The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-04-16
Old STYLE CUSTOM
Governor Jordan Issues Fast
Day Proclamation.
YANKEES ARE PLEASED
It Is Just the Thing They
Have Wanted.
YANKEES ARE PLEASED

] o.
Hampshire legislature in the last decade
has been asked to abolish Fast day as
a legal holiday in this state. The propo-
sition has always been defeated, some
times with debate and sometimes with
out. This year it did not get further
than the committee on the judiciary Of
! the house OF representatives.
/ The favorite proposition Of those who
/ asked TO have Fast day done away with
| is to substitute an observance of Patriots
! day on April 70, along with Massachu-
/ settes. They argue that New Hampshire
men had q great part in the events of
which that day has been selected as an
appropriate anniversary, and that the
! state ought TO do them honor.
On the other hand II is pointed out
that by making this arrangement the
whole Of New Hampshire could knock
off work" on April 10, and go to Boston
for the opening Of the league baseball
season, the horse show and the special
matinees at the theatres.
1t is said that Fast day in New Hamp-
shire has lost whatever significance it
once had; that no one fasts on the oc-
casiOn and mighty few pray, and that
its observance serves simply to bother
business men and break up the work of
the schools. Union church services have
been held in most of the cities and towns
of the state but they have been SHINY
attended, and have rarely, il is claimed,
served any real useful purpose.
For a quarter of a century the guber~
Material proclamations concerning Fast
day had been perfuncbory; but Governor
Frank West Rollins in 1889 rang through
New Hampshire from Coos to the sea.
and its echoes spread from ocean to
ocean and even across the Atlantic
THE decline OF the Christian religion,
particularly in our rural communities.
is a marked feature of the times" said
Governor Rollins, and he added: There
are towns where no church bell sends
out It's solemn call from January to jan
uary; there are villages where children
grow TO manhood unchristened; there
are communities where the dead are laid
away without the benson Of the name of
the Christ. and where marriages are
solemnized only by justices of the
peace
Then the discussion ragged. The state
ments made by Governor Rollins were
denied and affirmed. For the most part
the EplscOpalians and Catholics said
they We're true; the other churches. par
ticulaTly tne Colgrega4ionalists said
they were unture. The last named de-
nomination took a church census Of the
STATE to prove that the governor was
wrong The papers and the magazines
took up the debate.
Whether Governor Rollins was right or
wrong, he undoubtedly stirred IN more
interest in the Observance of Fast dav
in 1899 than had attended anv similar
occasion for years. Also, the politicians
say, he destroyed his chances for s,,c-
ceeding William Z. Chandler in +ba
United States senate. His old home week
idea, developed a little later. was one
of the most popular schemes ever .snr1no
in New Hampshire. But when some Of
his friends attempted to work I'D a sen
atorial tidal wave for him, with that as
center of activity, they discovered
here and there among the rural com
munities a town leader who had not VET
forgotten or forgiven the Fast proclama-
ton Of 1899. But that is another story.
This year Governor Chester B. Jordan
issued proclamation that was far from,
being perfunctory as was that of Cow
ernor Rollins. WHICH it in nowise resemb.
led.
This unique and eloquent proclamation
has aroused q general and hearty re-
spouse throughout the state, as is evi-
denced by the larger number than usual
OF religious services that are to be held
and the practical nature of the subfact.
that are announced for consideration
Moreover, very few athletic and socia1
events are so far scheduled for the dav
and there really seems TO be an earnest
desire on the part of the people Of. New
Hampshire to carry out on April Is. the
wishes of their honored and beloved
chief executive.
Governor Jordan in his proclamation
said: --i
''Agreeably with a beautiful nustor,
centuries ago established. and now in
some form and TO some extent adontad
oy an Christian people of the civilized
world and IN accordance with what seem
TO be the necessities OF the human re
/ do appoint Thursday. the eighteenth
day of April. 1901. a day of fasting a75
indulge the hope that on thez dav an
the people of our state wiss abs+afn
from their usual avocations: from ev-
cessive eating and drinking: from non,D
pride, and vainglory; from al snorfs ana
festivities not in keeping with the snir;+
Oh the day as 1t has come down 10 as
from the fathers; and that without sad
ness or countenance. hypocrisy, or cant
'hey VIII assemble at their respective
places OF public worship and there re-
We" their lives; recount their many de-
partures from the path Of right. justice
honor truth, and virtue; recall. so far
as they may, the great blessings of GOOD
government hourly and momentarnv