180 



THE DETERMINATION OF EASTER DAY. 



The new moon on March 4, A.D. 29, was at abont 8 "8 degrees 

 angular distance from the setting sun, but in a somewhat more 

 favourable direction for visibility than was the one seen recently. 

 In March, A.D. 29, it was thus only a little more difficult to see the 

 new moon than it was at Tonbridge, where the conditions due to 

 latitude, direction of the moon with regard to the sun, and the 

 altitude of the observer were less favourable. 



"Would it be scientific to assert that no one could live beyond the 

 age of 80, if it were found that no one out of 76 selected lives had 

 attained that age 1 If just afterwards someone was found in an 

 unhealthy place to be certainly (say) 85 years of age, could we not 

 imagine that someone else in a more healthy place might even 

 exceed that age a little ? 



The simile is a fair one to make : uncertainty of visibility and 

 uncertainty of life may well be compared ; in each case a very 

 extended amount of data should be obtained before we venture to 

 assert the impossibility of visibility or of life. 



"With the present scanty data at our disposal it is therefore rash 

 to assert that the new moon of March 4, A.D. 29, was not visible 

 to the naked eye at Jerusalem ; in other words, A.D. 29 cannot be 

 considered an impossible year for the Crucifixion from an astro- 

 nomical point of view. 



Much more can be said on this subject, but want of space prevents : 

 so I shall finish as I began by asking you to accord a sincere vote of 

 thanks to Dr. Downing for his instructive and interesting paper. 



Mr. Joseph Graham proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the 

 visitors, Dr. J. K. Fotheringham, Mr. E. Pearce, M.P., and Mr. 

 H. P. Hollis, whose comments had added so much to the interest 

 and value of the discussion. Also to the Eev. D. E. Fotheringham 

 for his letter. 



Both votes were then put to the Meeting and were carried by 

 acclamation. 



The Meeting adjourned at 6.10 p.m. 



