New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-30
BLESSING A CHIME OF BELLS.

o.
The Right Rev. Bishop BAILEY on Tuesday, st.
Stephens day, blessed fine chime of bells for the
Church Of the Most Holy Redeemer, in Thrd-st. Tue
ceremony was performed Immediately alter the ten
O'Clock Mas, when that vast chucch was crowded
from the steps Of the altar to the very door. Capt.
Smith, With bis company OF Independent Rifles, was
III attendance as guard Of honor. A number OF the
members Of the cOngrega alton, who I'D been most &C.
tive in procuring these bells had Dir places imme-
ulafely b. the bells.
The bells are four in number, and are the chime
sent from Germany TO the Worlds + air in his city.
The largest of the four, which weighs about 1900
poun is, was dedicated in honor of st Michael; the
second in honor of St. Gabriel the third in size
was dedicated to ST. Raphael, and the fourth TO st.
Aiphonsus. They are of the best metal and of the
finest workmanship Each bell has sacred inscrip-
ITEMS and limoges cast in the meta. The bells were
conveniently hung, in obedience to the Pontica, in
the space in front of the Altar railing The Bishop,
in full poptifcals entered the church attended by the
Priests and Acoytes, with incense, ghts, &c. They
charted the Mserere and the SD, seth, Goth, 69th
and s5th Psalms, with the De Profundis.
II en- the Bishop blessed salt and water saying after
wards the pray that when the bells should be bathsd
beTe~ith whatsoever they should sound the power
of oevs the shades of sntasms the attack of mobs,
the striking Of lightning the shock Of thunders the
ruin oienpests, and every spirit OF the storms might
be driven back and that when the children Of Chris
tan people should hear them ringing, the increase of
devotion might grow in them. that fastening within
the bosom of their Mother Church they may sing to
il th,her with the sound of the trumpet, the modu
lson Of psaery, the sweetness of the organ the ex
utation OF tie drum, the gl4dness Of the cymba so
thar ia the temple of His glory. by their pleadings
and prayers they may invite the multitude of the army
of Angels.
Then the salt being mixed with the water with the
special prayers Of the PoLt6ca the Bishop began to
battle the bells herewith. When this wac done, the
Bishop with Priests chan'ed the Psalms "Lauda ami
I" ma mea, Laudate DomDun quonism bonus, Lau-
n Ia INN dc plp;ia afa Ian
"date Domnum in Sanctis sus.'
Then the Bishop, with the thumb of his right hand,
made the sign of the each bell with the holy
oil infrmorun and said the prayer invoking the same
tecfa .. error 10 the devil and his SER
wants and of comfort and good inspirations TO the
people of God, wherever the sound OF these bells
should be heard. Then wiping off the oil with lint,
he began the antphon, "V0x Dominl super aq1as
"nultas, and with the Priests chanted the xxviiith
Psalm; meantime the Bishop made seven crosses on
the outside of each bell with the oil of the in
firm, and four crosses with the chrism on the four
sides of each, saying at each time: May this bell,
" o Lord be sanctfied aud consecrated in the name
" of the Father, and Of the Son. and OF the Holy
Ghost. In honor Of St. Michael for the first bell,
and in honor of each patron Of the other bells re-
spectivey, in their turn. Then followed another
prayer of blessing for the communication of power
az ibe spirits Of the air from the beautiful order
Of the Pontifcal. when, taking thyme, frankncense
an6 myrrb, he pvt it in ceIsers, and placed these
under each Of the bells
The v.rses Videyunt k dque Deus, DC, Were sung
from Ps Xvi and the Bishop said the closing prayer,
that: Like as the Holy Ghost came down in delight
upop the harp OF David aod as, while Samuel offered
the sucking lamb holocaust ts the King of eternal
dominion, the thunder of the heavens repulsed the
hosts Of the enemy So while the sound of these bells
shall PISS through the air, the Angelic hand may
guard tbe congregation Of the church, and perpetual
protection keep the minds. the bodies and the pos
sessiOrs Of believers
Finally, the Deacon sang the Gospel, from the 10th
chapter of 81. Luke, Of Mary, who chose the oae
thing pecessary-as if giving the constant mission to
the bells of awakening the attention Of all, while
crossed in the of the world, to remember that
their chief good is in the Church.