The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-08-14

Registrar of SeQuoia Chapter. Daughters
Of the American Revolution, addressed a
letter of inquiry to MIR. Sherman, asking
for history of The little bell, and in
answer received d letter in which an in ter
esting history is given. Mr.. Sherman wrote ::
Your letter OF July 81 asking for Information
connected with the little liberty bell came to
hand TINS morning. The following extract from
the proceedings OF The Masonic Veteran AS
socaion gives It's history and how it came into
our pOsS SS!On
The original liberty bell was considered too
high. so quantity OF copper add ed to the
composition. but too much copper added.
here were great many witticsms account Of
the second failure, and the ingenious workmen
undertook to recast the bell. which they did
cessfuly. and ii in position in June 1913
For fifty years the bell continued to be rung on
every iestval and anniversary until it eventually
cracked.
continue serviceabe by charging the cause OF It's
dissonance and chipping the edges. 1t
moved from its position in the tower TO low.r
story and only used on occasions of public sorrow
such as the death Of ex-PresiGentS or states men,
bers in the vestibule OF the State House. and in
1873 1t WAS suspended in a prominent position
Immediately beneath where a large bell present ed
to the CITY In 1856 proclaims the passing hour.
bell-founder by the name OF Bonifurd Ber-
Daed Of Philadelphia received the job in the 3U's
4U's to enlarge the crack OF the original bell
and the clippings were appropriated by his
brother, who was working for him at the time.
From these clippings he cast two little bells, one
sented to Miss Elizabeth Fisher (now Mrs Eliza
beth Mack. who was a bosom friend of Mrs.
secret, because should his brother hear OF his
transaction ta he would surrey DISCHARGE him.
Mack visited her birthplace. she requested
Mr. Bernard to make an AFFIDAVIT or the
genuneness OF the bell but he used himself on
the grnuud that by so doing he might acsnowl-
edge himself TO he a thief OF some OF the chips of
tnat memorable bell: but at the same time he did
dot consider 1t a great crime. aud size had his
word
and she had no reason to doubt his word. owing to
their friendly relations.
Mr.. Mack then, on behalf OF his wife, presented
the bell TO the Masonic Veteran Association OF the
Pacific Coast as a token OF her regard for that
ber- The president. William S. Moses. In appro-
pirate terms accepted this little liberty bell and
placed 1t in the charge OF the secretary.
The bell happened to b. received on the
night OF our regular meeting December IL.
1889. which date was also The seventeenth an-
Diversary OF my marriage, 80 my wife also has
an interest in its history: When first ceived
by me It's tongue was little button tied with a
cotton string. and when took il TO my brother
in-law, Mr.. William X. Vandersllce (himseIf a
native OF Philadelphia). TO have the engraving
In place of the button.
The 0"ll was rung with the button on the
night OF its reception by all the members OF The
association.
1t was rung at the raising OF the American
flag first tIme) at the Lincoln, Grant Durant,
Garfield and Fruitvale schOOhouses Oak land
CdI., anu AT fOSeOale, SunOl valley; at the
dedication OF the banner of this association I'm
the Masonic Temple at San Francisco, August
20, 1891; at Oregon Guy, Or, on the forty
third anniversary OF the organization OF Mutt
nomah Lodge No. Of +. and A. NJ, September
IL, 1891, tn first Masonic lodge on The Pacific
Coast; at Dayton aud Lafayette Or, by The
fraternity there; In the Nj sonic Temple Port
land. Or, September 13. 1891, at the celebra.
ton of the fOrtieth anniversary of the Orgaujza-
ton of the Grand Lodge of MasOns OF Oregon:
on September Is, 1891 In the hall OF Temple
Lodge of +. and A. NJ. at Astoria, near the
mouth OF the Columbia River, the first Amerl-
can settlement on the Pacific Coast, discovered
by Captain Gray of the ship Columbia OF Bos.
ton, Mass, and by several thousand school
children OF the same Elace.
So In my hands the little bell, on July 30
1892, on my departure for the East, continued
Its travels. IL was rung at Sacramento, The
capital of our "G Oden Siate"; then on The
summit of the Sierra Nevadas al Reno. and at
lnIeivals across the silver State" OF Nevada.
at Ogden. Salt Lake CITY and over the waters
of the great lake itself; the summit of the
Rocky Mountains on the Rio Grande route aud
at Denver, the capital of the Centennial
State" 1t was rung by all the SunIay-School
children of The Plymouth Congregational
school. and in the new capitol building of the
same city. 1t was also rung by all the members
of the National Masonic Veteran Association
al its trIennial meeting held In the Masonic
Temple at Denver August TO- 1892, at which
time had the honor Of being elected national
president OF tile association. Ii was rung by