Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-08
(To be continually
SEPULCHRE'S BELL WILL TOLL NO MORE
1t Has Hung for Condemned Prisoners for
Three Centuries
New York Sun

1t Has Hung for Condemned Prisoners for
Three Centuries.
New York Sun.
The traditions of n gh 800 years ago,
about to be violated by the Charity Com
missioners of the City of London, who
have ordered that hereafter the bell of
the Church of st. Sepulchre be no more
tolled during the hanging of condemned
persons in the Newgate prison near by;
or, at least, that if the bell be tolled it be
at the expense of the parish Of the friends
of the criminals, and that thu funds
from which payment fOI that last service
to the dying has been made since 1905 be
devoted hereafter TO some other chariS-
able purpose in the discretion of the
church authorities. Fifty pounds was
she beques6 made 10 the year named by
Robert Dove, citizen and merchant tail
or, to pay. as tablet on the right hand
side of the altar in the church still
cords, "for ringing the greatest bell In
| the church on the day the condemned
prisoners arc executed, and for other
services forever concerning such con
demned prisoners"
The 'tother services" were the most in
teresting thing about the affair. The
night before the heCs.1as me Clerk Of
the church had to ring bell under the
windows of the cells of the condemned
men, and having thus attracted their at
tention, repeat certain warming rythms
propriate 10 their approaching taking
of. Having thus awakened in their
bosoms thoughts OF things eternal, he
was 10 go away and the next morning TO
stand IN front of the church when the
cart with the condemned passed on its
way to Tyburn and to present to each
criminal uosegay. Then he again had
to ring the bell that he had used the
| night before aud repeat certain prayers,
| with an adjuration to all good people to
| join him IN beseeehing mercy for the
souls Of the condemned. There were
| hangings every week in those days and
| in order that the clerk might not grow
careless and neglect TO fulfill these last
Offices for the condemned with proper
| formaiity and JUNCTION, the beadle OF the
| Merchant Tailors' hall was directed to be
present and supervise the ceremonies,
and it was provided that for this he
should receive an honest stipend.
When the gallows tree was removed
| from Tyburn and the hanging took place
within the jail, the nosegay presentation
and the praying in front Of the church
was stopped, and in time, the custom of
| 6ellringing and exhortaion u4der the cell
windows fell into disuse. The tolliDg OF
| the great bell however has always been
maintained, and there is some objection
! TO its discon binuance even at this day.
/ The original $50, meantime, has grown
to much greater sum, and its income
will now probably, be devoted to the aid
CT deserving prisoners upon their release
from Newgate, and to some other ser
vice more IN accord with modern ideas
than the mournful tolling CT huge bell
or the presenting Of poSies to criminals
on thelr way to be hanged.
| So identified has the church of st.
Sepulchre becomes with these last Offices
for the condemned that its name is pop
Hlarly supposed TO have some connection
with the dismal ceremonies. The church
however, was built and named long be-
fore Newgate prison was ever thought Of,
and its beingsths nearest church is the
only reason why it was chosen as the
shrine for saying masses for thu souls of
the hanged. It was founded II the
thirteenth century, renewed 400 years
later, and after the great fire the present
structure was built by the famous Wren.
| Capt. John Smith, he of Pocohontas
fame, is among the great men whose
bones lie in the vaults beneath the pave
| ment.