Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-03
TEE LIBERTY BELL.
History of the Casting that Proclaim ID
Liberty Throughout the Land.

The Philadelphia Ne,cs gives some interesting
particulars of the history otthe IndependenceBell
that is to be sent to the New Orleans exposition
as a feature Of the Philadelphia exhibit The
order for the bell was given in 1751 The state
house Of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, work on
which had been suspended for q number OF
years, was then approaching completion The
lower floors We're already occupied by the SUI
preme court in one chamber. while IN the other
assembled the Freemen OF the Province of Penn
sylyania, then consisting of one body A COM
mittee was appointed by the freemen with
Peter Norris as chairman, and empowered to
have new bell cast tor the building. The COM
mission for the bell was in the same year
awarded to Robert Charles of London. the
specification being that the bell should weigh
1000 pounds, and cost G100 sterling. 1t was
to be made by the best workmen, to be exam
ined carefully before being shipped and to con-
tain, in wel-shaped letters, around it the in
scriptiOn: by order Of the Province OF Penn
sylyania for the State House in the City OF Phila-
dephia, 1852" An order was given to place
underneath this the Hateful and prophetic words
rom LeYltlcus, XIV, 10: Proclaim liberty
throughout the land. and to all the inhabitants
thereof"
The reason for the selection of this text has
been subject of much conjecture but the true
reason Is apparent when the full text is read. 1t
Is as follows: ''And We shall halloW the fiftirth
year and proclaim liberty throughout the land
and to ali the inhabitants thereof" In selecting
the text the good Quakers had in memory the
arrival OF William Penn and their torefathers
more than half century before
In August, 1862. the bell arrived but though
IN apparent good order, it was cracked by
stroke OF the olapper while being tested 1t
could not be sent back as the captain of the
vessel who had brought it over could not take
II On board. Two skilful wOrkmea undertook
10 recast the bell. and prepared an exceedingly
good mold, Which. on being opened, revealed a
Dell which pleased very much. But it was also
soon found to be detective. The original bell was
considered too high, and quantity OF copper
was added TO the composition, but too much
copper was added. There were great many
Wittlcisms on account OF the second failure, and
the ingenious wOrkmen undertook to recast the
bell. which they successfully did. and it was
placed in condition in June. 1853.
On Monday, the Sth of July mot the 4th). at
noon, true TO its motto it rang out the memo
rable message of "Liberty throughout the land
aud to all the Inhabitants thereof"
For fifty years the bell continued to be rung
on every festival and anniversary until il
eventually cracked.
An Intellectual attempt was made to cause IL
TO continue serviceable by enarging the cause
OF It's dissonance and clipping the edges. 1t was
removed from its position in the tower to a
lower story, and only used on occasions of
public sorrow, such as the deaths of eX-Presi-
dents and statesmen. Subsequently, it was
placed on the original timbers in ,the yestibule
OF the State House, and in 1878 it was sus-
pended in a prominent position Immediately
beneath where a larger bell presented to the
city In 1876 now proclaiIns the passing hour.