Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-03-13

accompanied by the proper interior dis
positions, cannot be denied without call
ing into question the plainest teachings
of the Bible and the church, enforced
by the example Of our Divine Lord and
the greatest OF the Saints under both
the Old and New DispenSations.
JOHN j. KAHN,
Bishop Of the Diocese Of Wheeling.
A BAPTIST VIEW.
We,as denomination, do not observe
any of the Church festivals" not find
ing any warrant for them in the New
Testament, and not recognizing any
other authority, ecclesiastical in its
character.
Hence. you see, It would not be pos
sibie for me to grant your request.
Thanking you for the honor of your in
vitation, | am, yours very truly,
A. j. Trey,
Pastor of First Baptist Church.
ANOTHER EPIsCoPALIAN VIEW.
Silently and unnoted by those who
know it not, the Lenten season takes its
place among us, and it is ours to deal
with its holy privileges and possibilities.
To me it is holy and helpful season of
our church year and / believe il would
be to all If it were properly understood
and properly used. But, alas. in too
many cases it is not used at all, and in
many cases misused. This is evident
not only from observation, but the diff
ferent stand points OF view Lent is re-
garded throughout the world. First
we have the ordinary wonder
ment with which some view
so many hundreds of thousands Of
Christians withdra wing from all pleas
ures and self-indulgences TO be alone
with Christ awhile, and the careless and
uncharitabe thinker realizes not that
the spiritual strength and nobleness OF
character, so often remarked and adj
mired in friend, are due to just such
influences as the Lententide brings.
Then there are those who regard Lent
superstitiously, and think that six
weeks absence from the public, com
bined with a Self-imposed martyrdom OF
fasting and praying, will open to them
the gate of everlasting life, and this,
too, regardless OF the manner in which
the remaining forty-SiX weeks OF the
year are spent.
There are yet others, who keep this
season from force of habit, and who de-
rive no greater benefit than the physi-
cal rest, which freedom from dissipa-
ton brings. 1t is useless TO say that
these are wrong views Of Lent and
therefore it brings TO neither OF these
classes its blessings.
The blessings are reserved for those
who mediate prayerfully upon the
cross and passion, and who try TO walk
closer with 1.-THE Man of Sorrows" in
order to gain strength to battle
successfully with sin, Satan,
the world and the flesh.
The person who uses this season proper
" and gets a blessing is not content
with giving up certain things dear to
him-he is not content even with bring
ing the flesh under subsection TO the
spirit by fasting and prayer. He also
tries to so fill his life with positive work
for Christ that he will have no time or
thought for any but Christly acts; and
by positive Christianity is meant that
we must not be satisfied to do only those
things pronounced mot bad, but that
we must fill our everyday lives with
acts which all men and all Heavens au-
thorities may pronounce good, true,
holy. upright and honest. So will we
be able TO crowd out, not only
for Lent but for all time,
those things which may prove
weights TO deter our rise In holiness, or
which may cause US TO sink weary and
exhausted by the way-side with only
half OF our life-work accomplished,
And now let me add that the Episco-
paian church lays down no rules in
reference 10 Lent. She would put her
child upon honor" in Christian liberty.
There is room for abuse, but he who sows
neglect. careless Indifference, or formal
observance of the time will only reap
their fruits. ''She brings before him In
the lessons, first, the eXiStance OF sin,
then the attonement for sin. She calls
to Repentance, fasting, prayer, faith
and works and provides aids Tor these;
then she expects and requires OF him
conscientious exercise OF them
and use of the means OF grace
She calls not only her own
children, but all who will hear Her
voice TO come closer to the cross and so
rise higher in the Christian lie. IL we
who profess and call ourselves Episco-
palians would only hear and heed this
voice then would we go on after Easter,
perhaps more humbly, certainly more
resolutely, to follow Christ.
savior. where'er Thy steps see,
Dauutless untired. follow Thee.
o let Thy band support me stu,
And lead me to Thy holy hill
JACOB BBITTING HAM,
Rector ST. Luke's Episcopal Church.
A SECOND CATHOLIC VIEW.
First-The three days which follow
Quinquagesima Sunday, or the Sunday
before Ash Wednesday, are called
Shove tide, from the word 10 shrive.
This name was given to these days from
the fact of the people preparing them
selves for the holy season OF Lenten
time by the reception OF the Sacrament
of Penance. The custom still prevails.
Lent goes back TO the Apostolic age.
1t begins on Ash Wednesday and ends
forty-six days after on Easter Sunday!
The fast is not kept on the Sundays.
There are six Sundays during Lenten
time, hence the fast is forty days.
About the tenth part Of the year is
given to penance. We begin this sea-