The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-12-24
SCIENTISTS CLAIM
STAR MIRACULOUS
BIBLICAL STORY NOT REFUTEp
BY OPINION OF ASTRONOMER
OF CALIFORNIA

Los Angeles, Cal. Dec. 24-UP-
The Star OF Bethlehem which guild
ed the Wise Men In the East TO
the birthplace OF Jesus could not
possibly have been any known not
ural heavenly body and must. in
stead, have been created by a
miracle. according to DR.. Dinsmore
Alter, astronomer at Grifith Oh
servatory OF the University of
Southern California.
That is the conclusion he has
Just reached and made public after
years OF study OF the subject and In
view OF the latest findings OF astro-
nomical science.
This conclusion" he declared,
neither adds nor detracts from
the probability of the Biblical story.
II the birth OF Christ, itself. was
miraculous. 1t is only reasonable 10
assume that the personality behind
all OF 1t might wish to acquaint the
Wise Men OF the fact by impressing
the appearance OF the star on their
minds. Such a non-astronomical
sensation would explain every de-
tail OF the story"
Explanation Called Modern
DR.. Alter holds the view that the
belief In an astronomical explana-
ton OF the Christmas star Is chief
ly modern one.
Many people," he said, "haye
been worried because astronomers
have not found an explanation for
story which probably did not
seem connected with astronomy In
the mind OF the original narrator
The attitude OF the average
churchman who is asked for his re-
action to the conclusion that the
Star OF Bethlehem was a miracle
and not an astronomical occur
renee is generally that 1t strength
ems rather than weakens his faith.
1t puts the whole thing on a high
er plane" ....
In citing arguments to suggest
the star might have been a natural
object such as a comet, nova (new
starr, or unusual grouping OF plan
cts, astronomers and others, &C.
cording to DR.. Alter, have neglect.
ed or side-stepped passages in the
latter part OF Matthew'S account
which disproved any natural inter
probation.
He points out that no star or OBJ
ject as high as Ave miles overhead
could mark out an individual house
clearly enough for the Wise Men TO
have found IL.
He calls attention to the fact
that there Is no record that any
others say the phenomenon. in
fact, he declared. IL others had seen
it, agents OF Herod probably would
have had 1t called to their atten-
ton and would have followed the
moving body the few miles that led
to Bethlehem and that the massa-
ere which came afterwards would
not have taken place.
Biblical Passage Cited
But a natural celestial body"
he said. could have been meant II
the account had stopped with thu
initial passage which reads: Nov.
when Jesus was born In Bethlehem
OF Judea in the days OF Herod,
there came wise men from the
East to Jerusalem, saying, Where
is He that is born King Of the Jews?
for we have seen His star in the
East and are come to worship
Him
The Wise Men do not say that
the star had led them. Further
more, 1t seems that the star was
not visible at the time they arrived
at Jerusalem. They had seen IL
at a past time. And there is no
mention OF the number OF the Wise
Men.
Each Christmas season" he ex-
planned, "a number OF articles con-
corning the story Of the Christmas
star appear. Perhaps even worse
than the lack OF scientific accuracy
is the neglect of the story itself.
The duty of Griffith Observatory is
to interpret simply all sorts OF as
Economical matters. or course, an
other reason for the present study
was the presentation OF a new
method OF investigation"