The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-15
MURRAY HILL INTERESTED.
All about that Little Bem In the OLD Brick
Church.


On Murray Hill, division Of opinion yet
exists in regard to tho modest little bell that
strikes the quarters in the bolfry OF the Brick
Church. at Thirty-seventh street and Fifth
avenue. TX Gov Edwin d. Morgan Ia one Of
the trustees Of the church. lie lives on tho
northeast corner OF Thirty-sevcnth street aud
Firth avenue. opposite tho church. Ho likes
tho striking OF tho quarters. Ho has
heard no complaints except from lnvallds-
very few of thom-and few friends
OF invalids lilo agrees with all his fam
lily that the striking OF tho quarters
Is not only not an annoyance, but that II ie
positive pleasure. At the Same time he is will
ing to sacrinco his own enjoyment OF tho bell
and the clock II tho sick persons who COM
planned last summer continue to regard the
striking ns Objectionable. Nevertheless. he
docs not think that any invalid would yet we'll
merely on account Of the removal OF the bell.
He said last evening that the complaints against
the hell reminded him very much OF the time
in his youth when it was proposed to intro
ducc stoves for heating the churches. In those
days 1t was regarded as part OF religion almost
to brave n little discomfort while hearing the
Gospel preached There we're opponents to the
stoves, and some thought that the church
would he opprpssiyely warm II heated But the
stovc party carried the day On the first Sunday
after tho stoves were put in, several OF the
matrons Of tho anti-stove party tainted. But
they were quite chngrincd on nscertanlng that,
owing to tho temperate weather, no fires had
been kindled In the stoves that day. IL wns
only ono OF many historic illustrations OF the
power OF the Imagination. Nevertheless. Gov
Morgan IL convinced that II invalids are an.
| moved tho bell ought to he suppressed, oven II
| the etoppage should likewise become an annoy
| anco to the ncighbors who have got accustomed
~ the bell and want to hive II keep on striking
Gov. Morgan agreed with his fellow trustees In
| causing the quarter striking to be suspended
| during the summer months. but supposed that
| the advent Of winter when windows are closed.
| would remove objections on the score OF noise.
| He WIS under the impression that the petition
ers against the bell had been consulted before
| the striking was resumed He had no doubt
| that the trustees would unite in removing the
bel If complaints against i are continued;
| Mr. VIM. II. Barmore. Of the Barmorc House.
on the corner Of Thirty eighth street and Fltth
avenue. only one block from the church. smiled
! on being asked whether the bell was an annoy
ancc lie had heard no complaint from his
| sixty guests. Some had wondered when the
bell was first put up ana 'houGht so som9Ihing
| for o'clock and sixteen strokes for ~ O clock.
| Then they got interested, AS persons DO al sea,
| aud learned to tell the time by the striking OF
| the quarters. Then they got TO keeping their
| Watches regulated by II. because the clock was
almost correct. And now. he thought, they al
| liked It. and would regret TO have 1t stopped.
| Some OF them. however, did not like the nerce
ringing OF a sonorous Roman Catholic church
| bell that called the faithful to mass mt ;
o'clock In the morning with sort OF spitcful
lange. ms II to punish those who persisted in
Jud.:c Sinwen. who lives in front room in
the Bnrmore House says that he likes to hear
| the quarters struck He thought something
| was wrong with the clock at first, but he IL now
reconcilcd. and is never awakened by the
| sounds.
Dr. George W. wheelock Of II West Thirty
! seventh street a few doors below the church.
| WIS one who aided in circulating the petition
nglinst the bell. He agrees with Mr.. Gordon oi
7 East Thirty-cighth street that the bell Is an
| moving 10 iuvalids.
Gen James Watson Webb has boon ill in his
| home at Il West Thirty-eignth street three
| months. and very wakriul AZ times. but ne has
| been pleased on hearing the quarters struck.
| He finds II company in the lonely hours ~ the
| might. when he is saved the trouble OF touching
his rrpeuter.
| IN Madison avenue. one block from the church.
| thought that the bell was somewhat annoy ng
| when she WAS ill.,
The family ~ Mr.. Hendricks. who live on the
corner Of Thirty seventh street and Finn ave-
nue.. opposite the church. are not displrnsed.
A florist at ThirtY-seVonth street and Finn
avenue had heard that some sick persons COM
planned OF the bell. but he could not tell who
they are. He had paid so little attention TO the
matter that he did not know that the quarter
time stri king had been temporarily suspended
| A druggist In the store adjoining said that hf
knew of no persons who had been made sick on
account Of the bell. He did not think that the
bell would make any one sick He had been
asked whether he would sign n petition against
the bell and had said 80" because he liked
it, He sleeps in the back part Of his store. bu
| "a not "A