Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-03-04
THE LENrEN SEASON.

Last Wednesday. February Is, was
Ash Wednesday, the beginning Of the
Lenten season, the observance OF which
was formerly confined to the Roman
Catholic, Episcopal and Lutheran
churches. OF late years the observance
of this season has extended very gen.
orally to the religious public. and In
this connection the subject is very IN
terestingly discussed in recent Issue
of the New York Sun as follows:
This extension of regard for the Len
ten fast has been coincident with an
actual or supposed loosening OF the
hold of religious doctrines on large
part Of Professionalism, more especiaiy
Whether there has been diminution IN
the attendance on religious services
generally during that period Of declen-
sion we have no comparative statistics
to enable US to determine, though II
seems to have been proved that IN New
York at present the great majority OF
the population do not go to church on
Sunday-something like two-thirds. A
similar census in London shows that In
twelve of the boroughs, with popula-
ton exceeding two millions, only about
one in five are church attendants,
counting the number at both the morn
ing and evening services, and only one
half Of them at the Anglican churches.
In New York, out Of total attendance
of about four hundred and fifty thou
sand, nearly three-fourths were foano
in Roman Catholic churches; and OF
the rest Of the attendance, about 80 per
cent. was on Episcopal and Lutheran
churches.
It appears, therefore, that Of the peo-
pie Of New York who pay heed to re-
iigious observances, something like
four-fifths frequent the churches
which hold to the Lenten fast. But, as
we have already suggested, some spe-
cial regard for that season Is begin
ming to be paid by Protestant denomi-
nations which used to look on 1t as a
detestable relic Of "Popery." For ex-
ample, we find in the Christian Intelli-
gencer, Of the Reformed church, an ap-
peal by the National central commit
tee Of the Twentieth Century Gospel
campaign" q distinctive 'evangelicar'
enterprise, that Ash Wednesday be OBJ
served by the churches as special day
of humiliation and prayer. That the
praying may not be general and inde-
finite, the committee suggest the 1oi-
lowing topics:
II. For a return of absolute faith in
the Bible, as the inspired, authoritative
Word Of God, and as furnishing the
churches their only credentials and
message; and for an immediate revival
Of earnest and systematic study or that
word in order to learn what God would
have us to do in the present condi-
tions.
"2. For a quickened sense Of the sin
fulness Of sin and of mans lost and
hopeless condition as sinner In time
and eternity.
..3. For q new vision of the greatness,
sufficiency and efficacy Of the atone
ment Of Jesus Christ wrought on the
cross and to be universally proclaimed
as the only hope for lost man.
"a. For an overwhelming sense of the
obligations and responsibility, on the
part of every professed follower Of
Christ, for witnessing to the lost soul
nearest him-and to all lost souls he
can reach-of the dying love and saw
ing power Of Christ, and urging the I'M
mediate acceptance Of salvation by His
blood.
"5. For an immediate entrance Of all
Christians upon a campaign Of person.
al work in seeking and winning lost
souls. beginning at Jerusalem'-at home
and reaching out to the 'outermost
parts Of the EARTH
"6. For a mighty outpouring Of, and
endowment with, the Holy Spirit, that
the church throughout the entire ma
tion may, by His enlightening influ-
ence, be brought to understand these
life and death truths and be guided in
meeting these awful and inescapable
This Lenten season Is to be used, ac-
cordingly, as time peculiarly fitting for