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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 16, 1958)
T6 MAIL TRIBUNE, Mtdford', Oregon, Tuesday, December 16, 1958 Date of Jesus7 Birth Debated; Evidence Shows Dec. 25 Wrong Br LOUIS CASSELS When was Jesus born? Modern scholarship has been unable to pinpoint the exact date. But there is abun dant evidence that it was not Dec. 25, 1 A.D The custom of celebrating Christ's birthday on Dec. 25 originated in Rome in the fourth century of the Christ ian Era. The date apparently was chosen arbitrarily to coincide with a pagan holiday called Satur nalia which marked the winter solstice. St. Luke's Gospel furnishes a strong clue that the actual date of the first Christmas was sometime in late summer or early autumn. The familiar Nativity study records that there were in the same coun try shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." Cold Month December is an intensely cold and rainly month in the hill country of Judea where Jesus was born. Shepherds take their flocks into the shelter of sheepfolds or caves at night. But during the warm months of summer and fall, the sheep are too languid to feed in the daytime, so the shepherds take them into the fields at night The assumption that Jesus was born in the. year 1 A.D. is the basic premise of the Julian calendar, now general ly used throughout the world. This calendar purports to date all events from the birth of Christ. It divides history into two eras - B.C. (before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Do mini, which is Latin for "the Year of our Lord.") But the Roman monk Dionysius Exiguus, who con structed the Julian calendar in the sixth century A.D., was not very good at arithmetic. He misplaced the year 1 A.D. by at least six years, and per haps more, in his calculations. Tax Census Noted St. Matthew's gospel relates that Jesus was born "in the days of Herod the King." He rod died in 4 B.C. . If Herod was alive for approximately Juveniles Arrested For Shoplifting Two juveniles were arrest ed for shoplifting in about an hour Saturday afternoon at Van Lee's 88-Cent store, 227 East Sixth st., according to Medford police. A 15 -year -old girl from Horse Creek, Calif., was ar rested in connection with the theft of a cigarette lighter val ued at 88 cents. Shortly after ward, a 13-year-old boy from Ashland was arrested for al legedly taking a gold cross and chain. A second boy, sought in connection with taking a can of lighter fluid, was not im mediately located. Both cases were turned over to Jackson county juve nile authorities. DONATE SHRIMP SHRIMPS New Iberia, La.-(UPD-School authorities hope local students like seafood. State game agents have contributed four tons of undersized shrimp, confiscated from New Iberia fishermen, to school lunch rooms. N males SALADS VI 9 J ' something special TANG-TAe Perfect Salad Dressing adds that Smooth, Teasing Taste. two years after Jesus' birth, as St. Matthew also indicates, this would point toward a year of birth not later than 6 B.C. St. Luke connects the birth with a decree from Caesar Augustus requiring all resi dents of the Roman empire to enroll for a tax census. The census took place when Qui rinius (whose name is wrong liy translated Cyrenius in the King James Version) was gov ernor of Syria. Historical re search indicates that the date of the census was somewhere between 9 B.C. and 6 B.C. St. Luke, who was an ex tremely careful reporter, also states that Jesus was "about 30 years of age" when he be gan his ministry "in the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius." This statement reinforces the other indications that the year of birth was probably 6 B.C. Where was Jesus born? The gospels of St. Matthew and St. Luke, and all other available evidence, agree that it was in the village of Beth lehem, a fertile oasis of vine yards, olive groves and pas- turelands about six miles southwest of Jerusalem. But the widely-held idea that Jesus was born in a stable cannot be documented from scripture or any other source. St Luke simply says that Mary "brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; be cause there was no room for them in the inn." Artists, poets and song writers for centuries have leaped to the conclusion that the manger was in a stable or cattle-barn attached to the inn. Ancient Tradition Against this deduction must be weighed a very anci ent tradition in Eastern coun tries that the Christ child was born in a cave. Modern scholarship has c o n f i rmed that caves were frequently used in that era to provide shelter for livestock. Pits were dug in the cave floors to serve as feeding troughs or mangers. St. Luke does not say how far Joseph and Mary traveled after they were turned away from the overcrowded inn. So it is entirely plausible that they may have