The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-09-29
BLESSING THE BELLS.
An Interesting Day in St.
Joseph's Catholic
Church.

Eveay pew in st. Joseph's r. G. Church
on Baldwin avenue was occupied last
night at half-past seven o'clock. The un-
usually large attendance was due to the
announcement that a blessing of two
new bells would occur. The two bells
were at the head of the centre aisle i'm
mediately in front of the altar. A wide
scarf of rich red, wound loosely about
the top, fell carelessly over the sides of
the larger bell; chain OF roses twined
about the scarf stretched to the smaller
one.
The large bell which is for the church
weighs, 4,034 pounds, is three feet in
diameter at the base and about four feet
in height 1t is claimed that it's sound
will be heard all over the city. The lesser
bell weighs 800 pounds, is about eighteen
inches in diameter and about two feet IN
height. 1t is to hang in the parochial
school.
THE SERVICES.
Mgr. Seton was assisted in the services
by the Very Rev. Father Cassidy presi-
dent of St. Peters College Father Nc
Tammany of St. Peters Church, and
Fathers McHale and smith, of ST. Joseph's
Church.
At eight O'Clock twenty-four little girls
of the Sunday school, wearing long white
wells over their white dresses, filed into
the altar; twenty small boys took seats
on the left of the altar; fifteen acolytes
led the procession of the priests. The
ceremonies opened with an organ volun-
tary by p. Anon, the organist, which
was Immediately followed by a soprano
solo, Susclpiat, by Miss Lynch
Father MeIIale led in some Latin re-
sponses and was answered by the chill
dren. and then solo, "Tantum Ergo"
by Miss Lynch.
AMOUNTING THE BELLS
One of the acolytes next brought a sill
yer chalice filled with oil. The oil was
sprinkled upon the large bell and rubbed
all over the surface of the bell with
pieces of white cloth. During amounting
of the bell responses were being read
continually.
After the amounting the censor was held
by the curates and prepared for Mgr.
Seton. who slowly swung it first toward
the bells, surrounding them with clouds
of peTfuned smoke, and next toward The
people, who bowed in acknowledgment.
THE ADDRESS.
After the swinging OF the censor the
Monsignore took his stand Immediately at
the lett of the altar and addressed the
assemblage. He said:-
This is very happy day for this
church because for the first time we will
listen to the sound of Christian bell.
The corner stone of this church was laid
September 20. 1869, and now that it has
reached it's majority it is proper it should
have the crown of manhood placed on its
brow. Bells have always marked events
| in the church'S history In the book of
Exodus we read how Moses was forbid
den to approach the altar of the Covenant
unless twelve bells of gold were affixed
| TO his purple robe In the early DAYS it
was impracticable to call the people to
prayer by bells for that would warn their
enemies of their actions and trumpets
and wooden instruments We're used in
stead.
During Holy Week it was customary
| to still all the bells of the Christian
churches in commemoration of the sea-
son. Great historians have always been
careful to notice the founding of great
| bells. Pope Leo ". in A. u. S47 caused
to be made an iron bell surmounted by
cross of gold. This bell was hung in the
church of St. Andrew and called the
Messenger of Love. A few years later
a Doge of Venice presented a set
of bells to the Emperor of Constantine
pie. The first bell cast in England was
in 96S. 1t was made of Virgin iron and
named John.
"The ringing of bells, though it has
to grow old, it is SO pleasant and sweet a
custom. So you should treasure these
charges that their ringing may always
fill you with feelings of pride in them
and in your church.
BELLS have usually been presented on
days of great religious ceremony. This
is indeed very joysome day Tor US and
we feel doubly thankful for the assist
ance of those who have discomforted
themselves to erect this church that we
might come here and worship.
"Now that our bells have been blessed
it would be sacrilege to sell or break
them We have collected 81, 500 but this
is not enough: we want at least So. 500 to
set them in their places"
After this talk each of the boys from the
school swung the hammers of the bells.
Quite crowd gathered outside the door
to listen.