The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-12-22

THE mi OF II SAVIOUR'S BIRTH.
We are informed as to the time when
the Saviour was born-thdt it was during
the reign Of the Roman Emperor. Au-
gustus Caesar. There were force and
meaning IN the statement Of Luke. locating
the birth IN the reign OF the then greatest
potentate IN all the earth. for Rome was
paramount, the ruler of kingdoms. and
the empire embraced the fairest and larg-
est portions OF the then populated globe.
The Evangelist Luke also mentions that
1t was at the time of Cyrenius, Governor
OF Syria, when the taxing took place.
But a difficulty here arises, and infdelity,
ever on the alert, has sought to discredit
the Bible. 1t is always anxious ard eager
to pick a flaw or expose an inconsistency
OF contradiction even if they exist only
IN It's own ignorant and speciOus brain.
1t Is understood that Cyrenius was really
not Governor until eleven years after the
taxation referred to. It is stated by
Christian and informed scholars thai
Josephus, the Jewish author, and Greek
and Latin historians, agree as to this fact.
But there IS no explanation. Its sup
possible, says an English writer of the
Established Church, that while Cyrenius
was not the actual Governor, he presided
on this occasion by a special commission
from Augustus This IS altogether prob
able, for it is well known that the EN-
peror augustus acted in this way on other
occasions. It IS stated that in several
instances, he sent his particular friends to
supc1jntend the enrolment. without leav-
ing II to the care Of the ordinary Cover
nor OF provinces. Die not David Go the
same when he wished to number the peo-
pie Of Israeli" Dr.. Campbell, a we'll
known scholar in the past, translates the
passage IN JDkp "AD1 fffc enc01coan+
first took effect when Cyrenius was Gov
crnor Of Syria This does not violate
the original, fer enrolling'' Is in the mar
gin Of the James Bible for taxing"
Luke was not only inspired, but he was
a man CT superior ability and a scholar.
He knew Of the event he described, and
the fact was notorious" The narrative,
both ~authenticates the truth of this af-
fair and the Messiahship of Christ.
It had been foretold in the Old Tesla
rnent as to the time in which Jesus
Christ was born. The dying Jacob said of
the kingdom of Judah, that 1.-THE sceptre
shall not depart, nor a lawgiver from
between his feet, until Shiloh (Jesus)
come; and unto Him shall the gathering
Of the people be- What did that fore
tell? That when He should come the
supreme power should be d~islodged from
their pcssession.' The accomplishment
has been stated. Supreme power had
now fallen into the hands Of Herod the
Idumean, who was exercising his vile
tyranny under the favor OF the Roman
Sovereign, master of Syria and Palestine"
Christ was born in Bethlehem, the place,
but at what time of the year? Was it
On the 18th of December. IN the dead of
winter, or was it earlier IN the year? Let
us look into this. 1 have read some five
CT SIX Of the more famous Lives of Christ
I-Ceikie, Ellicott, Deems, Farrar, Vallings-
and so far as l recall, but two give atten-
ton to the question Of the GATE of the
birth OF the Saviour. OF course, most peo-
ple-probably ninety-fve IN the one hun
dred, would answer that it was on the
25th of December. That IS q very. nat
ural, reasonable answer as all Christen-
dom put the birth on the 25th Of Deem
Der. and only a few readers and scholars
and theologlans question this date. [ con-
Tess that ] never doubted the correctness
OF that generally received date until
about 1875, or possibly q few years earlier.
Bishop C. j. ELECTS Historical Lectures
or the Life Of Christ, delivered IN 1859,
are learned and valuable. and rich IN
critical, historical ard explanatory notes.
/ have not read it since 1867, and do not
remember that he dwells much upon the
date Of the birth of the Saviour. He
writes Of the place. but not Of the prob
able time or day. He in a note, intiInatCs
that the received date is not improbable,
and he thinks that it was nlid-wlnter. but
says that he slightly leans to the opinion
that early in February (probably a. U. c.
800 was the time Of the nativity. 1t was
not until the fourth century that the Ro-
man Catholics fixed it at 18th of De
cernber, Bishop Ellicott says the tradl-
tons as to the time, "were anything but
,-,o.;,o-- co-,,o caloc+io0 Tonu9ry 10th
others April goth. and others May 10Th"
A great many dissertations have been
written upon the nativity by writer's,
beginning with ChrysostOm. Rev. Charles
=. Deems. d. D., LII. D., a native OF Bal
timore, SO eminent as a preacher. and
having long served In North Carolina,
and for twenty years an active
worker, editor, and pastor in New York
city. wrote a large octave, over $50 pages.
entitled ''Who Was Jesus?" that IS OF
great value and very marked interest. 1t
has never had the circulation its high
nerits entitled it to receive. 1t is the
most useful Of all the lives of Christ with
the on exception of Geikies most deslra-
bic and most readable work. It was pub
lished in 1851. It was much enlarged,
improved. [ think, and ten years later
appeared in its new edition. He devctes
over eleven pages to the careful study Of
':the date" OF the birth OF Jesus Christ. !
it is 800 elaborate to be touched upon at
<lcngth in this paper, but | must give con-
illusions. -
DR.. Deems has evidently consulted all
of the main authorities and facts bearing
upon the date. and his conclusion is that
Jesus was born in Bethlehem, about the
beginning of August, B. c. 6, A. y. Z.
TAI. The Roman or Latin Church ap-
pointed in the fourth century. as l have
before stated, that the 25th of December
was the birth day of our Lord. and thus
has been adopted by all the Christian de-
nominations. Dr.. Deems says that the
tradition of the Latin Church first appears
in the writings of Augustine, who was
born A. D. 354, too late to make hlm any
authority on such a question: 1t Is Wen
known among theologians and Biblical
scholars that the way OF counting the
wears is erroneous. This is not really
1903 A. d. Christ Jesus was corn IN
eor,o vear BEFORE Christ" as the count IS