wandered around Bethlehem, seeking shelter in vain, until they were finally compelled to take refuge in a cave. ' Lacy Cape 7383 JvYl Prettiest cover above your fashions. This cape is done in the lacy pineapple design. Use 3-ply fingering yarn or mercerized crochet and knit ting cotton. Easy to do! Pat tern 7383: crochet directions, sizes small, medium, large in cluded. Send THIRTY-FIVE CENTS (coins) for this pattern - add 5 cents for each pattern for lst-class mailing. Send to Medford Mail Tribune, Household Arts Dept., P.O. Box 168, Old Chelsea Sta tion, New York 11, N.Y. Print plainly NAME, ADDRESS, PATTERN NUMBER. Our new 1959 Alice Brooks Needlecraft Catalogue has many lovely designs to order: crocheting, knitting, embroid ery, quilts, dolls, weaving. A special gift, in the catalog to keep a child happily occupied -a cutout doll and clothes to color. Send 25 cents for your copy of the book. BAH! HUMBUG! London-(UPD-The following advertisement appeared today in the personal column of the London Times: "Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Bon ning of Northwood, having joined the Biennial Christmas society (odd years only) wish to inform their friends that they are leaving the country during the coming difficult weeks. No cards, by request." So proudly you'll give... in gleaming golden foil... This Nation's Great Whiskey Give Seagrams and be Sure OF THE FIRST AND FINEST AMERICAN WHISKEY Just slip off cellophane wrap to remove advertising BLENDED WHISKEY. 86 PSOOF. 6555 GRA N NEUTRAL SPIRITS. SEAGRAM-DISTILLERS COMPANY. HEW YORK CITY. Fidel Castro Joins Colorful Cast of Latin-American Leaders Washington - (LTD - Cuban rebel leader Fidel Castro has now joined a colorful cast of Latin - American characters whose exploits have been an noying, angering and outrag ing Uncle Sam off and on during the past century or so. It remains to be seen, of course, whether Castro's kid naping of American citizens, seizure of American property and use of an American un derground to supply his forces will provoke its "Big Stick" against him. But he has already proved himself a worthy associate in the publis mind with Cuba's Narciso Lopez, Mexico's "Pan cho" Villa, Haiti's President Sam and Nicaragua's Augus to Sandino. Lopez was a friend on the fight to free Cuba of Spanish rule. In 1850 and 1851, he led freebooting expeditions re cruited and organized in the U. S., a notorious violation of neutrality laws which American public opinion con doned . because of a wide spread belief that Cuba's des tiny was closely associated with that of the U. S. Finally, Lopez sailed from New Orleans in a bid for power and glory. His first ex pedition of 750 men was dis persed by Spanish forces when it reached Cuba. The 450 men in his second expe dition were captured and many were executed by the Spanish. But Lopez's activities did have the effect of helping to create a body of public opin ion in the U. S. which was favorable to the eventual lib eration of Cuba from Spain. Francisco "Pancho" Villa, a Mexican revolutionary, has become a traditional theme in books and movies. He might have been remembered only as a minor rebel or even as a bandit except that he boldly crossed the U.S. border with less than a thousand raiders on the night of March 8-9, 1916, and set fire to part of the town of Columbus, N. M. Villa's grudge against the "gringos" was that the U. S. had recognized his arch-enemy, Gen. Venustiano Carran a Nicaraguan guerrilla leader. Units of the 13th U. S. Cav alry fought b ac k . Seven American soldiers and eight civilians were- killed. Five soldiers and two civilans were wounded. Some reports said 190 of the raiders were killed or wounded. After the Columbus raid, President Woodrow Wilson or dered a punitive expedition into Mexico under Gen. John J. Pershing with instructions to capture Villa. But Carr anza objected to the invasion and the U. S. withdrew its troops in June with Villa still at large. He lived until July 20, 1923, when he and three compan ions in an automobile were slain in ambush by their own countrymen. From May 1927 to Febru ary 1933, every news item about Augusto Cesar Sandino, a Nicaraguan guerilla leader, was emblazoned in the head lines of newspapers through out the Western Hemisphere. On May 3, 1927, Conserva tive and Liberal factions in Nicaragua signed an agree ment under the urging of Washington aimed at ending the civil war. Sandino, a Lib eral, rejected the agreement and organized a guerrilla band which was believed to number about 500 men. The U. S. Marines were sent to Nicaragua to capture Sandino, but they never did and were finally pulled out in January 1933. The next month, he made peace with President Juan Sacasa and re tired to a farm. Later, though, Sandino got into trouble with the Nicar aguan National Guard. In February 1934, he