended to US, is
undoubtedly myth, and so the thinking
world has some TO regard it. But Lent
survives. and survives especially IN church
which includes in its supporters large
contingent Of the most respectable and
cultured among the two most write nations
upon the globe. And if We ask then why
it survives, and demand an answer from
one in the church whose opinion can COM
mand respect, and not from some chance
selection from among the mere Journalists
of the confession, he willnot refer you back
to any legend of the temptation, but will
tell you that the observance is maintained
in Difference 10 the needs of poor, weak
human nature, which so much requires
discipline it cannot often enough itself en-
force, and which is benefited when the
whole power of the Church is invoked to
bring this discipline to bear upon those
who especially fall under the Church's in
huence. For what is the secret of the great
mass of the misfortune in the world?
Truly not that men do not know right, and
intend to Go right, but that their wills prove
traitors TO them, snd betray them into the
HANDS Of their enemies. Habit, with all of
us, is constantly becoming character, and
character determining destiny, and if there
is an indulgence of ours that is carried to
excess, any selfish qualification that is in
ordinately enjoyed, how we'll for US if some
authority could interpose and compel US
under pain of its extremist penalty, 10 say
to our passion, whatever it may be. For a
season at least, your power shall not con-
troll your temptation shall be resisted
Il have known men who, if for forty DAYS
in each year they could SO command their
powers, they could be saved. II. for even so
short period they could estimate their
strength, and feel within them the spring.
ing of better manhood, there would
not be any measure to their further ad-
vance in honorable accomplishment. l
am one who believes but little in SO called
repentance and reform. To bring mature
delinquent under any wholesome control
is almost impossible. But, suppose when
he was young and his nature plastic, some
great influence had taken hold of him and
taught him how grand thing sacrifice be-
comes when it is N ade that some selfish
propensity shall be conquered. And this
is what understand Lent is meant to do for
the religious votary in the higher circles of
thought.
"The church comes to the young, espe-
cialiy, and with all the prestige of its
name and authority says to them: De-
termine what sacrifice you will make
while the Lenten season lasts, from
what pleasure you can abstain 1t
is not addressing itself to those who
have vices in any commonly accepted
sense, the abstinence it enjoins is not of
importance in itself, but is intended as
discipline to the will, to teach its youth
that despite all circumstance and surround
ings, and balancing of interest and motive
there is power CT volition which can be
summoned. but power which grows
feebler with disuse until in the case of the
habitually selfish and sensual, it is prac-
tically lmpotent to command.
This Interpretation of the meaning of
Lent should be placed uppermost in the
general observance of the season which l
would be willing to institute as morally
helpful to US all. There is no faint of
superstition in the proposition end but lit
tie of asceticism, although leaning to-
ward ascetcsm is a fundamental trait in
much of human nature, and therefore
must be respected. But what | would par
ticuiarly wish TO enforce ON this occasion
is the fact that it is only as the moral
meaning of any great religious observance
comes to be understood that it becomes of
any real usefulness to the worshiper. It
may be difficult to always substantiate the
facts, but | believe that the great
i
practices of the church, grew out
of human needs, to which historic
sanction was afterwards attached. The
legend OF the protracted fast upon the
mount in Palestine which q vain ingenuity
seeks 10 locate and identify, may be &C.
cepted by the unenlightened as authority
for their penance, but 1t has little influence
even over them. Popular education has
made readers and thinkers in every rank,
and the last results OF science and reason
percolate almost TO the bottom of society,
but many Christian eXpounder seemingly
forgets that imperfect knowledge and pre-
vailing superstition are with us yet; and
just as long as be puts the sanction for the
Lenten season in some anciently recorded
myth, and does not bring prominently to
the front the great moral importance of
self discipline and sacrifice in making up
the measure of human life, this imperfect
knowledge and prevail ling superstition will
continue 10 exist. Once let the Church as
sail the reason IN some unqualified wav,
and the vocation of liberal Christianity is
gone. But in the meanwhile it is our
pride and privilege to be the herald of q
new order which is seen to be approaching,
by perceptible degrees, and especially in
the detected lesseuing emphasis which is
being put upon historic authority, and in
tho iarypr ptinanpa o-c oh il ba;,,o 4
TO those proofs of moral and spiritual
things found resident in the very nature of
man. would answer by our practice as a
Church that if Science must depend upon
its own demonstration so must Religion.
"Our orthodox friends are mistaken when
they say religion must depend upon reve-
lation. Religion is matter of experience.
1t was such TO Abraham and Moses and
Elijah and Isaiah and Jesus and Paul, and
il must be SO to US. | would also insist
that we are Christians by inheritance and
tradition; by the hottest memories that
hallow the past; the hottest associations
that enrich the present, tie most inspiring
imaginations that adorn the future OF our
hopes. The type OF our faith, the law of
its growth is Christian, and discriminates
US as people intellectually, politically and
religiousiy from any other natl n or race
just as the fsct Of the parallel veins and
pattern OF thrses discr!mjnates the lily from
the rose with its branching veins and pat.
tern of ives. If we elect to continue Chris
tian forms and put reason into them, that
is only what others of our fellow Christians
are tremolipg!y attempting to do, and SO
meeting somewhat the demand of the time
evinced by the spirit ofthe age.
And then Lsnten season should be no
paltTy forty days of the affluent year.
There should be no arbitrarily determined
line marked by some midnight meridian
wheu pleasure should cease and we should
put on ssckcloth and observe an artificial
penaDce. while some other equally as arbi-
traiily liked meridian should mark the
limit OF our abstinence when the fast might
be ended and the revel might begin. > =
Our Lenten season may for conventional
reasons have definite boundaries, but its
obligations extend throughout the year.
lis sanction is not that through miraculous
agency one supremacy gifted was led up to
unreal realms TO be tempted by demoniac
powers, but that man, estimating the in
tegrity of life and convinced of its immor-
tai destiny, conquered every passion that
could assail, and stood enfranchised to
pursue unembsrrassed an honorable min.
istry. With The truth contained in Chris
tianity presented thus, could our children