Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1916-03-08
CONCERNING SACK.
CLOTH AND ASHES

This is Ash Wednesday. beginning
that season of sackcloth and ashes
which is now, at least on this side OF
the Atlantic, more honored in the
breach than in the observance. While
Catholics continue TO obey the rules
of the church In regard to the Lenten
abstinence from flesh, certain dispen-
sations are now permitted by which
many of the children of the church
escape the rigorous fasts of u former
era.
II science has combatted many of
the doctors of Christianity. in the mat
ter Of the Lenten observance science
and theology are in agreement. Ab.
stinence from meat during tic forty
days of Len; is calculated 10 give the
body an opportunity 10 do little
Spring house-clcanirg. which in most
of us is sadly needed. Too much food
and too little exercise during the cold
months bring about a condition of af-
fairs in the bodily economy which a
partial fast is calculated to correct.
That lassitude of body and mind COM
monty known as spring fever may
| be averted by an observance of Lent.
/ At this season of the year our grand
mothers We're wont to prescribe
YARDS" sulphur, sarsaparilla and 9th
er spring tonics and cleansers of the
I blood. Modern medicine. with its
growing lack of confidence in the old
fashioned remedies, attributes our
springtime ills 10 hygienic and dietetic
sins of omission and commission, and
advises us TO abandon our sedentary
habits and 10 consume less .proieid
foods as the days grow longer and
warmer.
! Just why Lent is so called has al
ways been matter OF disagreement
among the philologists. Some say II
is derived from the Saxon ''lencten,'
implying spring, or the season when
the days Iengthen; others insist that
it is from the German "leinen," to
| thaw. The object Of the fast has also
been disputed, but j. is generally re
garded as time &p" "3ially set apart
for repentance over The sins of the
last year Considering it in this light
how many true observers of Lent arc
10 be found today?
1t may be sad, but it is true, that
to perhaps a majority of the inhabit
ants of this community, and especially
10 the young people, Lent is periOt
of preparation for :sartorial and mil
linery displays on the coming Easter
We may shrewdly suspect that th'
young man Is more concerned abou
! the cut Of his spring clothes than th'
state of his soul, and that his sistc
is too busy shopping, paying visits t
the mOdistc and poring over tn
j fashion magazines to spend much tim
worrying about her sins. Without an.
exact knowledge concerning the cor
tents OF these lavishly illustarted pei
iodicals, It may be safe to say tina
a sackcloth does not enter into the con
position of any of the CONNECTIONS g
4 alluringly set forth. As to millinery
milady has in times past worn upo
! her head about everything but ashe.
There is In all this reflection q
Z the modern spirit which insists upo
4 making OF Christianity q religion g
4 JOY rather than of gloom. Schoper
l hauer might lament his inability to b'
lieve in the faith of Christ because, a
J a religion of sadness, 1t made such
strong appeal to his peSsimistic nature
\ but were he alive today he might nc
4 entertain such regrets. Whether c
not this growing indisposition to TAX
4 ones religion sadly is a symptom {
Z the decadence OF faith is matter fc
the theologlaE3 to consider Certainl
the Christian of today has Travelled
= long way from the grim theology I
A Jonathan Edwards, to whom hell ws
y IL literal place Of fire and brimstor
\ where the worldly were toaste
. throughout eternity.