The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-12-18
THE CREEDS OF THE BELLS.
By GEORGE W. BUNGAY.

How sweet the chime of the Sabbath bells.
Each one its creed in music tells,
In tones that float upon the air,
As.oft as song, as pure as prayer;
And will put in simple rhyme
The language of the golden chime;
My happy heart with rapture swells
Responsive to the bells, sweet bells.
Ye purifying waters swell.'
In mellow tones rang out bell;
"Through faith alone in Christ can save,
Man must be plunged beneath the wave.
To show the world unfaltering faith
In what the Sacred Scripture saith:
o swell! We rising waters, swell!'
Pealed out the clear-toned Baptist bell.
ooh, heed the ancient landmarks well"'
In solemn tones exclaimed bell;
No progress made by mortal man
Can change the just, eternal plan;
With God there can be nothing new;
Ignore the false, embrace the true,
While all is we'll! is we'll. is wellr'
Pealed out the good old Dutch church bell
"In deeds of love excel! excelv'
Chimed out from ivied tower, bell;
This is the church not built on sands
Emblem of one not built with hands;
Its forms and sacred rites revere,
Come worship here! come worship here.
In rituals and faith excel"'
Chimed.out the Episcopalian bell.
" Not faith alone, but works as we'll,
Must test the soul!' said soft bell;
"Come here and cast aside your load,
And work your way along the road,
With faith in God, and faith in man,
And hope in Christ where faith began;
Do we'll! do we'll! do we'll! do well"'
Rang out the Unitarian bell.
"To all the truth we tell. we tell"
Shouted in ecstatics bell;
"Come all We weary wanderers, see.
Our Lord has made salvation free.
Repent, believe, have faith, and then
Be saved, and praise the Lord, Amen.
Salvation's free, we tell! we tell"'
Shouted the Methodistc bell.
FAREWELL! farewell! base world, FAREWELL"
In touching tones exclaimed bell;
"Life is boon to mortal given,
To fit the soul for bliss in heaven;
Do not invoke the avenging rod,
Come here and learn the way to God
Say to the world farewell! farewell.'
Pealed forth the Presbyterian bell.
sin after life there is no helly'
In raptures rang a cheerful bell;
Look up to heaven this holy day,
Where angels wait to lead the way,
There are no fires, no friends to blight
The future life; be just and right.
No hell! no hell no hell! no helln'
Rang out the Universalist bell.
"The Pilgrim Fathers needed we'll
My cheerful voice." pealed forth bell;
" No letters here to clog the soul;
No arbitrary creeds control
The free heart and progressive mind,
That leave the dusty past behind.
Speed well! speed well! speed we'll! speed
wellr'
Pealed out the Independent bell.
" No pope, no pope, to doom to hell"'
The Protestant rang out bell;
"Great Luther left his fiery zeal,
Within the hearts that truly feel
That loyalty to God will be
The fealty that makes men free.
No images where incense fellr'
Rang out old Martin Luther's bell.
Neatly attired, in manners plain,
Behold pilgrim, no spot, no stain
Slowly, with soft and measured tread,
In Quaker garb-no white-no red.
To passing friend-I hear him say
" Here worship thou-this is the way
No churchly form-it is not well,
No bell, no bell, no bell, no bell.'