New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-14
ATTACHING 4 CHURCH BELL.

RESIDENTS OF MURRAY HILL AROUSED.
THE BELL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST DECLARED TO
BEA NUIsANCE-THE BOARD OF HEALTH PETI-
TrONED-MUCH ADO ABOUT A LITTLE THING
About thirty persons, who live near the Church
of ST. John the BAPTIST Protestant Episcopal at
Iexlngton-ave. and Thirty ffth-st have petitIOned
the Board of Health " to stop the ringing Of the
Great bell in the tower of the church" They
rreat ANNOYANCE and disquiet" from the ringing
which they declare to be " detrimental 20 pubic
health and useless invasion OF the public night
TO peace The church IS IN laShlOnaDle neghO0r-
hood and the petitioners lnciude several wellknOwn
physicians and merchants. 1t Is SAID that many
other citizens who thus far have taken no active
part in the matter willing 10 give assistance. II
necessary i'll the warfare against the ringing OF the
bell. The petition was signed IN the following
Jared ". Bell. No. 24s Lexington-sve.; Charles
A. Bacon. NJ d.. No 100 East Thirty-ffth-st.;
Charles A. Jackson. No. "a Lexington-ave; Robert
Wade. No. l26 East Thiriy-hfth,st.; Oscar F.
fRFlsi Nj X k. Ri Bliss, E. L' " BIS,
and g. T. Bliss. No 1873 last Ihlrty-hithcst = :.
logg NJ d., No. 134 East Thlrty-slxth-st. gilbert
H. McKibbin. No. 2j2 LexngtOn-ave +. ID. Col
Inns. No 1873 East Thirty-sxth-st George F.
Whitfield No. 245 Lexingtog-aye.; 4. Stephenson,
No. l42 East Thirty-ffth-t; Frederick ".
Mau Raxne No. No. l2 ISL f East
" +. Warning No 273 Lexington-aye Louis
Cass Ledvard. No. 1877 East Ihirty-tith-st Albert.
Lefaivre 1.-THE French Consul, No. l43 East hlrty
ffth-st; John CurTe Wimerling, No. $50 East
Thrrv-ifth-st.; VI. 4. Van Cliff. No. 40 East
Thrty-ifth-st. Joshua r. Summons No ~ East
Thirtv-sixth-st: W. NJ De Land, No. 144 East
Thirtv-sixt hist: Josephine Pinto, No. 2S4 LeXlng
ton-ave; Charles Trumbull " bite, No. 2s6 Lexing-
ton-aye. Alberto Lawrence, No. i39 East IhlTty-
sixth-st; William MPurdy, No. 242 Lexington-aye.,
and w. Stephens No l2s East Ihirty-hlth-st.
Drs Bacon and Kellogg also signed statement
IL. ran haD 81 - Z no n
ance to the WELL and of serious injury 10 the sick IN
the neigh borhoOd and ought TO be entirely abol-
sbedv Mr. Bell, whose name appears at the head
of the list of petitioners, has been the leader in he
movement. He was instrumental in procuring the
signatures of other persons and he also put himself
10 the trouble of stating his individual grievance IN
the form of an affidavit of considerable length. Ills
sworn statement, which accompanied the petition
10 the Board of Health, sets forth that the bell IS
rung on each Sunday and on many week DAYS
throughout the year. with the exception OF few
weeks in the summer, for half an hour at time IL
is rung three times on sunday. lhe DeiI is large
and harsh IN tone. he clangOr Is hatetul 10 the
entire hborhOOd, Mr. Bell believes, and when he
is confined to his house by lness for days the effect
on him is almost maddenIng lt destroys ms
rest and his lamIys peace and rest, and Is alto
ge her an intOlerabe nuisance, productive OF dis
9uiet and ill-health. and making what should be
day ofrest day OF hIdeous unrest lie declares that
the hdeOus noise is utterly unnecessary to the wor-
shin of Cod He therefore prays that the ringing
OF the bell be abolished and forever prevented,
Of pFiO Health was prepared Mr. Bell aud
Charles \. Jackson paid a. visit 10 the rev.
C. T. Duile rector of the church. and stated their
complaint 10 him. They both say that a promise
was given hat the tolling of the bell would be
lesscned far as possible, but tha5 no change
could be noticed in the noise aiterward. Mt jack
son has written separate statement asserting thaI
Mr.. Bells description of the annoyance ana
nuisance falls far short OF the truth. lie ADDS
that he has been a great deal confined 10 MS
house during the past two years and that the
changing OF the said bell has caused hun torments
The Health Commissioners read the petition ana
accompan wing papers at their meeting on thursday
and referred them to the Sanitary Committee Tor
investigation. Colonel Clark the secretary OF the
Board, yesterday sent copies OF the papers 70 me
trustees OF the church, and II Is expected that le
trustees will have hearing before the sanitary
Committee early in the present week similar com
plants have been made to the boaiu Ol he1A'n
heretofore. 49, -. 1900
The Rev. Cornelius Roosevelt Duflie. the rector OF
the church j. "A mlld-spOken, benlgnaut- lOOhlus
man oil about fifty years. lie has gray SIDE" LIS
kers and wears ipectacics. Ills mousse anJoils TIC
church. Yesterday when seen by lkBVS re-
porter he SAID: " don't see why they sAOuLu M'iht
10 make A fuss about "A little thing Ike that. i've
nearer 10 the church than anybody else and 1t does
NOT disturb me. Tho bell cost $1,000 III weighs
1000 pounds and Is as sweet-toned pen as any ~
the city, | wrote a letter 10 Commas Ohrr JohlSoh
in reply 10 one received nom hun, WHICH states
my views about the matter ,,
Mr.. Duiie handed the reporter copy o. the let
ter, which was IN part as follows;
/ 90 not know who they are who are going around
seeking signatures To complaint about lhe enucn Oy,
but | do know that several VINO ,"eIp ' s
upon and they Mynf near Tue o SIrSH l nfn
near by who like 10 hear Ia tones aud VINO, wen II n
not pressed their regret at not nearing
its pleasant sound, and their pleasure wheh us ringing
has been resumed There many also living close 10
the church no have subscribed To me De ana
who would he willing Il should not be rung Unless
al the church bells Ia the city AXE stopped II Woa4a