Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1901-02-21
A Brief History Of the Day
and the Season of
Fasting.
FIRST DAY OF LENT
Two OF the Heritases Of the
Christian Church and is a
Period for Acts OF Special Cou-
triton--Fasting Necessary for
Development of Character.

! ebterday was first day OF Lent,
(from the old English Lencten-
meaning spring. commonly called
Ash Wednesday. This day and
season are two Of the heritages Of
the Christian church from the
early but the sub.apostolic church.
1t is not historically certain that
the church in the apostolic times
marked off this period for acts Of
special oontrition, but we do find
it we'll defined in the second CEN
tury. While Christ Himself may
not have actually commanded fast
ing, He certainly took it for grant
ed that such a course was neces-
sary to the development of
righteous character, for He tasted
Himself, and assumed that his fol.
lowers did, as for instance when
He said: "When ye fast" etc.,
going on to tell them OF the correct
method Of fasting.
Fasting then, can be traced back
to the e rliest times of divine rev.
elalion-for the Mosaic Injunction
was obeyed by the Lord Himself
The intention OF the Christians in
thus prescribing fast before East
or was undoubtedly to oommemor.
ate the "Forty Hours of Gloom"
which iutervened between the
Crucifx. g. n and the Resurrection
For a good while there seems to
have been no uniform rule as to
the number of days on which to
fast, some holding a three weeks
fast before Easter, as did the Ro-
mans; others observing a period OF
six weeks, as the Greeks and Alex.
andrians, and Others maintaining
the longer period Of seven weeks.
0ngen tells Us that IN his time,
the beginning OF the third century,
the forty day fast before Easter
was observed, and in the next cen
tury this is seen to be commonly
observed. The present mode oi
observance, according TO which
Lent is made TO begin on Ash
Wednesday, was stamped with th'
authority OF Gregory the Great in
the latter part Of the sixth century
and appears to have been thence
forward generally followed in th'
Western church.
So much for the history of thi
early Christian Institution. Nov
: of what practical value is it to u
in this busy aud workaday worlC
Of oursY Originally, the sorrow
following the cruciaxion acluateC
the minds Of men, but soon to thiI
was edded sorrow for the sin
which rendered the sacrifice Of tn,
cross necessary, and also to recall
our Lords great forty day fast il
the wilderness, during which h
net the devil in those three grea
temptations aud vanquished him
and in this way the fast, which
might have been productive Of lit
tie more than Improbable emo
tions, was converted into a seasoI
of. careful self-disoipline. We, sure
ly, being human, aud of the sam
[ evil natures as were the earl.
Christians, need the same perio,
, in which to follow the leading o
. the spirit, aud retire into tn
: wilderness Of solitude for fastin
, and communion with God. Thu
only may we hope TO cruelty th
flesh, with It's affections and lust
Fasting and abslinencey are lb
y keynotes for Lent. Fasting
il bring the flesh aud body into sui
> jeOtion to The spirit, and abst
= nenoe, from all worldly pleasure
and amusements, In order that III
. spiritual nature may the belt,
d recognize its deleotions and dra
}, closer to the Father of Spirits,
y and being free from all amusir
e detractions, it can the more readil
e pray and submit itself TO God
) supplioaion. JAS. O'KAY.
a. a