New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-16
Why DIR. GREGG RANG TIE BELL.
THE PASTOR OF THE LAFAYETTE AVENUE PRES
BYTERIAN CHURCH TELLS OF AN EN-
PERIENCE IN WASHINGTON.

THE PASTOR OF THE LAFAYETTE AVENUE PRES
BYTERIAN CHURCH TELLS OF AN EN-
PERIENCE IN WASHINGTON.
There a sensation last Sunday evening in inc
Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church. In Brook
Ign, when DR.. Gregg told how he rang a church
bell in the city OF Washington. The sensation as
sumed the form OF incpient applause. Had II
been a week evening the applause would have made
the rafters of the old church ring The Doctor was
urging on Christians the duty of giving expression
TO their faith in God His text Psalm lO7, ii,
Say So" In speaking Of the way Satan silences
the witnesses OF God. he told the incident OF his
ringing the church bell when | in Washing
ton ] went up to the roof of that towering bank
building the Washington Trust Company. Stand
ing there one has bird'seye view Of the National
city of the Republic The sight is full Of beauty.
1t is grand and inspiring. 1t makes one feel proud
that he IS an American. Before me was the Capt.
tol. with its vast dome-Sl1 100000 in mas sve stones
Beyond IL was the new Congressional Library
s6OOo.oOO in dazzling whiteness. OF in the distance
was the Waite House Shooting up into the sky
was the great shaft OF the Washington Monument.
while stretched out at its base the shining
waters of the Potomac. quietly floating down toward
Mount Vernon. But what interested me more that
day than anything else was little church to the
left, All Souls Church. 1t is scarcely visible among
the imposing Government buildings of the city. In
the tower of that church there hangs an historic
bell and II is this bell which makes the little church
foundry established by Paul Revere. When John
Brown. of Harper's Ferry. hanged. this bell
tolled his death knell All Washington heard It as
il tolled. Its solemn sound announcing the fall OF
the champion Of liberty. set the people WHO walked
the streets thinking and asking questions relative
to the crime of slavery inflicted upon the black man
People all over the country thinking. was
lad that day in the preparatory school, ana re-
member how boys talked over the execution Of
that gray-headed old man. The hour set for his
cJ,N oirNa
There was stiffness in the school which every
boy felt, and It told on our after lives Inc t9hs
Td ms ou wse heard in the White and in
the homes of all the government officiais' ana t3r
its faithfulness the bell was slenced ny Inc Az
Il said to myself, II do not see another thing
90 to see it j did There was not a soul in the
Church but the church door was wide open. 1t was
the outside. but that did not satisfy me ! wanted
upon IT and bless il. Entering the church. climbed
the stairs to the befry but alas the upper oeidy
rope reaching down to the floor Of the lobby. The
was ei 1o onpS m he Syes
ment of the United States TO silence YOU to-day
and hq st u s sy e ali
tom. Listen and you shall hear the name Of one
Just now. with honor and affection"
hold u Inc @'Ss 6s n sd Ss
might once twice thrice As looked up ana h nn
Sefe the Fand S Se With me its
ouence pronounce in clear tones which could be
heard at the White House and In the Capitol. ana
away down the Potomac. the name of the long fallen
leader Of liberty. whose soul is marching on There
was no mistake about 1t; az ! listened heard "
call out the old mans name az II swung 10 ana
fro John Brown, John Brown! John Brown!
When | had made Washington city hear that hon
ored name once more. and that from the very bell
which the United States had once silenced fet
that ! had done my duty for one day. and turned
and left the church.
'"The sexton OF the church was down street dur
ing my visit When the bell rang out into the air
the name OF the hero Of Harper's Ferry he recog-
fam lar
the church He reached it just as was leaving 1t.
and all out of breath he greeted me- Some one has
been ringing the church bell
yes | replied, rang it. and rang 1t in honor
Of John Brown" .
Good for YOU" was his response. and l said
Ameni and this closed the church service OF that
day. $3.50. +,
EVERY man who has an experience to relate In
honor Of Jesus Christ is a Gospel bell God FORBID
bat any mower on earth or under the earth. should
be allowed to silence a single Gospel bell. My aim
&c 70 keep all the Gospel bells of Chrstendom ring
ing that Cod may be magnied among men, and
mat all mankind may be called to savation,'