The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-01-13

,
the same principles # designation the
marked year A d 1900 meant the end
Of the nineteenth century, aud the
next day was in the twentieth century.
Therefore we are now living in the
twentieth century of tle Christian Era
Such are the certhinties deduced from
the mathematical and chronological
principles applicable to this question.
Now listen to the voices Of history
which are equally clear and defuite OF
course we cannot derive much light on
this question from the earlier church
histories such az that u Eusebius OF
Oasarea. because their works were
written before the christian Era
was established and therefore, though
full II valuable narratives, they do not
designate beginnings and ending-
Of centuries. But a. we come
down the Christian ages. the light
Oh these points grows clearer and clear
er. In the sixteenth century we come &
the first great works on church history
written from the evangelical or protes'
tant stand point 1t is theglgauiic work
entitled Centurial NJ igdeburgenses ~
The "Maglebufg Centuries. in thit-
teen folio volumes, written by Flaclu7
and other eminent Protestants. aud
printed at Basel in the years from loo5
70 1914 A d. This work has been fol
lowed by the works of MCshems, Mil
man. Miluer Gibb0n. Neander Schai'
Kurtz and others. and they all bear the
same testimony, and that is that the
designations 100, 900, 1900 slway' mean
the ends Of the centuries Of the Chris
tisn era. and that the events OF the
next century begin from these deaig
mated points
Oae more illustration from histty
Will suiii e for my purposes. II - al
mitted by every person who knows even
the lowest elements Of church history
that the great reformation " of relig-
ion in Europe was in the Sixteenth
Century. And it is shown by Or.
William Robertson, of Scotland and
by every other historian or biographer
who has dealt with the subject thar
Charles the Fifth. King Of Spain and
the Netherlands. and Emperor Of
the German states. had immense
pat in the complicated drama OF
the reformation. And all these
historians testify that Charles V was
born. and lived aud died, in the six
teenth century Aud yet ell Of these
voices Of history testify that Charles
V. was born at Ghent iu, the Neither
lands. on the 24th day Of February, In
the year Of our Lord 1900. Now If Feb
ruary Of the year 1900 was in the 10th
century, can there be any doubt that
January Of the year 1900 is in the 2Oth
century;
The radical and fatal error OF the
many lubcllikOup P9loOho "N|
been insisting that we must come to the
year 1901 before we reach the beginning
of the twentieth century, has arisen
from their ignoring the facts and desig'
nations of the christian Era, " and
from their persistent and deceptlve
claim that the designation A. ID. l9OO'
meant the beginning Of the last
year Of the nineteenth century
instead Of the end OF that last
year as it assuredly means. But in
few months these deluding fogs will be
swept away by the winds Of truth.
This year, 1900, and the twentieth
century, on which we have entered are
90 momentous under the light OF Scrip
ture and Of h, story that error concern
ing them on. yht to be sedulously
avoided.