Letters to the Editor
[In view of the length of many of the letters which we receive, we would remind correspondents that we often cannot give space for long letters and that short ones are generally read with more attention. 7'he length which we consider most suitable is about that of one of our paragraphs on " News of the Week."—Ed. SPECTATOR.]
A FIXED EASTER
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sus,—Now that the question of a Fixed or Stabilized Easter has been raised again in the House of Lords, it is appropriate to explain that the date suggested is not an arbitrary choice, but the result of long inquiry and careful calculation.
Nothing is easier than to invent a new calendar, or to select an arbitrary date. But if history is truth, the date fixed must be the right date. Practically all calendars resolve themselves into two types—Lunar and Solar. And every event that ever really occurred must be " fixed " in one of these. But what is "fixed " in the Lunar is movable in the Solar, and conversely. Thus the Birth of Our Lord is depen- dent on the Census of Augustus. Therefore it is " fixed " in the Roman or Solar calendar, and movable in the Lunar calendar. On the other hand, Easter depends on the Jewish Passover. Therefore it is " fixed " in the Lunar Calendar, and movable in the Solar. To modern Europe, unanimous in following the Solar calendar, Christmas is fixed, and Easter movable.
Now, if Easter is to be stablized in the Solar calendar, what is wanted is not the random selection of a date supposed to be convenient, but to transfer ourselves in thought to the time and place of Our Lord's Passion and Resurrection, and then to translate the date from the Jewish calendar to the Roman.
As a matter of fact, the Jewish records contain no indication as to which months contained twenty-nine days, and which thirty. It became necessary to analyse the Babylonian calen- dar and to search the cuneiform records. From an examina- tion of ancient leases, contracts, and agreements, more than six hundred in number extending over a period of a thousand years, it became possible so find a clue to the problem. Every one of these cases was made the subject of calculation, and the distance and angle between the Crescent Moon and Setting Sun determined. Only so can the date of the Crucifixion of Our Lord, the first Good Friday, be determined. The original Good Friday was April 7th, A.D. 30. The first Easter Sunday, April 9th.
The result is that a rule has been framed that will enable Christians all the world over to keep Easter on its true date, to the nearest Sunday. Stabilized Easter may indeed be found a convenience by the Church and the world alike ; but the real weight behind it is that it is the true date in the Solar Calendar.
One cannot sufficiently thank Lord Desborough for the patience and skill with whirls he has argued the point, and explained the cause, before Church and State.—I am, Sir, &e.,
D. R. FOTHERINGHAM.
The V icarage, Charing, Kent.
Previous page
