The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-02-12
CBy the Rev. L. W. sInerd.l

Ash Wednesday. which is tomorrow
marks the beginning of Lent. Chris
tian communities throughout the
world are coming to observe more
and more as they should this holy
season OF the year. These days are
of great Significance to the church
and are precious indeed to every de-
vout followed of the Lord Jesus
Christ. And If Lent were more
widely and closely observed the
church of our Master would take on
a deeper spiritual life. A better
general understanding of the season
therefore cannot help but be the
means of rendering these days more
sacred to all.
Lent is an ecclesiastical season
which dates back into the third or
fourth century and was established
by the early Latin church. Irenoeus
mentions that the custom of keeping
a fast before Easter Sunday was quite
old in his day; yet no uniformity of
observance had up to that time been
established. In Turtullian's day the
Good Friday fast had become quite
general, This period of fasting just
before Easter lasted only forty hours
and had reference to the period be-
tween the crucifixion and the resur-
rection the time Christ was within
the power of death. But gradually
it was heightened from forty hours
to forty days. referring to the facts
of Moses, Elijah and our Lord, all of
which lasted forty days. Some of
the church fathers speak of this fast
as lasting six weeks; that is thirty
six days, as the Sundays we're not
fast days. But later. probably by
direction of Gregory the Great, the
fast Sundays we're also added as fast
days. making forty days in all.
The word Lent comes from the old
Anglo-saxon worn "lencten" which
means Spring" Now since Christ
suffered and died in the early spring
the early Christian church set apart
a certain period OF the time in which
to fast, preparatory to the celebra-
tion of Easter, the day when He
arose. Hence we have the German
word LEM" denoting the fast pre-
paratory to Easter and our English
word Lent" meaning the same
thing, because in the East IT is
Spring time by Easter.
The purpose OF this festival was
from the very beginning to commem-
crate the sufferings and death Of
Christ by fasting and prayer. But
the character OF this fast was varied
in different places and at different
periods OF the church's history. In
some places and at some times the
fast consisted in total abstinence
from all kinds Of food until evening
on all days except Sundays; but in
other places and at other times in
abstinence from only flesh and wine.
But generally there was a cessation
from everything that had a festival
character. such as public games,
theatrical shows, worldly pleasures
and amusements. Even the courts
were closed and the churches assum-
ed more serious character. The
pictures were yelled and the organ
grew silent.
Lent is observed in one way or an
other by the church Of Rome and
the church Of England. Many of the
Protestant churches are coming to
observe this season also.
The church Of the Reformation.
generally known as the Lutheran
church, has always believed in the
sanctity of the holy season of Lent;
and through all her history from
Luther down there has been strict
regard paid to this season. What
ever the form or character Of this
fast may have been, self-denial has
been its watchword; and this self
denial coupled with renewed conse-
Grafton to God, is what the Lutheran
church emphasizes today. 1t is not
the fasting for the mere name that