The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-12
THE FIRST DAY OF LENT
ASH WEDNESDAY sERTTcEs CEfE-
BRATED ~ 4 FITTING MdNNER.

Catholic and Episcopal Congregations Have
Services Appropriate TO the Day-Brief
History of the Derivativc Of the Season
Sermons Delivered.
Yesterday was Ash Wednesday which day
IL in the Catholic Church observed as a day
of public penance and humiliation. II de
rives its name from the ceremony Of blessing
ashes, wherewith the priest makes the sign OF
the cross on the foreheads Of the worshippels,
giving them the wholesome admolition: Re
member man. that dust thou art and unto
dust thou $ alt return Gen. ii . 70 remind
them of their mortality and prepare them for
the holy fast Of Lent. which begins on this
day.
The ashes used are made Of the palms
blessed on the Palm Sunday before. Tie OBJ
ject q the Church in establishing the Last "a
Lent which, according to most ancient trad.
tons IS Of primitive origin ana supposed
generally 10 be Of apostolic institution. was
To instruct her followers IN the Objection If
doing penance during their who'll lie, and
prepare them 20 celebrate the resurrection "a
Jesus Christ by making them par axe ~ I'M
slight degree Of His suderlngs, through which
ii was necessary for Him to pass before lie
entered into His glory.
Besides the obligation Of penance there is
another duty incumbent on the faithful
during the time Of Lent, from which no one
can plead an exemption. To fast spiritually.
by avoiding sin and the Occasi ms If It. boy
combating evil habits and restraining tic
passions 10 eXpiate offences 10 bring forth
worthy fruits Of penance. 10 give aims e.
offer frequent prayers 10 God. All these
things are equally necessary for proper OBJ
servance Of Lent as required by TIE Church.
AT THE CATHEDRAL.
The services in the Cathedral yesterday con-
sisted Of early mass at SIX. half-past SIX and
seven o'clock IN the morning, followed by the
receiving of the ashes at O'Clock. Before
this ceremony the ashes were cOusecrafcd 0u
the altar. sprnkled with holy water and
signel three times with the cross. while tine
priest rCcted the words "Ncmcnt0 guOd
GINS IS. et in cinerem reverteris.n Next they
were strowed ON the heads of the officiating
priests and the assembled people. High mass
brought the services of yesterday morning to
q close The same observance was carried out
in the other Catholic churches.
in the Episcopal Church the services are
concentrated Oh the thought Of .penlteuiial
confession 10 God Of sius and humble pcti-
tions for His pardoning mercy and revlving
grace. They are. however. without any ing
of the ceremony from which they derive their
name.
The Episcopal churches Of this city observed
the day as prescribed by thertual q, laid down
in the Common PRAYER. Proper psalms were
read in all the churches, Lenten hymns sung
by the chOirs and congregations the whole
htany was said with some special prayers at
its close.
At ST. Paul's church the services opened at
II O'Clock as prescribed in the pray,r-book
The rector Of the church, Rev. DR.. Hartley
Carmichael preached "a short sermon, taking
his text from Matthew vi, 1G
Moreover, when We fast be not as the hypo-
critics, Of a sad cOuntenance, for they dishgre
their faces that they may appear unto men to
fast Verify, say unto you, they have Their
reward"
The sermon was followed by the Holy Com
muniOn and l2S members went to the Lords
liable
The services were attended by a very LARGE
congregation, which almost completely filled
che body Of the edhce.
AT ST. JAMES CHURCH.
At ST. James church DR.. Joshua Peter
kin, the beloved rcctsr Of that congregations
officiated, assisted by the Rev. }. H. Ma
Jon. Dr. Peterkia delivered a very impressive
sermon on Eccclesiastes. II, 10. And whatso~
ever mine eyes desired | kept not from them
withheld not my heart from any joy
The sermon was very instructive one, and
admOnished It's bearers how important II IS
TO make Self-denials and sacrifices. Here,
like in 81. Pauls, the congregation had turned
out in full force.
At Grace church. where the Bishop is in
charge ever since Bishop Jackson left BIS con-
gregation the services were conducted by
that gentleman. The Bishop did not preach
sermon, but gave short eXhortatiOn Of hui
mility after he had gone through the ritual
part of the services
Monumental church also enjoyed large
congregation, where the Rev Or. i. b. Newton
preached an instructive sermon on the right
observance of Lent.
Similar services were held in All-Sauts'
church. Christ church, old St Johns church.
Moore-Memorial. and st. Marks church by
their respective rectors.