p. 144 | Bootless Reform by Editor

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 24, 1859

Bootless Reform.

By Editor

THERE are some who think it their duty to discard the names of the months as they stand at present in the calendar, and also to return to the Bible method of reckoning time. Such seem not to understand the difficulty of the task they have undertaken. For instance, we have received letters during the present month (March) dated "Third Month, 1859." But do not the writers perceive that this is not the third month of the year according to Bible reckoning? Do they not understand that the Bible does not commence the year in the midst of winter, but somewhere near the vernal equinox?

Again: Let those who think it their duty to return to the Bible reckoning of the months and years, tell us just when the year commences according to that mode of computation, and how we are to find any particular day of any particular month. We would also remind them that the Bible months consisted of only thirty days each, and that the Jews were obliged to intercalate every three years, a thirteenth month to make the lunar and solar years correspond. This also must be adopted.

The present, or Gregorian, calendar is far more accurate and convenient. We do not believe there is any virtue in returning to the former. But if we are to return to it, let us be consistent and take it in all its particulars, and not imagine that we are going according to Bible reckoning, by simply using Scripture language to designate the months of the Roman year.