XIV. Subtract the epact from 57, divide by 7, and keep the remainder, or 7,
if there be no remainder.
XV. To XIII. add VII., the dominical number, (and 7 besides if XIV. be
greater than VII.,) and subtract XIV., the result is the day of March, or
if more than 31, subtract 31, and the result is the day of April, on which
Easter Sunday (old style) falls. (37; Easter Day is April 6).
These rules completely represent the old and new Calendars, so far as
Easter is concerned. For further explanation we must refer to the articles
cited at the commencement.
The annexed is the table of new and full moons of the Gregorian Calendar,
cleared of the errors made for the purpose of preventing Easter from
coinciding with the Jewish Passover.
The second table (page 370) contains _epacts_, or ages of the moon at the
beginning of the year: thus in 1913, the epact is 22, in 1868 it is 6. This
table goes from 1850 to 1999: should the New Zealander not have arrived by
that time, and should the churches of England and Rome then survive, the
epact table may be continued from their liturgy-books. The way of using the
table is as follows: Take the epact of the required year, and find it in
the first or last column of the first table, in line with it are seen the
calendar days of new and full moon. Thus, when the epact is 17, the new and
full moons of March fall on the 13th and 28th. The result is, for the most
part, correct: but in a minority of cases there is an error of a day. When
this happens, the error is almost always a fraction of a day much less than
twelve hours. Thus, when the table gives full moon on the 27th, and the
real truth is the 28th, we may be sure it is early on the 28th.
{369}
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
|Jan.|Feb.|Mar.|Apr.|May |June|July|Aug.|Sep.|Oct.|Nov.|Dec.|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 1
| 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 2
| 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 3
| 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 4
| 11 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 2 |2,31|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 5
| 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 |1,30|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 6
| 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 2 |2,31| 30 | 29 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 7
| 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 |1,30| 29 | 28 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 8
| 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 |2,31| 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9
| 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 |1,30| 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10
| 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 |1,31| 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 11
| 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 |1,30| 30 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 12
| 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |1,31| 29 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
13 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 13
| 2 | 1 | 2 |1,30| 30 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
14 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 14
|1,31| -- |1,31| 29 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 15
| 30 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 20 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
16 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 16
| 29 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
17 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 17
| 28 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 18
| 27 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
19 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 |1,31| 19
| 26 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 |1,31| 30 | 20
| 25 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
21 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 |1,31| 29 | 29 | 21
| 24 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
22 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 2 |1,30| 30 | 28 | 28 | 22
| 23 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
23 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 |1,31| 29 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 23
| 22 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
24 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 |1,30| 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 24
| 21 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
25 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 |1,31| 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 25
| 20 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
26 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 |1,30| 30 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 26
| 19 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
27 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |1,31| 29 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 27
| 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
28 | 2 | 1 | 2 |1,30| 30 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 28
| 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
29 |1,31| -- |1,31| 29 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 29
| 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
30 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 30
| 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
|Jan.|Feb.|Mar.|Apr.|May |June|July|Aug.|Sep.|Oct.|Nov.|Dec.|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
{370}
=======================================================
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
-------------------------------------------------------
185 | 17 | 28 | 9 | 20 | 2 | 12 | 23 | 4 | 15 | 26
-------------------------------------------------------
186 | 7 | 18 | 30 | 11 | 22 | 3 | 14 | 25 | 6 | 17
-------------------------------------------------------
187 | 28 | 9 | 20 | 1 | 12 | 23 | 4 | 15 | 26 | 7
-------------------------------------------------------
188 | 18 | 30 | 11 | 22 | 3 | 14 | 25 | 6 | 17 | 28
-------------------------------------------------------
189 | 9 | 21 | 1 | 12 | 23 | 4 | 15 | 26 | 7 | 18
-------------------------------------------------------
190 | 29 | 10 | 21 | 2 | 13 | 24 | 5 | 16 | 27 | 8
-------------------------------------------------------
191 | 19 | 30 | 11 | 22 | 3 | 14 | 26 | 6 | 17 | 29
-------------------------------------------------------
192 | 10 | 21 | 2 | 13 | 24 | 5 | 16 | 27 | 8 | 19
-------------------------------------------------------
193 | 30 | 11 | 22 | 3 | 14 | 26 | 6 | 17 | 29 | 10
-------------------------------------------------------
194 | 21 | 2 | 13 | 24 | 5 | 16 | 27 | 8 | 19 | 30
-------------------------------------------------------
195 | 11 | 22 | 3 | 14 | 26 | 6 | 17 | 29 | 10 | 21
-------------------------------------------------------
196 | 2 | 13 | 24 | 5 | 16 | 27 | 8 | 19 | 30 | 11
-------------------------------------------------------
197 | 22 | 3 | 14 | 26 | 6 | 17 | 29 | 10 | 21 | 2
-------------------------------------------------------
198 | 13 | 24 | 5 | 16 | 27 | 8 | 19 | 30 | 11 | 22
-------------------------------------------------------
199 | 3 | 14 | 26 | 6 | 17 | 29 | 10 | 21 | 2 | 13
=======================================================
For example, the year 1867. The epact is 25, and we find in the table:
