Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-16
'LENTEN OBSERVANCE.
The Ushering in of Season Of
Fasting.
CHURCHES CELEBRATE
CATHOLIC CEREMONY OF BLESS
ING AND sPRINKLING ASHES.
Business Men to Hold Special Services
in Protestant Episcopal Church
of the Epiphany.
| CHURCHES CELEBRATE

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, according
to the church calendar, so called from the
custom in the Catholic Church of sprln-
king ashes, after they have been blessed,
upon the heads of the commandments that
| day With Ash Wednesday begins the sea-
| son of Lent which lasts until Easter-this
year April 3. The forty days of fasting
| are in commemoration of the period of sor-
row and mourning of the apostles, during
which the Savior was absent from them.
It is observed with special exercises by tire
Catholic and Episcopal churches, and spe-
cial fasts and denials by the individual
members of the congregations.
The ceremony CT sprinkling the ashes is
to remind the faithful that they are but
dust and, no matter how far they may in
duge their pride and vanity they will re-
| main as dust. The priest, while placing
the ashes on the head. repeats in Latin.
Remember, man. thou art dust, and to
dust thou shalt return" In the lesson OF
the day the church endeavors to lay be-
fore each member the necessity for taking
| advantage of every opportunity for further
ing the gospel of Christ, and exhortS him
not to defer his sincere conversion.
Special services viii be held in all the
Catholic and Episcopal churches tomorrow
morning and evening in most instances
When the religious season has thus been
ushered in all devout church members will
be expected to refrain from indulgences- OF
all kinds Although the food fasts are not
so much observed in these days as they
used to be, there are still some articles of
food that are considered wrong to eat dur
ing Lent, with Catholics on certain days
during the rest of the year. The denials
are now made chiefly with respect to
worldly pleasures. such as dancing. card
parties and theater-going. In the place of
these there are during the entire season
extra religious services. with appropriate
sermons and special music
Business Mems Services.
A new feature of the observance of the
Lenten season in this city will be the bust
| ness mems meetings to be conducted every
day at noon in Epiphany Episcopal Church,
G street between 18th and 18th streets
northwest, under the auspices of the Broth
erhood of st. Andrew. They will begin at
II O'Clock sharp and last only until 12:25
O'Clock. 1t has been announced that adj
dresses may be expected follows: Feb
ruary IS. the bishop of Washington Febru-
airy 10, Rev. A. S. Johns, Christ Church.
Navy Yard; February %, Rev. J. H. w.
Blake, Christ Church. Georgetown; Fepru-
airy "A, Rev. R. Fl. McKim. d. D., Epiph-
any; February %, Rev. A. s. Johns,
Christ Church. Navy Yard; February 2G.
Rev. C. Ernest Smith. D. D.. st. Thomas
February 20, Rev. Clement Brown, Pro-
Cathedral; March l, Rev. Clement Brown,
Kim, ID. D., Epiphany; March 3, Rev. J. A.
Aspinwall, chaplain of brotherhood; March
f. Rev. c. c. Pierce, d. D., chaplain United
States army. March Z. Rev. J. H. w. Blake,
Christ Church. Georgetown; March s, Rev
C. c. Pierce, D. D., chaplain United States
army; March o. Rev. Mr.. Turner st.
Michael and All Angels; March 10. the
bishop of Washington; March IL, Rev. AL
fred Harding, D. D., st. Paurs: March Il
and 10, Rev w. L. Devries, st. Marks;
March 16. Rev. w. r. Turner, ST Michael
and All Angels; March II, Rev. r. P. Will
Jams, Trinity: March IS, Rev. j. A. Aspin
wall, chaplain of brotherhood; March u,
Rev. c. c. Pierce. D. D.. chaplain United
States army; March 90, Rev c. Ernest
Smith, D. D., st. Thomas; March %. Rev.
r. II. Mckim. d. D., Epiphany; March -,
Rev. r. p Williams. Trinity; March 81,
Rev. j. A. Aspinwall, chaplain of brother
hood.
Business mems services similar to these
have been carried on with considerable
success in New York. Philadelphia and
Baltimore for several years. It is said
that during Lent old Trinity Church. in
the downtown district of New York Is
crowded every day to overlooking with
merchants and brokers, who are willing
to spend half an hour from their business
for worship. 1t is hoped that interest such
as this may be created in this city and
that the meetings will grow in popularity
from year to year.
While the Catholics will hold no business
mems services. their observance Will be
general and strict.
St. Patrick's Church.
At st. Patrick's tomorrow there will he
services at g. Z and O'Clock in the morn
ing and service at Z 80 in the evening. At
the evening service a sermon will be
preached. Ashes will be distributed to-
morrow TO all church members who attend.
Services will also be held every morning
during Lent at g. and 9 o'clock Father
McGuigin will preach a series of sermons
az 7:30 o'clock each Wednesday evening
during the season, and Father Carroll will
preach q series each Sunday evening. At
the IL O'Clock mass each Sunday morning
Dr. Stafford will preach a series of SER
mons. The stations of the cross will be
read each Friday afternoon at 4:45 O'clock
and Friday evenings at 7:30 o'clock.