Evening star., 1938-04-03
By JESSIE FAINT EVANS,

Although Lent is observed through
out Christendom with varying degrees
Of strictness, particularly by the
Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Anglican
and Lutheran Churches, it is not
known definitely when the annual
period Of fasting first began.
Lent now is fast of 40 days, not
including Sundays, beginning with
Ash Wednesday and ending the Sat-
urday before Easter. 1t consists, ac-
cording to present religious canons,
of 40 week days and Sundays.
This year Ash Wednesday fell on
March 2 and Easter Sunday falls on
April II. Easter, however, will not
again fall on April II until 1949, but
it will occur in April every year from
l94l to l947 and on April in 1899.
The history Of ecclesiastical dispute
as to the proper date for Easter fills
pages OF dreary reading 1t has finally
been decided that Easter Sunday shall
be the first Sunday following the
first full moon after March 2l, but
II the full moon occurs on Sunday,
Easter day is the following Sunday.
Serious Controversies.
In the past, too, the time of the
observance Of Lent and the number
OF days in the Lenten season not
only have varied widely, but likewise
have been the subject of serious
controversies among ecclesiastical au-
thoritieS.
Originally Lent was fast of but
4O hours duration, signalling the
interval from the death of Christ
and his burial in the tomb to His
resurrection. Then more days were
added to it, the number varying in
different churches and Sects.
Today Lent signifies in addition to
the 40 hours between Christ's death
on the cross on Good Friday and His
resurrection from the tomb, His 40
days fast, according to the fourth
chapter of Matthew, wherein it is said
Then was Jesus led up Of the spirit
into the wilderness to be tempted of
the devil. And when he had tasted
40 days and nights He was afterward
an hungered."
Various degrees of strictness have
prevailed from time to time in regard
to fasting during Lent and exceptions
have generally been made according
to the physical needs of certain indi-
viduals
Much Latitude Allowed.
During the first two or three CEN
turies after the birth Of Christ much
latitude apparently was allowed in the
observance of Lent, the paramount
emphasis being placed upon alms-gi
ing and good works rather than as to
distinctions In food Indeed. certain
OF the greatest of the early ascetics
ate meat in Lent, abStaining from it.
however, until evening
With the Council of Nicea in 325
Lent became a season of preparation
Tor the confirmation rite in the church
and for that of the holy communion.
administered on Easter Sunday, of re-
ligious retreat and of absolute peni-
tence.
The present form of the observ-
ance Of Lent appears to date from
the 9th century.
1t came to be considered desirable
to the churches observing Lent that
their members abstain from food
each fasting day until evening and
that the season be marked by fire.
quent attendance at worship and in
creased diligence in works of charity.
Indulgence in worldly amusements,
too, including elaborate forms of en-
tertalnment, came to be looked upon
as unsuitable to the Lenten season.
Confused With Spring Season.
In noWise is the season of Lent
linked with primitive customs which
became part of the Christian ritual,
although, inasmuch as it invariably
fell in the early part Of the year, it
did become more or less confused
with the spring season, gradually COM
ing to be so associated with it as to
signify the spring. The Anglo-Saxon
"Lenct," for instance. was the YER
nal or spring fast period of the
Christian church in preparation for
Easter.
The observance of Lent in Eng
land was first ordered by Earcon-
berht, King of Kent from 6O4 to 664.
Until the time of William II, meat,
eggs and milk were forbidden from
the diet of the English during the 40
days of Lent not only by ecclesiastical
order but by Englands statute law
as we'll
During the religious confusion as a
result of the Reformation this prac-
tice OF strict fasting was generally
relaxed in England, but the law in
regard to it remained on Great Brit
aims statute book until it was repealed
in 1868.
William Law, Englands great free
thinker, and John Wesley and his
brother Charles, who were the found
ers of Methodism, not only themselves
kept the spirit of Lent, but they
preached it in England and in Amer
ica, in which latter country Method
ism received its greatest impetus and
largest number of followers.
Mourning Worn.
There also grew up among the
women OF various Christian countries,
the custom Of wearing mourning as a
penance for their own sins and those
OF the world during Lent. This prac-
tice was followed in England by Queen
Elizabeth and the women of her court,
and survived until well into the
10Th century. Similarly as a result
of the somber colors of Lent there
EDUCATIONAL.