Norwich bulletin., 1914-03-19
OBSERVING LENT.
Made Topic for Rev. c. H. Ricketts at
 g Shop Talk.


 Wednesday noon Rev, C, H. Ricketts addressed the men Of the Richmond
 Radiator company at the weekly Y. M.
 C. A. shop meeting that is held there
 every Wednesday at neon. The music
 was exceptionally good, not only solos
 H. Rfe4Setts and Mrs. L. o. Potter ac-
 companied by Miss Letitia Kramer.
 Lent was the subject that MT Ricketts
 spoke on, In part, he said:
 The word Lent" is derived from
 an old English term that signifies to l. lengthen, and is particularly applied to that season of the year in which
 the lengthening days are showing a
 market increase. Of course 1t is the
 ecclesiastical usage of the term that
 concerns us today. As commonly
 used the word Lent applies to the period of religious devotion that is observed while the days are lengthen-
 ing during the 40 days that intervene between Ash "Wednesday and the Eas- ter festival This religious observance was once the exclusive practice of the Roman Catholic church. But there was something in the idea that ap- pealed so fundamentally to mans re- lisious consciousness that it has grown to a larger observance, in one form or another, by the churches of all the denominations particularly in the
 United States I believe the custom n2S everything 10 commend II, us great antiquity and what it really does. It is a period of unusual and intensive religious activity. Possibly if we had more periods of such activity in the course of the year 1t would tell for righteousness. Still I do not agree with those who say that we ought to | be in a reViyalistic spirit the year round It is utterly impossible to make the whole year period of in tensive religious activity.
 Does nature anywhere work in this way? Is it according to the opera tions of grace as history records them No form of material life proceeds along high levels or low levels con- tinual1y Physical necessities require i the hills and valleys. A continuous level, even in the tropics, makes a l Saharay-a boundless waste of sand. Tn speaker showde that the continu- | aton of any bodily function, without l periods of rest. would end in paraIy- sis. Christian activity cannot be all the 1 time uf9 in the delec{able mountains 1 Christianity has had it's deep. dark valleys. it has also had it's experiences up in the seventh heaven.
 l Urged Activity in Lent.
 The speaker then urged a larger l sphere of activity for the exercise of Lent. Why may it not be made t6 cover the business relations of men ? ] l ethics need to be toned up, Men en- gagged in trade need to have a sharper vision of the square deal. Any man who takes an undue advantage of an other man in d business transaction doesn't stand right with God and the true spirit of Lent will reveal such a han to himself just as he is. We need to have this larger Lent applied to politics There are too many men in politics for what they can get out of it. Nothing but the leaven of Chris tiaHity can work redemption along this line,
 The speaker urged his hearers to use this period as lending the best that is in them for the good of those about them; a helping hand to the poor fellow who is down and out-no matter what agencies have brought him there. Help the fellow who soon will be dewn and out if he doesn't
 mend his ways. Lend a part of your tiFns and strength te make the city of Norwich cleaner. better, stronger and more desirable to live in, Tn thus lending yourselves to the betefment of others you are making yourselves more meet for the kingdom of God. This is the only way in which we shall ever see a new heaven and a new earth.'