J. F. M. AP. M. JU. JL. AU. S. O. N. D.
New 5+ 4 5+ 4 3+ 2 1,31 29 28- 27 26 25
Full 20 19- 20 19- 18 17 16 15 13- 13 11+ 11
When the truth is the day after + is written after the date; when the day
before, -. Thus, the new moon of March is on the 6th; the full moon of
April is on the 18th. {371}
I now introduce a small paradox of my own; and as I am not able to prove
it, I am compelled to declare that any one who shall dissent must be either
very foolish or very dishonest, and will make me quite uncomfortable about
the state of his soul. This being settled once for all, I proceed to say
that the necessity of arriving at the truth about the assertions that the
Nicene Council laid down astronomical tests led me to look at Fathers,
Church histories, etc. to an extent which I never dreamed of before. One
conclusion which I arrived at was, that the Nicene Fathers had a knack of
sticking to the question which many later councils could not acquire. In
our own day, it is not permitted to Convocation seriously to discuss any
one of the points which are bearing so hard upon their resources of
defence--the cursing clauses of the Athanasian Creed, for example. And it
may be collected that the prohibition arises partly from fear that there is
no saying where a beginning, if allowed, would end. There seems to be a
suspicion that debate, once let loose, would play up old Trent with the
liturgy, and bring the whole book to book. But if any one will examine the
real Nicene Creed, without the augmentation, he will admire the way in
which the framers stuck to the point, and settled what they had to decide,
according to their view of it. With such a presumption of good sense in
their favor, it becomes easier to believe in any claim which may be made on
their behalf to tact or sagacity in settling any other matter. And I
strongly suspect such a claim may be made for them on the Easter question.
I collect from many little indications, both before and after the Council,
that the division of the Christian world into Judaical and Gentile, though
not giving rise to a sectarian distinction expressed by names, was of far
greater force and meaning than historians prominently admit. I took _note_
of many indications of this, but not _notes_, as it was not to my purpose.
If it were so, we must admire the discretion of the Council. The Easter
question was the {372} fighting ground of the struggle: the Eastern or
Judaical Christians, with some varieties of usage and meaning, would have
the Passover itself to be the great feast, but taken in a Christian sense;
the Western or Gentile Christians, would have the commemoration of the
Resurrection, connected with the Passover only by chronology. To shift the
Passover in time, under its name, _Pascha_, without allusion to any of the
force of the change, was gently cutting away the ground from under the feet
of the Conservatives. And it was done in a very quiet way: no allusion to
the precise character of the change; no hint that the question was about
two different festivals: "all the brethren in the East, who formerly
celebrated this festival at the same time as the Jews, will in future
conform to the Romans and to us." The Judaizers meant to be keeping the
Passover _as_ a Christian feast: they are gently assumed to be keeping,
_not_ the Passover, _but_ a Christian feast; and a doctrinal decision is
quietly, but efficiently, announced under the form of a chronological
ordinance. Had the Council issued theses of doctrine, and excommunicated
all dissentients, the rupture of the East and West would have taken place
earlier by centuries than it did. The only place in which I ever saw any
part of my paradox advanced, was in an article in the _Examiner_ newspaper,
towards the end of 1866, after the above was written.
A story about Christopher Clavius, the workman of the new Calendar. I
chanced to pick up "Albertus Pighius Campensis de aequinoctiorum
solsticiorumque inventione... Ejusdem de ratione Paschalis celebrationis,
De que Restitutione ecclesiastici Kalendarii," Paris, 1520, folio.[760] On
the title-page were decayed words followed by ".._hristophor.. C..ii_, 1556
(or 8)," the last blank not entirely erased by time, but showing the lower
halves of an _l_ and of an _a_, and {373} rather too much room for a _v_.
It looked very like _E Libris Christophori Clavii_ 1556. By the courtesy of
some members of the Jesuit body in London, I procured a tracing of the
signature of Clavius from Rome, and the shapes of the letters, and the
modes of junction and disjunction, put the matter beyond question. Even the
extra space was explained; he wrote himself Cla_u_ius. Now in 1556, Clavius
was nineteen years old: it thus appears probable that the framer of the
Gregorian Calendar was selected, not merely as a learned astronomer, but as
one who had attended to the calendar, and to works on its reformation, from
early youth. When on the subject I found reason to think that Clavius had
really read this work, and taken from it a phrase or two and a notion or
two. Observe the advantage of writing the baptismal name at full length.