o written in Brady's _Clovis Calendaria_,
as below). But why should this day be distinguished as sacred beyond all
other Sundays in the year?

2. In _Clavis Calendaria_, by John Brady (2 vols. 8vo. 1815), I find,
vol. i. p. 378., "Other authorities contend," he does not say who those
authorities are, "that the original name of this season of the year was
_Wittentide_; or the time of choosing the _wits_, or wise men, to the
_Wittenagemote_."

Now this last, though evidently an etymology inadequate to the
importance of the festival, appears to me to furnish the right clue. The
day of Pentecost was the day of the outpouring of the Divine Wisdom and
Knowledge on the Apostles; the day on which was given to them that HOLY
SPIRIT, by which was "revealed" to them "_The wisdom of God_ ... even
the _hidden wisdom_, which GOD ordained before the world." 1 Cor. ii.
7.[1] It was the day on which was fulfilled the promise {139} made to
them by CHRIST that "The Comforter, which is the HOLY GHOST, whom the
Father will send in my name, he shall _teach you all things_, and bring
all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John,
xiv. 26. When "He, the Spirit of Truth, came, who should _guide_ them
_into all truth_." John xvi. 13. And the consequence of this "unction
from the Holy One" was, that they "knew all things," and "needed not
that any man should teach them." 1 John, ii. 20. 27.

_Whit-sonday_ was, therefore, the day on which the Apostles were endued
by God with _wisdom_ and knowledge: and my Query is, whether the root of
the word may not be found in the Anglo-Saxon verb,--

_Witan_, to know, understand (whence our _wit_, in its old meaning of
good sense, or cleverness and the expression "having one's _wits_ about
one," &c.); or else, perhaps, from--

_Wisian_, to instruct, show, inform; (Ger. _weisen_). Not being an
Anglo-Saxon scholar, I am unable of myself to trace the formation of the
word _witson_ from either of these roots: and I should feel greatly
obliged to any of your correspondents who might be able and willing to
inform me, whether that form is deduceable from either of the above
verbs; and if so, what sense it would bear in our present language. I am
convinced, that _wisdom day_, or _teaching day_, would afford a very far
better reason for the name now applied to Pentecost, than any of the
reasons commonly given. I should observe, that I think it incorrect to
say Whit-Sunday. It should be Whi