The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1894-02-16
why Toll the Bell?

Several months ago, prompted bya
sense Of justice toward my fellow
beings, | made public some remarks in
regard to the promiscuous ringing Of
church bells, which I considered
torture to the sick and a cruel injustice
to the nervous. I was pleased to note
that my remarks did not pass wholly
unnoticed, and in more than one
church the subject Of bell ringing was
discussed, and several times the pastor
Of the M. E. church alluded to my ar
tiele, in complimentary terms.
l felt somewhat timid IN making this
attack lest should awaken the AMI
mostly of a few who would say that
was meddling with a sacred privilege.
In this, though, am glad to say nv
fears were groundless. Consequently
feel bolder in making this, my second
attack. In this have no fear that I
viii incur the enmity Of anyone. On
the other hand / believe Others win
come to my assistance in putting down
this brutal and inhuman practice Of
which shall speak
A few evenings since, I returned to
my home where | usually find cheer
fulness-to find my wife in tears. OF
course knew what the trouble was
for |. too, had been told by the toIling
of the church bell to look back anon
the death-bed of our first-born tha
funeral orgies and the brutal accom-
paniment the tolling of the church
bell. Being of a stronger nature I was
not moved to tears, but a sad feeling
crept over me TO be removed by q feel
ing OF indignation mixed with nro-
found sympathy for our modern ciyi-
lization who keep up the practices Of
ancient, half-naked barbarians, who
lnaugurated the practice of bell-rino-
ing, believing that great noise would
drive the devil away and keep his
majesty at a safe distance until thew
could get corner" on the heaven
they had pictured in their superstitious
brains.
Ministers of the gospel, in the name
OF humanity | appeal to you. It lies
within yonr power to put an end TO
the harsh grating sounds which con-
vey the sad intelligence to the sick
chamber, that another soul has passed
away. In the name of humanity r
appeal to you to put an end to this
cruel nuisance which awakens bitter
memories and causes the poor mothers
heart to bleed when she is told by the
cruel tolling bell to look back into the
death-chamber where she last saw her
beloved offspring. Nuisance, did j
say? No, it is great deal worse,-it
Is brutal, baroarous, murderous,
You say you toll the bell to show re.
speet for the dead, when the dead
knows not what you do. 1t is hollow
moekery and only torture to the liy-
ing, and hastens many to an early
grave. Did you ever stop to think
that you were unconsciously commit
ting murder when you order the toll.
ing of the great church bell?
In conclusion I will ask that you
lock at this matter in the light of love
and reason. Mention the subject in
yonr respective churches. Call upon
your congregations to vote upon the
subject, and l venture to assert YOU
will not find single one who will say
u dearly love to hear the tolling Of
the bell, for it tells me that another
soul has gone and 1 know not whereD
If you can offer any excuse for main-
tanning this relic of barbarism, will
have nothing more to say. In the alb
sence of a plausible excuse, I shall, in
the name of humanity, continue to
fight this nefarious practice at the risk
of offending few, believing that am
in sympathy with many.
HUMANITY.
----Aaazn----a