The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-03-03
FRIDAY VS.. SUNDAY,
Father Elmendorf of the
Holy Cross Church
Pleads for a Neglect
ed Fast Day.
STRICTLY EpIsCopALIAN IDEA
Abstinence From Euchre and
Dances ordained Some
Lenten Rules.

l.
Al great deal of comment has been ex-
cited outside the parish of the Church OF
the Holy Cross by the denunciations OF
the rector, the Rev. Augustine Efmen-
dorf, of persons who d~esecrate Friday by
playing euchre or dancing or participating
in other amusements. Mr.. Elmendorfs
| parishioners have also discussed the mat
ter, hut they have of course done so with
an understanding of his attitude. Be
cause of the multiplicity of the stories
aneat about Mr. E~lmendorf's requests to
his practitioners, a News reporter called
on Mr.. Elmendorf to get his story in re-
gard to it.
Mr.. Elmendorf said he had some time
ago preached a sermon in which he re-
minded his parishioners that Friday is a
day set apart as. one of abstinence. 1t is
not a fad Of his or even his personal con-
viction.' All good churchmen, Mr.. Elmen-
dorf said, observe Friday. Ash Wednes-
day n Good Friday are days of fast
ing. All Fridays in the year are days OF
abstinence, so set down in the prayer
books. On days of abstinence it is not
necessary to fast, though meat is gener-
ally tabooed, but it is proper to abstain
from al worldly amusements n frivoii-
ties, and to spend the time in spiritual
occupations. Friday is the weekly cele-
bration of the Crucifixion of Christ. as
Sunday is the celebration of the Resur-
rection. Anyone who participates in a
worldly amusement, such as dancing,
card playing or theatregoing, on Friday
desecrates in Mr.. Elmendorfs opinion.
the celebration of the Crucifixion of
Christ.
The cause for this sermon was the in
struction of converts. There were a NUM-
Der of converts from Protestant denom-
nations in the Church of the Holy Cross
who were unused to the religious obserV-
ances of the Episcopal Church. 1t is the
custom to instruct these converts in these
o-bservanees. Mr.. E~lmendorf found that
Friday was not being generally observed;
in fact, there had been some fragrant vio-
lations of it, and accordingly he preached
this. sermon, telling his parishioners that
it is a day regularly set apart as one OF
abstinence, and on that day amusements
should be given up. The day should be
observed quite as rigidly as Sunday,
though in a different way, for Sunday is
a day of feasting.
Mr.. EImendorf, after telling the story
of his sermon, drifted into talking of the
proper observance of the Sabbath. Sun
day. he said. is a commemoration of the
resurrection of Christ, and is a day of
feasting. 1.-THE Puritanical idea of the
Sabbath is wrong,.' said he. THE Puri-
tans combined Friday and Sunday, adding
Fridays fasting to Sundays worship A
L--1 A.-1t.,, ehon1d q ttc11 church
once on Sunday, after that the day is his
own. I AVE no objection to my parish
toner's going for a bicycle ride Sunday af-
~ternoon. No-Gn answer to a question II
he had said this in his sermon)I haye
not told my parishioners this, but, per-
sonally, if it came to a choice between
the two, if they had to have a inner
or a euchre party on one of the two days,
prefer that they give it on Sunday aft
~ternoon. That is my own personal feel
ing in the matter. Sundays, you know,
are not ever q. part of Lent. the forty
DAVIS are exclusive of the Sundays. When
people deny themselves something in
Lent they are at liberty to have it on
SUNDAYS. So you see, that is another
proof that Sunday is not a day of fast
ing
There are no unusual Lenten observ-
anees in the Church of the Holy Cross.
Services are held every day and there are
| special services twice a week. A pro-
/ gramme for the Lenten services has been
issued and on. it is:-'Some good rules
for a good Lent They are
T. 1. Attend church if possible every day.
q. Attend the celebrations of the Holy
Eucharist on Sundays and at least once
during the week.
8. Say a short prayer daily at noon.
4. Abstain from food on Ash Wednesday
and Good Friday until afternoon.
5. Eat no meat on Wednesdays and Fri
days.
G. Deny yourself something you like ev-
cry day.
I. Abstain from all parties and places
of public amusement.
s. Try to save some none each day by
self-denial for your Easter offering.
9. Do something every day df only to
say. a prayer for some poor, sick or
troubled person.
10. Do not be afraid to speak to your
priest about your doubts and troubles.
In reference to No. A, Mr.. Elmendorf
/ said the length of time must be deter
mined by the person He suggests wait
ing only until afternoon, because working
| peopIe could not stand the fast.