The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-03

the theory that with characteristic modesty
| ALGER concealed his prime part In the
genesis Of sHER1DANs mlits3y glory until
after the death Of that hero.
| Will Russia Reform Her Calendar?
Early in the last century ignorant people
In England imagined that they had been
robbed Of part Of their lives. "Give us
back our eleven days." they went shouting
through the streets. Protestant ingland
had at last adopted the revised calendar by
which. for more than century. the Roman
| Catholic world had measured time. The
very fact that the author Of the reform was
a Pope Of Rome had set the Professionals
against it. They were driven to accept 1t at
last because. by the Gregorian calendar.
| the true or astronomical year and the civil
year we're practically identical.
To this day. wherever the influence Of tho
Greek Church predominates. as In Russia.
| Servia. Bulgaria. and Greece. time is still
measured by the old Julian calendar. Last
New Years Day in New York dawned
twelve days earlier than the New Years Of
| st. Petersburg. The Julian calendar as
sumes that the length Of the solar year Is
three hundred and sixty-five and one-fourth
days, WHILE as a matter Of fact, It is eleven
minutes and few seconds less. The result
ia that while the difference between the
Julian and the Gregorian calendars. when
the reform was adopted. was ten days. 1t Is
now twelve days, and from 1900 to 210O in
elusive 1t will be thirteen days.
The scientific men Of Russia recognize the
imperfections Of their calendar. and many
OF them desire to throw 1t over and conform
In future to the system now in vogue In
most OF the civilized world. This important
question will be brought before the meeting
Of the scientific societies OF Russia. to be
held In November next. It will be the open
ing wedge: and though 1t is not at all prob
able that the Gregorian will be substituted
Immediately for the Julian calendar within
the domain Of the Greek Church. 1t is likely
to pave the way for the reform that Is in
evitable sooner or later.
Educated Russians admit that their cal
endar is erroneous; but they ask IL the
Gregorian calendar Is perfect. They admit
that our measurement Of the duration OF q
year is nearer tho truth than that Of the
julian calendar, but still. they say. error
exists. Why should they now reject the
Julian calendar. when it Is possible that a
moro convenient method than the Grego-
rian system may DO discovered? And they
speak Of our months OF unequal lengths. Of
February with its twenty-eight and twenty
nine days. and ask II it is not possible to
remedy these inconveniences.
The great difficulty in the way OF intro
ducing the reformed calendar does not de-
pend upon such criticisms as these Tho
Church stands in the way. Her sacred days
and festivals have occurred for centuries
upon fixed days. designated In tho Julian
calendar. The Church holds to tradition.
and 1t is very difficult to overturn her rooted
customs and prcjudices. 1t was easy enough
for the Catholic world because the Pope Or
dered the change. The Gar may be auto
cratic: but tho Russian people say them
selves that there can be no discrepancy be-
tween their civil and ecclesiastical calen-
dars. and that there will be no reform until
the Church agrees to it.
The Greek Church. however has no Pope
GREGORY XIII. to pronounce in favor Of re-
forming the calendar. no central authority
to pronuigate its dictum and exact obedi-
ence. Tho Church in each country is prac-
tically autonomous. None OF tho Patri-
archates would separate from the others in
willingly incur the accusation OF provoking
u schism. The common voice Of the Church.
for or against the proposed reform. could
be heard only through an ecumcnical coun-
Gil: but the Eastern Church has not had
such a convocation for centuries. and no
sentiment in favor Of the reform has as yet
developed sufficient strength to bring to-
gctEer the heads Of the Church to consider
its claims.
The course the advocates Of the Gregorian
calcndar in Russia are now taking seems to
be the only practicable policy. They in
tend to keep the idea Of reforming the cal
endar before the country. They will try to
win for it tho support OF the educated
classes. to popuarize 1t. to agitate it in sci
entiflc gatherings. 1t may be long time
yet before the time for decisive action shall
arrive: but some day 1t is sure to come, for
the Inconvenience Of adhering to an unset
cntitic standard OF time measurements will
slowly but steadily increase.