The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-06-18
The Coming Of Christ.

OA1OoSA@
by Rev. DR.. Harrison for the discourse
being one of unusual interest -'sThe
Star of Bethlehem; Is it coming in 1882"
DIR. Harrison first gave the ordinary
opinion about the star which appeared at
the birth of Christ, that it was directed
by God to guide the steps of the magi to
the birthplace of our Savior. Some per-
sons asserted it was direct miracle. He
then referred to the Investigations of the
great Kepler, in the wonderful astrono-
mical phenomena which commenced to
appear in 1903. In the fall of that year
there was o conjunction of Saturn and
Jupiter, and in the spring of 1904 Mars
joined them, forming triple conjunc-
ton, very rare phenomenon. In the
fall of 1904 appeared suddenly, without
previous warning, a marvellously bril-
liant star, almost in conjunction with the
three planets. No star had previously
been seen in its place. It was wonder
fully brilliant, and lasted few months
in it's splendid magnifcence. It then
died out and disappeared as suddenly as
it came. At that era men were engaged
in discussing the actual date of the birth
OF Christ, and Kepler lent his great intel
lect to an astronomical solution of the
question. He found a conjunction of
Jupiter and Saturn in the year of the
City Rome TAI, and that in the following
spring Mars joined the conjunction. It
occurred to Kepler that perhaps the star
that blazed into such sudden and unex.
pected brilliancy in 1904 appeared in the
fall of 748, and, if SO, the exact date of
Christ's birth could be determined. If
his suppositions were true, then the star
fingered till $50, A. U. c., and then dis
appeared soon after the birth of the
Saviour. Acquainted with astronomical
laws the magi, anxious to investigate
this phenomenon, were led to Bethlehem
and to the Saviour. In these facts is
found a perfect key to the seeming mys-
teries attending the birth of Christ. It
has recently been found that the Chinese
have well authenticated astronomical
tables going back for thousands of years;
and these Chinese tables say that in $50
A. U. @. a star or comet came in view in
the very place indicated by the Biblical
historian-another proof of the correct
ness of the evangelical account. It has
been surmised by some that the Star of
Bethlehem was the same as the famous
comet of Charles the Fifth of Spain. We
have traced the wonderful visitant as far
back as the year 104 A. D., and astrono-
mers confidently looked for it from 1848
to 1852. It did not come. It may come
next year, and if it be, indeed, the star
that shone at the birth of Christ, then
will the 'Star of Bethlehem" shine again
for us. This comet of Charles ", SO
called from appearing at the time of the
abdication of that monarch was the
grandest astronomical visitant ever seen.
With its nucleus at the meridian, at an
elevation of Is degrees, the tail stretched
to the horizon and remained visible in its
grand sweep of the heavens from IL to 5
o'clock, occupying one-quarter of the
heavens with the sweep of its gigantic
tail. If, indeed, it were the t'Star of
Bethlehem" no wonder that the soul of
Herod was shaken to its center by the
portentous phenomenon. It is possible,
but not probable, that next year the
comet of Charles V. may come. It is
very probable that we shall have the
triple conjunction of Mars, Saturn and
Jupiter. It is possible that another star
like Kepler's or Tycho Brahe's, that flash
ed out at midday in it's superb splendors,
may join the grand conjunction. Atmos-
pheric disturbances may accompany
these celestial phenomena; electrical per-
turbations may occur; volcanic eruptions
may cover fair spots of earth with flowing
lava; earthquake shocks may destroy
cities and shake the solid globe to its
center, but there is, in any event, sure
foundation for the footsteps of the man
who believes on Jesus Christ-which was
the moral of the doctors sermon
Washington Post.
SALE OF OLD CoINs.-At recent sale of
old coins in New York, Anglo-Saxon pen
nies brought from So to So Is each. The
William Rufus silver penny, So so; An
Edward III. gold rose noble, $14 So;
Richard III. London Groat, SIS %; a
Henry VII. gold angel, So 25; a gold
crown of the same reign, uncirculated,
$6 25; gold sovereign of Edward VI,
the first dated gold coin, brought $32;
Queen Bess shilling of rare design. Sc rs;
while a gold half-sovereign, with the
Queen in ruff in flowing hair, was sold
for 1925. In the Stuart coins, James l.
gold rose rial, in superb condition, brought
$14. The pound of Charles I. G642)
caused some excitement among the bid
ders, and was finally knocked down at
$35. with the half-pound at $17; the No
107, Oliver Cromwell's crown, fine proof,
brought $22; Charles II. medal of the
Restoration brought go; the two guinea
piece (l664) sold for $26 50;a silver medal
Of the battle of The Hague, 1882 $13; a
George III. and Catherine Q761,) gold,
$50. In the coins OF Scotland, a Henry
Darnley and Mary, (1566,) in fine con-
dition, sold for ST. ,675, and gold thistle
noble of James VI. (17l6, ,)bronght $25. In
Nova Scotia money, brass farthing,
found by Professor Anthan in Halifax,
some ten years ago, and unknown to col
lectors there, brought $40.
TExAsHUMoR.-An eminent divine from
New England, travelling in Texas for his
health, impaired by arduous clerical
duties, upon arriving at one of the towns,
went in search of the BARRIERS shop for
repairs and improvements. On entering
an establishment of this kind, he OBJ
served big double-barrelled gun leaning
against the wall. Having constitutional
awe of firearms, he hastily asked the
| barber if the gun was loaded. half
shaved native, who occupied the chair,
turned round his lather-beaten face and
exclaimed: stranger eff you're in an all
fred hurry, you'll find six-shooter what
| is loaded in my coat-tail pocket This
recalls another story of an English tourist
who proposed to visit Arkansas, and
asked a citizen if he ought to provide
himself with revolver. Wall" replied
the citizen, I'VE mout not want one for a
month, and We mout not want one for
three months, but eff ever ye did want
one, you kin bet you'd want it almighty
sudden w-[The Hour.