The evening times., 1895-11-19
VHY TIE BELL Was RUHG
Dr. Gregg rslBf Ii, Congregation I, Story
dVishilgtol.
Sensation Cdased Applause on a
Sunday Eyening-A Narrative
Graphically Portrayed.
(From the New York Tribune.)

There was sensation last Sunday even
ing In the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian
Church. in Brooklyn, when DR.. Gregg told
how lie rang bell in the city OF Washing
ton.
The sensation assumed the form of In
cipient applause. Had 1t been 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 was Psalm 107, 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 l was
in Washington l went up TO the roof OF
that towering bank building. the WASH
1ngton Trust Company. Standing there
one has bird's-eye view of the National
city OF the Republic. The sight is full OF
beauty. It is grand and inspiring. II makes
one feel proud that he is an American.
Before ME was the Capitol. with its
vast dome-$i7 900 900 ia massive stones.
Beyond it was the new Congressional Ii
brary-$6 100000 in dazzling whiteness.
orr i'll the distance was the White House.
Shooting up into the sky was the great
shaft OF the Washington Monument, while
stretched out at its base were the shining
waters OF the Potomac, quietly floating
down toward Mount Vernon.
But what Interested me more that day
than anything else was a 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 it
is this bell which makes the little church an
object of interest. This bell was cast in the
foundry established by Paul Revere.
when John Brown, of Harpers Ferry,
was 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
ali over the country were thinking. l was
lad that day IN the preparatory school
and l remember how we boys talked over
the execution OF that gray y-headed old man.
The hour set for his execution was an hour
of hush in the school-room. There was n
stiffness in the school, which every boy felt
and 1t told on our after lives. The tolling
Of his death knell as the historic bell fear
less'y rang 1t out, was rang in the White
House. and in the homes of all the Govern
nient officials. and for its faithfulness the
bell was silenced by the Administration.
II said to myself, If / do not see
another thing in Washington, / shall 20
and see thai bell And go to see it /
did. There was not soul in the church,
but the church door was wide open. 1t was
noon. looked up into the belfry and saw
il FROM the outside, bat that did not satisfy
me. / wanted 10 see it from the inside.
wanted TO lay my hand upon it and bless
it. Entering the church, / climbed the
stairs 10 the belfry; bat, alas, the upper
Deity door was shut aud locked. But there
was the bell rope reaching down TO The
floor of the lobby. The temptation was
irresistible. i found myself saying: Old
ben, there r not power enough IN the
government Jf the United States to silence
you today. You and / have always been
the friends OF John Brown: now let us say
so. Listen, all Washington, Listen, and
You shall hear the name of one OF the
grandest ofsAmerican heroes pronounced
Just now With honor and affection
Having made this little pathetic adj
dress. l tookfied of tile bellropc and pulled
IL with all might once, twice. thrice. As
looked and listened, between each pull
OF the rope.S1 heard up there the grand
old bell with It's tongue of e'ot uenCe pro-
nOuncc in clear tones, which could be
heard al the White House and in the Capitol,
and away down tifc Potomac, the name
or The long falien leader Of liberty. whose
soul is marching on. There was rD mis-
take about it: as listened I heard il call |
out the old mans name il swuug to and |
fro. John Brown. John Brown. John
Brown When Tad made Washington city |
hear that honored name once more. and |
that from the very bell which the United |
), ,atcs had once silenced. felt that ! lad |
lone my duty for une day, and 1 turned !
and left the church.
''Tbc sexton of the church was down street |
Turing my visit. When tie bell rarg out |
INTO the air the name OF the hero of Har- !
per's Ferry lie recognized its familiar |
ones, and in alarm ilew up TO the church. !
He reached t,just as was leaving it. and |
al out of breath lie greeted me. Some one |
las been ringing The church bell
Yes / replied. i rarg II, and i rang |
1 in honor or John Brown!'
GOOD for you!' was his response, and !
said 'Amen!' and this closed the church
.eryice OF that day.