The Arizona champion., 1889-11-23
THE BL EssINa OF THE BELL
of Father Ferrari.-An Address by Dr. Brnnnen.
(Communicl,.d.)

Io""'S" WIS ~'osSo', pAOF"'"cos VI
 being placed in the church tower. l The ceremony was most interesting,
 new to some, but impressive to those, 1 who comprehended its meaning. i The bell is from the foundry of
 McShann & Co, Baltimore, Md. It
 weighs nearly eleven hundred pounds
 On its outside, inscribed in golden
 lettsrs, is the following latin verse
 Slela vofsr BrtAtfm, p,ee ntsr sioa I e.,ns ms..
 La4s Des in .x.eiis par Aominiqat 6one
 This translated means:
 am caIlad tine Star of Bethlem, Ani amongst the sCars l ring:
 'yilory to God in High,
 Peace aud good will to men," The bell was placed at the foot of the tower in which it is to be sus psudsl. It was, as if animated with life but as yet unabls to speak for itself, decked with flowers and
 surrounded by eight sponsors, hold ing ribbons in their hands, which
 were attached to the bell. They
 were to he the witnesses of its bless
 ing and represented the entire con gre:,ation. The sponsors were Mrs. 1
 D. Ribtitt, Mrs. Vim. Carroll, Mrs. I, F. McMillcn, Hrs. J. Der, Mr T. Riordan. Mir. F. J. BIan,en, Mir. |
 Ed. McGoni,lean Mr. J. F. Hawks. |
 At three o'clock the reverend father, robej in the vestment, of his office, commenced the ceremony. A large gathering had assembled in rout of the ch lr;h. and with good ] decorum witnessed the blessing, at the conclusion the bell was set in motion anl gave forth it's sweet l mucicai peal. Having performed the ceremony, Father Ferrari stapp- ed to the trout of the platform oa which the bell reste,l, and sail:
 After four mpnths of expectation, to day We sss realized, through your generous correspondence, our earnest desire. We have just blessed and anointt.l the bell which is to adorn t!.is church, whose soand will re echo through these hills and call you to come and unite in prayer and alorc your Rs,lecmer; which will in futare ling the j,yful peal tt thc maria se ceremony, and intole the sad solemn funarai kneli ai we follow our fIienis to the grave; ani tha ceremony which you have just witnessed is no vain or empty rite, bat prefgures the sacred daty which this bel! will pes. form. It is the castom in the Cathcli, church to purify by blessing everything connected with or per taininl to the divine worship, and the blessing becomes more solemn accordingly as tha object is more in- timate!y connectci with the service of GoI The use of the bells in the divine worship is older than Christi anity, they replaced the silver trunn- pets ordered y Moses to be made aud blown to call the once chosen people to come ani unite in the worship of the most High. They fulfil the duty oncs performed ly the gongs and .cymbals around the walls of Jericho by the order of Joshua. In ths early ages of Christi anity, owing to the prosecutions of the faithful, the bells were silent, ant the de ms of the church an- nounced tc the faithful ths time and place of worship. But when the Gensral persecution ceased and the faithful were allowed to assemble openly and unite in the worship of God, the ringing of the bells an- nounced the joyful intelligence, and told to each one that it was the hour for prayer. The office of the church bell is similar to that of the apostles who received from thoir Divine Master the command to announce ths gospel to all nations and classes of people, and although this bell will not speak the words of God, yet those, whose ears will Do thrilled with it's sweet sound, will know where to come that they may hear the saving word of life, and in this way this bell will preach the gospel of Jesus Christ
 '.In the ceremony, we have just performed, this bell has been anointed seven times on the outside and four on the inside, seven times on tho outside to commemorate the seven hours of prayer. mentioned in the bible, also the seven anointments ars giyen because seven is a mythi- cal number, symbolical to all time. and hence the bell is to remind the faithful of ths council of St. Paul that it bshoves you always to pray."| The fourfold anointment on the in side symbolize the fourfold intellix- sncs it will convey to the people. It will ring in time of icy, it will ring in time of sorrow, 1t will ring for charity's sake when general mis- fortune or calamity threaten, and it will at all times announce the hour of prayer.
 ssThe four ladies and four gentle