Connecticut western news., 1879-12-31
When Does Christmas Come 2


 There appeared in the NEWS some two
 weeks since 8 paragraph copied from the
 Springfield Republican concerning the true
 date of Christ's birth. The writer of the arti
 cle in the first place rather confused two en.
 tirely distinct subjects, viz. the correctness oi
 the Gregorian Calendar and the occurrence oi
 Christmas. As regards the former it is gen.
 erally conceded that there is an error of from
 two to seven years, so that this is really An.
 no Domini 1888 (to take a middle view) in.
 stead of 1879.
 The point raised as to the correctness or incorrectness of celebrating Dec. 25th as the anniversary of the Saviour's birth is no more
 fresh or original with the correspondent of the Republican than his doubts about the Calendar. The question is an old one much discussed. I find traces of such question dating back some 1900 years, viz. to about 578 A.. D. The principal views seem to be three: first, that which upholds the present date; second, that which prefers Jan 9th l; thsrd. that which advocates some day in Oct corresponding to the Jewish feast of Taber. nacles.
 It is impossible to discuss the matter fully here. will, however, glve one or two quo. tations from reliable sources. Dr. Geike, in his Life and Words of Christi says, "It seems most probable that the great event took place between December, 749, of Rome, and February, 750; and the only reason why there can be any hesitation in supposing Dec. 25th to have been the very day is the natural doubt whether the date could have been hand ed down 50 exactly, and the fear lest the wish to associate the birth of the Redeemer with the return of the sun, which made Christmas be early spoken of as the ''day of the triumph. ant sum- may have led to it's having been chosen" St. Jerome, who lived at Bethlehem during the latter portion of his days, assigns Dec 25th as the date. Among the scholars of modern times, Petavius, Usher and Bengel agree with the above.
 The following is quoted from an English author: "St Chrysostom, in a Christmas homily, speaks of the festival as being even then, in the fourth century, one of great an- tiquity; and in an epistle, mentions that Ju. lius I. (A. D. 337-352) had caused strict in. quiry to be made, and had confirmed the ob- servance of it on Dec 25th." Lastly Die tionary of Christian Antiquities" of which Dr. Wm. Smith is one of the editors says, The result of all this investigation, then, is roughly this: In the case of the Eastern Church there is no certain (the italics are bis) evidence pointing to 8 general celebration of the Nativity on Dec. 25th before the time of Chrysostom (about 375 A. D.) Till then it had been held on January 9th, in conjunction with the Epiphany, and even after this date some churches of the East retained for some time their old plan.
 "In the West we are told that the festival l had been recognized and celebrated on Dec. 25th ftom the beginning"
 The weight of evidence seems to be clearly 1 In favor of ChrSstnpas as it is. Even the ar. gument that shepherds would not be watch ] ing their focks by night in winter is not by l any means unanswerable. Perhaps St. Luke | any rate such mild spells of weather occur in | Palestine in December as produce almost an l earlier spring (see Geike's Life and Words of Christ" Vol. l. page 557).
 If it were c day or c date which Christians celebrated then the exact decision of the ques- ton would be essential But since our atten- ton is directed towards Me eUent, de Iact and our minds are fixed on it, the date is a matter.
 Certainly we have more reason for attach ng the event to the present date than to any other. Certainly centuries past have honored the 18th of December with holy remembrances ,f the great fact first proclaimed by the An gel Messenger, "Unto you is born this day in he city of David Saviour which is Christ he Lord"
 Shall ours, then, be the vsndal hand to de. stroy or bring discredit upon the one day ofl u the year which seems so redolent of peace nd good will among menP "B."