was seized and shot. Latin-American opinion was generally sympathetic to Sandino. His adventures were a major incentive to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's for mulation of the inter-American "good neighbor" policy. In 1915, there had been President Vilbrun Guillaume Sam of Haiti, a world head line figure at a time when the Haitian government was deeplly involved in interna tional financial difficulties and domestic factional strife. When he took office o n March 4, 1915, Sam was the eighth president of his coun try since 1910. He promptly ordered the execution of 160 of his political enemies. On Ideal Christmas Gifts MIRRORS L All Sizes in Stock Phone SP 3-3613 GLASS CO. 303 North Bartlett SELBY July 28, a Haitian mob invad ad the French Embassy in Port-au-Prince, where Sam had taken refuge, and killed him. President Wilson considered that this incident endangered the international balance of power in the Caribbean. He ordered U. S. Marines ashore to preserve order. A mission sent by President Herbert Hoover in 1930 ne gotiated a settlement of U. S. Haitian differences, but the last elements of the American occupation force did hot leave the island until 1934. By then, the U. S. had agreed to a policy of non-intervention in the personal af fairs of its Latin American neighbors. This policy has since then. Will Fidel Castr been consistently adhered to upset it? WOOD TO BURN Best Dry Pine Slabs and Rough Blox-Full Load 16' $575 S & H GREEN STAMPS-TOO MEDFORD FUEL CO. Tel SP 2-2111 Court & McAndrews c 117 S. Central f upen imii.n.siirfwv m SO CHRISTMAS-NEW, SO CHRISTMAS-RIGHT MrTGOoDOLD vi 1 1 "vsvewiK ms rt jz m aim vt oV p.m. hvjj m, "-"TFrs i-FASHIONED SAVINGS! his w trr, ... - L3 FIND HUNDREDS OF GIFT SUGESTIONS AT WARDS mm SALE! Save 25 on Magic Seal 5-pc. set- extra-thick aluminum Reg. 21.50 3-piece set WARDS "WATERLESS" WARE-NONE FINER! 10-gauge 4 times thicker than ordinary aluminum ware! 1, 2, 3-qt. covered pans; 5 Vir qt. Dutch oven; 9" skillet Hamilton Beach 10 speeds mix heaviest Cooking's a pleasure with this convenience-plus mix- Use as portable or on er powerful batter! 2g95 stand. Twin beaters snap out for easy cleaning. fit GOLD SUNBURST ELECTRIC CLOCK Elegant! Block face. 16- diem. ' Tax included. I.OO 40-HOUR CLOCK TWIN BELL-ALARM Old-time charm I Lu minous dial. Tax included. w.X HAMILTON BEACH 3-SPEED MIXER Mixes in anv bowl or pot. 3 lbs.; easy 3 lb.; 17qc nytohold I 6-PC STEAK SET GIFT FOR HOST Simulated stag han dles. Serrated QQ tips. Lined box. 9-PC STEAK AND CARVING SET 6 steak knives plus 3-pc carving set. Gift chest. H.3D : ..:::. j SALE! REG. 39.95 18-CT. ROASTER Automatic! Holds 20 Ib. turkey nn qq nk.ware. 7,OB WARDS CHROMED CAKE BREAKER - Cuts high, light cakes perfectly. 10". Gift boxed. $1 4-PIECE SET OF MINIATURE MOLDS Copper anodized alu minum. Each e4 holds Vi cup. $1 WA" DECORATED WALL PLAQUE Assorted designs Uk ebony and gold color plastic W JIUT CRACKER AND NUT PICK SET 2 metal crackers and 6 nut picks in gift box. $1 CORN POPPER, BAG OF CORN Aluminum pan; rotary action handle. 3-oz. com. $1 SET OF 8 PLATES FOR CHRISTMAS Heavy reusable ace tate. Assorted designs. 9Vi 77 C GIVE WARD GIFTS.FOR FUN AND SAVING FREE ... at Wards! Regular 3.38 lock and horn set with the purchase of any model Hawthorne bicycle. HAWTHORNE 3-lbs. Dacron ' M KlQ double-purpose sleeping bag JpJNsy ArJp Water-repellent forest- ?3r CsT- Av SPj green Oxford cloth top and m BAA , ' lfK fK VV bottom. Flannel lining. 34x H f 00 WTDU0"B7l I m 78 in. Zip 2 bags together If llV VsA yJfl jl , -TT I SALE! Hawthorne 26" Stylemaster si45 only $5 down Revolutionary idea in bik design . . . twin top bars for added strength, less weight. Handlebar brakes give you fingertip control ... for sur stops. 3-speed hub lets you shift gears like a car. Boys' redwhite, girls' bluewhite. NEW HOLIDAY SPRAY LACQUER For use on Christmat displays. 3 j cq popular colors. per 12 ox. can SALE! NYLON- SALE! 2-CELL WOUND BASKETBALL Compass LIGHT Scuff, water resistant. Tan color, . Qg needle inel. Magnetic compass in light fiOc end! 00 JUNIOR CHAMP ARCHERY SET Complete with arrows, armguard, . qq tab, bow. t'" - - SMART RED PLAID OUTING KIT Rayon zipper cose. Vacuums, n QC food jars. k.,..,. SALE! 4-BAT TABLE TENNIS SET 3-ply laminated batb Includes two balls. 4.88 SALE! 1279 BADMINTON SET 4 rackets, 2 double presses. 3 birds, ,100 mesh net, poles. SALE! 5.95 DARTBOARD SET 20 point game and baseball game, a QQ 6 brass darts. '" SALE! UTILITY EXTENSION CORD 9 ft. lonjr For lamps & fans. Brown t Ac or ivory. psmmn P0WR-KRAFT ORBITAL SANDER Why sand by hondl Work twice es fast. IX .4t r rr - i SALE! INSTANT LIGHTING TORCH KIT Pilot light triples life of fuel tank, r, Qft UL approved. RIVERSIDE REAR SEAT SPEAKER Packaged for Xmast The perfect gift for him. 7.V5
