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NOVEMBER, 1924] A FIXED EASTER AND THE REFORM OF THE OHRISTIAN CALENDAR 235
(850 B. c.). His theory of the pre-historic origin of the Indian Alphabet is, as is only natural, based on more or less debatable materials. We can admit with Prof. Das Gupta (JASB., 1921, Vol. XVII, pp. 210-212) that unless there is clear evidence to show that inscribed stones were found in neolithic strata, the value of their evidence is appreciably diminished. But even if this is granted, and even if one of the stones were really inscribed with Arabic integers, as Mr. Mitra now holds, even then the materials brought together deserve the serious consideration of scholars. Thus, though he has not succeeded in finally establishing his theory of the pre-historic origin of the Indian Alphabet, it will be admitted that he has practically shattered the theory of Bühler, which has been for sometime past regarded as unassailable by some Indologists. There should now be a further discussion of all the available materials pointing to a pre-historic origin of the Brahmi script. Dr. R. C. Majumdar has recently drawn the attention of scholars (J BORS., Vol. IX, 1923, p. 20) to the fact that Mr. Chanda had observed alphabetic forms, resembling some of the Brahm signs, on the artifacts of the Azilian period (Proceedings of the Second Oriental Conference, p. lxxxvi). This is highly important, and we hope we shall have further light on this point from Mr. Chanda. A FIXED EASTER AND THE REFORM OF THE CHRISTIAN CALENDAR.
BY SIE RICHARD O. TEMPLE, Br. (Continued from page 219.)
IV. The Existing Solar Calendar with a fixed Easter and Intercalary Days. If, however, every February were given 29 days, the 15th April would always fall on the same day of the week as New Year's Day; and if the extra day given to February were taken from December, the year would have the same length as at present. December would have 30 days and if the last day, 30th December, of the year were made intercalary, i.e., not counted in the week, made a public holiday, and called, say Old Year's Day: Then every New Year's Day would fall on the same day of the week ; i.e., every 1st of January would fall on the same weekday. By this plan December would count only 29 days. All that it would be necessary to do would then be to wait until New Year's Day falls naturally in a normal year on a Sunday (say till 1933)* and make every subsequent New Year's Day fall also on Sunday. Then every Easter Sunday would fall on 15th April, and Easter would be automatically fixed without any change in the length of the year in relation to the course of the sun. See Table II.
Such a plan would involve a second intercalary day for Leap Year, which might, for the reasons above given, be made a public holiday to fall between 30th September and let October, and be called Leap Year's Day, or as above suggested, Sanctuary Day.
This last Scheme appears on the whole to satisfy the requirements with the least possible disturbance of existing habits.
TABLE II–1983. Lanar-Solar Calendar compared with the Existing Solar Calendar in Normal Years. Week Day. Lunar-Solar. Existing Solar. Lunar-Solar. Existing Solar.
Month. Day. Month. Day. Month. Day. Sunday .. January 1 January 1 February 1 January 29 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1928 will commence on a Sunday but that is . Loap Your.
February
