Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-10-04
rnr nANGmAs.s BELL.
uonaon standard.1

mend il. is about to pass away. We re-
fer TO the practice Of tolling the bell OF
St Sepulcheris church on tho morning
of an execution in Newgate. This dole
ful rite has now existed for the better
part of three centuries in virtue OF
fund LEFT for the purpose. The bequest
OF Robert Dove, Citizen and Merchant
TAYLOR. amounted in the year
1905 TO the modest sum OF ESQ. bat
IL would not be rash to affirm that the
fund. after themanner Of such civic gifts.
has assumed proportions considerably
larger. At all events. the size OF the en-
dowment, and the purposes to which 1t
has been applied have attracted the at
tention OF the Charity Commissioners,
who have duly scheduled it for the pur-
pose Of giving the rector and church
wardens Of st. Sepulcher's, as trustees
Of the charity, power to apply 1t to a
more appropriate purpose. This diver
sion they consider ought to be in the di-
rcction OF benedting prisoners more
than usually neccSsltous, and as
"deserving" as criminal who
has undergone a sentence can well
be, In the case OF youthful
offenders, the income Of the bequeSt
may be used to provide them with
clothing, TO assist them 20 return TO their
homes or 10 gain a livelihood. In select
ing the beneiiciaries, the trustees WILL
prefer such prisoners AS have been COM
mitted by the Central Criminal Court, as
this tribunal lies in their district, and IS
directly connected with the gaOl which
has hitherto, in n roundabout way, zen
loved - the benefits of Robert Doves
melancholy bequest. Or, If it so rleases
the trustees, they may pay over the IN
come 10 the Discharged Prisoners Aid
Society. q mode Of helping the unfortu-
nate which is perhaps the readlest and
the one least likely to be abused by those
who may, in the distant future, have the
patronage OF the charity in their hands.
IN any case, the fluids will no
more be employed for their old purpose,
for though the yestry may. if 1t - please
them-which is not very hkely-pay Tor
the performance OF this Office the go of
the plous London citizen will be utilized
for ends more in keeping with modern
ideas Of the fitness Of things II IS quite
possible that some inju licious iapdatorc9
teUpOriS GcN may regret to hear Of the
coming change. It is even within the
bounds Of probability that the vestry
may consider that the rate-payers ought
10 pay for a continuance OF the ceremO-
ny. That, however, viii scarcely be the
opinion of any large number Of people,
since, 10 acceding to tine wishes OF the
trustees OF the Prison Charity the com
missoner5 have berelt st Sepuichers OF
the least aeree8b.e association with which
It is invested.
The tolling of the bell and the fact
that many a time tho hangman has fixed
tine fatal hour by the clock 10 It's tower
have led to widespread idea that the
nome Of ST. Sepulcher church il in some
way derived from the cnlprit's grave. Ia
reality I. Fulcher, as It il locally called,
was dedicated 10 the memory OF the Holy
Sepulcher st a period ,cng before It's VI
cinity obtained SO strange history. The
only reason why it was selected rs
a sort OF subsidiary chapel TO Newgate
was that its position at the eastern
end Of Snow Hin, hard by Smith
field. makes il the church nearest to
the Old Bailey Founded some time
in the twelfth century, 1t was re-
newed about 400 years later, and after
the great fire was almost entirely rebuilt
bv Wr,n. Of whose handiwork, in spite
Of great deal OF restoration ana al
teration, it is generally regarded "a
favorable specIuncn. Nor 10 the church
without history. IN its vaults ere en-
tombed some famous and one or two I'm
famous men. There, for instance, re-
pose Roger Ascham and the celebrated
Captain John Smith, whose connection
with the founding Of Virginia 10 much
better authenticated than his own
Romantic account of being preserved
rom the wrath of Powhatan by the fair
Pocahontas. In 81. Sepulchers he also
Dr. Bell, the cducationahst, and Sarah
Malcolm, tho murieress though It
ought 20 be added that three cen
tuucs ago. when Ewiield was exc
cutcd for "sparcinge ahr7od certen
LEVIED, sedicious, and traytorOus bookcs.
the Practitioners declined to permit the
intermeut OF such q scoundrol IN the
same earth with their parents, wives,
children, kindred. masters, and old
neighbours. - ST. Sepuichcr's has been
peculiarly fortunate IN attracting the IA
vor of the pious founder. Few churches,
indeed, have at different times received
so many gifts. I'm pre-Rciormation times
it supported many religious ssterhoods
and lfatcrni.ies and maintained several
chautry priests for celebrating masses
for tho repose OF divers bencfact0rs.
On St. Pauls Day a discourse is, or
ought 20 be, delivered upon tic excel
'cnce Of the Church OF Englaud liturgy.
IN virtue Of n hequest OF 10 shilliDgs
per annum left 10y Mr.. Paul Jervis,
who also bcstogcd other sums, the
distribution of which IS so onerOus as %
necesSitate the vicar. CHURCH war,lens.
and Common CoInclmon dining 10.
ge,hor on She evening of she day when
they dUly altot tire Jews Request. But
of all the 4. -cbucher charities the one
now on the eve oi Transformation Is the
best known. Accordne 10 tablet on
the ri ebt-h hand side Of the altar the donor
was Robert Dove. who in 300 gave 80
"for ringing the greatest bell IN the
church on the day the condemned phi
soncr are executed and for other services
fofrycr concerning such condemned pri-
soncrs. IN MUnJoys edition OF stow
the name Of tins benefsrtor is given
rs "John DOVE. and 1.-THE other ser
wees are pariicnlarizei at considerable
length. For example, on the night be-
fore executions the clerk OF tho church
bad to ring bell under the window OF
the condemned fe.ons. and then aud
there repeat ID rhyned admonition ap-
propriate 10 their approaching end.
When the culprt Was III the cart
the clerk was to stand in front OF
the church a. the procession passed
ready with the same nell, and, after GER
tain tolls, repeat prayer and exhort all
good people to Join IN these exercises.
Another duty of the clerk was 10 present
q huge no,egay to every criminal rs be
passed on his way to Iyburn, AMI lest
these Offices should be performed in a
periuuctory manner, as they were apt 70
pe when there were one or two execl-
tions every week, the Beadle OF Mer-
chaut laylOrs Hall was allowed an