New-York tribune., 1906-02-04
CHRISTIAN ERA.

c. R. J. CNorvich y. ": % VIII you give
the reason why the beginning Of the Christian
era was fixed at four years after the birth Of
Christ; and % Is j. known. 10 reasonable
certainty, on Just what date he was born?
a. The Christian era is calculated from the
assumed birth Of Christ. Since IL the Nativity,
nus have somewhat preceded the death OF
Herod the Great april. 3. O., # probably
occurred some time in the year B. G. (possibly
o That the beginning Of the Christian era is set
roo late by several years may also be followed,
among others, from the account IN Matthew
concerning the Star Of Bethlehem and the wise
men from the East, who. by means of this star.
are said 10 have found the child Jesus For the
account Is probably in 50 far based upon an ac-
lual occurrence. as six years before our era
ne planets Jupiter and Saturn We're in con-
junction, ana must have looked like brilliant
"a. "a. 10 thlS explanation OF Christs natal star.
hspeI Who was the first TO advance fl, was
teu by the circumstance that he himself. in 1903.
lSa hVeo 10 see similar conjunction Of the two
a.1Iels However j. Se, :he account OF Mat
Ie" regarding that star perfectly agrees with
astronomical calculations. On May 20 OF the
se~I b. &. the TWO planets at a distance Of
~ - oeeIee only, were in conjunction in Pisces.
- EeI. constellation which, in the belief OF the
eSSArologers, ruled over the Jewish country. The
tlauss then appeared in the Eastern sky before
0eitlse I've have seen the star in the East.
matthew, ii. 2 And in the fail of the same
go go - and November r. likewise in the con-
eSI.Iauon Of Pisces and also AT a distance OF
s s-s one degree, this time. however, in the
salhg ana IN the Southern sky. If the wise
:. "a were then IN the East IL must have seemed
> 1sih as II the thus Teappearing star directed
- -. eouthEard toward Bethlehem. 90 The day,
.'t+ of even the year cannot be given with
..ssaA1!' but surely December 25 was not gen.
ss observed as the Nativity prior TO the
49, sh century IN the Eastern Church, although
go earlier IN the Western. Some held the
Ts-ta IN the month Of May April. others In
pANe-s. II is nevertheless almost certain that
- inner z5 cannot be the date OF the Nativity
sutist for II is then the height Of the rainy
bs-'tt 10 Judea, and shepherds could hardly
-. Oeeh watching their fOcks by night on the
e. among the causes that co-operated IN
- - ths period as the proper one, perhaps the
nsa powerful was that almost all the heather
i~,.--3 regarded the winter solstice a most
G-lsht point Of the year as the beginning or
ps,naeHe"ed life and activity OF the powers OF
prsSs1' on the same day celebrates the birth Of
bsiS S-sa son Of Maya (see Bunson). The Druids
No tuIlng the winter solstice the festival OF
of of1.sh - ui'gg1ns). Egypt held that Horus, son
C.ss' was born toward the close Of December
~ - - celebrated IA the winter solstice the birth
Tns,eits, Bacchus and Hercules. Numerous
Vsi -, =. Hloes keep Yuletide a religious festi-
pi,, ,4lonler Williams). Mexico holds in the
'o,. = soistice the festival Of capaerame (His-
fss VI the Indies. Vol. II, page 354. Persia at
fc.,salle period honors the birth of Mithra
.ss.,es5. Rome celebrated on December % the
bsss al H 9f "Aatalis Sol Invicta." Scandinavia
o. "a ae 1uleude the festival called Jul I'm honor
''a' son OF Odin brewer. page S2l), etc.