Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-06-15
TIE PASSING BELL.
II WAS RUS6 TO TER6IFH AND
DRIVE AWAY THe EVIL SPIRITS.


Bells Of Different size to Indicate the
Rank Of the Deceased on Pans
to increase tn. Soi.--origin Of the
Masferu Custom OF ToIiing.
In the Tenth and Twelfth centuries the
t~osohi efficiency attributed To the early
bells, that Of breaking lightning and calling
70 worship gave away 10 ooe which aceortissl
70 the bells much greater iniusnce over the
veal and woe Of the sinful world The Latin
ir~rrip-ion Oh ali bells u that time wen
Translated read.
Men s-ath tel by doi-ful xneiL
Lightning and thunder | break astiader,
On sabbath all 70 church call
The sieepy head raise from bed
The sind. 30 fierce DO dispense
Mems ersiel rage do assaag-
Some writer, believe that a supsrstitious
idea prev auing among the nigh ami the low
of early times. which attributed TO tn hell
the power to dispel evil spirits, was the prime
cause Of IT, introduction, the idea being that
the ringing would 70 tsrrify the dlseinpoiied
spirit Of an evil doer that he would permit
the followers Of the lowly Jesus to send forth
their prai-,-s in peace.
Is THE MIDDLE ACES
We know that there Is good reason for he
lief in the evil spirit theory As late a. the
beginning Of the Eighteenth century It is an
historical fact that the passing bell was al
ways rung during the time COMMUNICATE
was diving 70 terrifv evil spirits and give the
spirit Of the departing Christian an ample
start In the heavenly race otherwise II was
in danger Of being overtaken and carried 70
the realms below by Internal ernlssaries dc
tailt7i by the devil for that purpose
Mr. Douce. the antiquarian. says that he
believes that the passing bell was originally
intended to drive away any demon that
might seek 70 take possession Of the soul Of
the deceased or the one dying. TN this az
count it vas not infrequently called the
soul bell He also adds that he believes an
Gent engraviugs Of diving dignitaries. IN
who's room both the priests ami the devils
have assembles the former to administer ex-
IRENE JUNCTION and the latter to take the soul
Of the unlucky wight as soon as it leaves the
body. warrant this Inference
If the dying person Was one Of rank or
wealth, the largest bell in the immediate
vicinity was tolled during hi, or her time of
passing from life But. OH the contrary
should the dying one lie poor, only small
hand bells were rung Occasionally. how
ever, the din was augmented by pounding an
unearthly noise on tinware from the kitch-
en- tine idea being to scare the devils and
gobiins far away possible, by which
the poor soul would get that much the better
start Of its tormenturs The louder the noise
the farther of it could be heard. thus serv
ing double purpose, that of soaring the dew
lis out Of sight and securing for the dying a
greater number of prayers, as each one who
heard the noise was supposed to pray for the
departing spirit Excuse the traveSty, but
does not the plan remind you, gentle reader,
of the one now used by an apiarist in settling
his beesf
In the seventh year of Queen Elzabeth's
reign. in the Advertisement for due order,
etc, may to found the following; Item,
that when a Christian bodie is in passing
that the bell he tolled, and that the crrate be
specialize called for to comforte ye scNe per
son. aud after the time of his or her passing
10 ring no more but one short peale and an
other short peale after the buriIh
AFTER THE REFoR.ATIoS
After the Reformation, when people had
become more enlightened, it WIS with great
difficulty that the old custom Of r. .ging the
passing bell adhered to. Tn. holder of
the people rebelled against tho 10. of ring
III ii bell to frighten away ev spirits in
existence they did no. be- e,v. First.
the dls-enters were told IL; lie bell WAS
run, To excite within all of tIo in bearing a
d,s7lre to pray for the depart !. ~oul, but this
did not lave the desired et.e,t. Gradually
TIT pc. le began to see that 1t va relic of
superti ION, and that it aroused in the diving
uiiu- anxiety After IA time it vas disron-
tnued, IL =; Hti"ned above. ;iorc the li-ss'
in bel ID In me entirely extinct, how
ever, Lc'' Gus, IN of tolling tie OH af ai
Tie ,t"y!h ut ~" rrson, and fore III, burial,
had lr % en-l,.ited into the min IS OF the pno-
Pile uy ;.'e cs,. y TIA" people bong Informed
th.t II VAS done I'm honor of th' ue 'ased
TIM tins Is tt case in the present age no
one " III .ouht { an instant, Int that 1t was
thee q u Il the old devil { sig pass
ing b 4 the Idle ages is equally 4 parent.
ia e., in his Travels, says: Akin TO the
sup rs'it ''.' ~ renee once attached to bells
in E. and may be mentioned the oracion In