8
THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
as a religious rite, become purged and purified in the physical sense, and
thereby bettered spiritually.
This long fast was placed in the spring because that is the season when
it is most beneficial to man. During the winter people have to live
largely on dried or preserved foodstuffs, as it is difficult for them to get
green 'vegetables, etc. As a result the system becomes clogged with
waste matter and all sorts of bodily ailments are invited.
Doctors will tell you that there is the maximum of sickness at this sea
son, and this due to indiscreet diet more than to bad weather. It has
' been discovered for example that tonsilitis and various other affections
which are usually ascribed to "taking cold" can be traced almost always
to overloading the stomach with sweets and other strong foods. Parents
whose children are subject to such attacks should therefore look to their
diet the first thing.
We are told that there is "no rule of law without a reason," and this
is true of all rules that stand the test of time. Now, why was flesh de
nied to people during Lent? and why was fish allowed? We find the
reason for this verged by modern dietetics. Meat is a highly nitrogen:
ous food and it conduces to rheumatism and many other ailments. Fish
on the other hand, while nutritious, is not rich in nitrogen.
In fact if you went to the most eminant diet specialist in the land
and consulted him, the chances are he would prescribe for you just about
such a diet as the ancients discovered was the proper thing when the
blood had been thickened by the accumulated waste matter from a period
of hearty eating as in winter. Fish has sacred significance, it is true;
a fish was used by the early Christians as one of their symbols. But
fish is employed as a substitute for meals during fasts because, while
supplying sufficient nourishment, it relieves the system and purifies it.
And we should not forget that bodily purity is a condition precedent
to spiritual purity. It is a sure thing that people who indulge in glut
tony, or intemperance of any sort, and who treat their God-given bodies
as if they were cesspools are not well prepared for living a higher spirit
ual life, no matter how much religion they may profess.
Even if you belong to no church, this Lenten period of reduced diet
and reduced frivolity is a good thing to observe. Good health and true
religion are closely associated, and no -one who neglects his health or
allows his appetites to run riot is fulfilling his duty either to himself,
his fellows or his Creator.
Lent is a good time to take an account of yourself and see if you are
living up to your expectations and oppotunities. Very likely you can
think of ways to improve if you will try it. Don't be content with
yourself if you are this year no further along on the road than you were
at this time last year. Make progress, grow, improve; don't stand still