The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-01-14
THE LIBERTY BELL.
A History of the Casting that Proclaimed
Liberty Throughout the Land.

A History Of the Casting that Proclaimed
Liberty Throughout the Land.
The Philadelphia News gives some inter-
esting particulars of the history OF the Inde-
peHdence Bell that is 10 be sent to the
Worlds Exposition at New Orleans as Tea
ture Of the Philadelphia exhibit
The order for the bell was given in 1751.
The State House of Pennsylvania in Phila-
delphia work on which had been suspended
for a number OF years, was then approaching
completion. The lower floors were already
occupied by the Supreme Court in the cham
Der, while in the other assembled
the Freemen of the Province Of
Pennsylvania. then consisting OF
one BODY. A committee was appointed
by tie Freemen, with Peter Norris as Chair
man, and empowered to have new bell cast
for the building. The commission for the
bell Vas in the same year awarded to ROBERT
Charles. of London, the specification being
that the bell should weigh about 2, 600 pounds
and cost Gl00 sterling. II was to be made by
| the best workmen, TO be examined carefully
| before being shipped, and to contain, in
well.shaped letters around is, the inscrip.
| ton: by order of the Province of Penn
| sylvania, fer the State House in the City OF
| Philadelphia, 1852" An order was given to
place underneath this the fateful sad pro-
| pht tic words from Leviticus, XIV, 10: "Pro-
4 claim liberty throughout the land, aud to
all the inhabitants thereof"
The reason for the selection OF this text
| has been 3 subject OF much conjecture, but
the true reason Is apparent when the full
| text is read. 1t is as follows Aud ye
| shall hallC1 the fiftieth year and proclaim
| liberty throughout the land and 70 all the
inhabitants thereof" In selecting the text
the good Quakers had in memory the arrival
OF William Penn and their fOreisthers mora
than half q century before.
In August, 1852, the bell arrived, but
though in apparent good order. it was
| oraakad hv a stTOka Of the ClaDDer while ne.
ing tested. It could not be sent back as the
captain OF the vessel who had brought it ov 81
| could not take il on board. Two skillf II
woykmen undertook orecast the bell, which,
on being opened, revealed q bell vhlca
pleased very much. But it was also found
TO &c defective. The original bell was con-
sidered too high, and Q quantity OF copper
was added to the composition, but too much
copper wss added. There were great many
Witicisms 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
memorable message OF Liberty throughout
the land and to all the inhabitants thereof"
For fifty years the bell continued to be
rupg on every festival and anniversary IN
I'll it eventually cracked.
An Intellectual attempt was made to cause
1t to continue serviceable by enlarging the
cause Of lis dissonanoe and chipping the
edges. 1t was removed from its position in
the tower 10 lower story, and only used on
occasions of public SORROW, such as the
deaths OF eX-PresideDts and statesmen. Sub
sequently, it was placed en- the original
and in 1878 it was suspended in a prominent
position Immediately beneath where larger
bell presented to the city in 1876 now pre-.
| claims the passing hours.