The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-12
LENTEN OBSERVANCE
Bishop Nichols Explains the Book
of Joel.
Grace Church to Be Open Daily for Private
Prayer-Ash Wednesday Services
Well Attended.

The lenten season which began yesterday
is the great peDitential period of the year,
during which good Christians resort more
frequently than usual to the sacraments of
their church, ard by prayer and abstinence
and works OF charity ;.endeavor to atone for
those Slips from grace of which, it is said,
even the just man is guilty seven times
day.
Through the vigorous observance of lent
is now only matter of tradition, there is
yet enough reality about it to make it the
subject ofnot the most pleasant contempla-
ton by those whom canon law brings with
in its rules. In the Catholic Church all
healthy persons, on becoming of age, are al
lowed to eat but one meal and collation.
on each of the forty fasting days, but for
the Woodworking laborer and the poor the
only laws enforced are those of abstinence
from flesh meat on certain days during tie
season. Outside of the Catholic faith no
such rules are enforced, though the clergy
Of the Episcopal Church do not hesitate to
recommend at this time voluntary self
denial in eating,iwhich is largely ipractic. d
In many Christian households.
The followers of the Greek Patriarch have
rules as strict as those imposed upon the ad-
herents of tho RomanlPontiff. but their lent
en- season does not come for several weeks
yet, In consequence OF their adherence to
the old calendar. The other Christian
churches allow the season to 90 unnoticed,
though some conform, in a measure, to the
obseryances of the Episcopalians by hold
ing frequent weekday services between
Ash Wednesday ard Easter Sunday. Even
where they do not, fashion takes their
place and arbitrarily commands cessation
from worldly amuSements. The command
Is almost universally ,obeyed, because it is
fashionable, aud the devotee of winter rev.
els, il not prepared to obey from religious
motives, accepts it as a welcome period of
rest and recuperation in which to prepare
Tor summer cOnqueStS-
TO all. Of whatever creed, who are pos
sessed of strong religious convictions, how
ever, the season is one Of true devotion.
Family prayer is more than ever cultivated,
church going more faithfully observed.
works OF charity more frequently performed
and sef-abnegation practced with more
fervOr. The churches yesterday testified
that the spirit of religion still lived, for in
all OF them where services were held there
were large congregations IN attendance.
Bishop Nichols delivered the first of his
series of lenten lectures last night at Grace
Church. The reverend speaker selected no
special text as the subject of his discourse,
but took his theme generally from the bouk
OF Joel. He traced the prophecies told in
the book, showing how they had been in
nearly every Instance fulfilled, and that
where they had not been il was because the
date set for their fulfillment had not yet ar
rived. The episte of joel was especially
applicable 10 the season of lent and
deserved the close study of every Christian.
Bishop Nichols stated that during the lent
en- season he would deliver sermons on the
following topics: THE Spirit in the New
aud Old Testaments." 1.-The Plague of
Locusts and Its Cessation" and 'the Olden
Tune Observance of Lent"
1t was announced that Grace Church viii
be kept open all during lent for private
prayer and meditation.