Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-07-26

the absolution and remission of the peO-
pies sins.
The church was spacious and lofty;
the carved oak tudor pulpit was placed
high lust outside the chancel; so that
the Wears passage down the chancel
and up to the pulpit steps occupied some
minutes-and was accompanied by a
grave, yet eXultant organ strain.
The lights all over the church were
! lowered because of the oppressive heat,
through which the boom Of advancing
| thunder rolled and sheet lightning flash
ed. The sermon was not far advanced
when there followed such a Kissing,
roaring downrush Of rain on the echo
ing roofs that the preachers resonant
voice was drowned and he was obliged
TO stop. 1t was very aWsOme to the
little Westlands, looking up in the dim
light, to see the silent throng Of wof>
shippers and the silenced priest, and
hear the roar of the great tempest from
outer darkness. Then above the rush
Of rain and sullen groWl of thunder,
came a sound the like whereof had not
been heard in that church before-a peal
of eight bells, ringing clear and regular
as if for a wedding; a second peal, hur-
| Tied and confused, and then the clash
and ciang Of all the eight bells in the
tower at once.
Before the startled people, looking up,
white and wild-eyed, could realize that
The familiar church bells were sounding
untouched by hands-there cracked and
crashed such peal of thunder as seemed
like the rending and irving asunder Of
the roofs, and down topping of the
| tower, a sound that swallowed up the
startled cries of women and children
and the continuous Ginning and clash
ing of the bells When that terrific and
complicated noise OF elemental war had
grown faint enough TO let the changing
bells b. heard again the church was per-
mea,ed by a sulphurous smell, puff Of
smoke rolled from a gallery at the west
end. there was a shrill, agOniZed Shrek
of Fire" Followed by the sudden eX-
tincJion of every light il the church.
The tower is struck; and they've
turned off the gas al the MAN," said
WesJland, VINO, with his wife and two
children and Beatrice, sat in the nave
q little below the chancei; Keep steady
and firm in The rush. Hold the girl
standing on the seat. III mold the boy.
Then followed a scene beyond mag
ming; the building that a moment be-
fore had TesoUnded with psalmody,
measures, solemn, swellad by hundreds
OF reverend voices and borne upon bill
lows Of rolling organ music. that had
echoed the ouJ-poyeC prayer and praise
Of worshiping mUiiJudes words OF
prophet and evaLze.st and a.. we'll
known voice of ,he preacher. was filed
with sounds Of terror and wrath, an
gu.sh and despair; slTieEs of f.ighten-
cd ,Tdmpled women and children;
1ir5ats and eXacratiOns Of maddened
men, trying 10 free passage, there 10
stem the Cr-lUsi Cf the cOugCsted
crowd, tina, prevented ,he inward open
ing OF doors. round which rag.d q fierce
Gga, in the dark; calling OF parent to
child, chiid TO parent friend o friend,
cracking Of woodwork where people
forced psW-doors ana climbed hither
and ,sitaCr, sT1als and cries of pain,
zha.J5r.ng OF sl-ss Whsre window was
climbed ana toiC,.. and ever through
Tire ,hick. Eeavy i1-f, terribly invaded
q, moments by blindirg flashes OF light
nirg .l- Wecied Unsaf,Liy C.asa.ug Of
,he church bzls the Kissing and drum
ming of rain on t2e .9ofs, ,0e sullen
fierce rrowl. low distant. or loud crash
and roar or savage thunder.
There were however two +fnv ie,es ~
rght ,of- fn ,de glocm. fine mimi can
dies thinning tha grey old nr.osf in his
wb,.a surD'ice dashed with scarlet and
those at the organ. showing the white
rCbed organist. each reckoning to the
people They were not seen IN the III
mutt and agony, un.il in a lull of the
storm deep. full strong voice. calling:
"Cowards. keep your places! BE men,
attracted many eyes 10 the little light by
the organ. and fainter echo in a sim
liar yoice-"Be Christians! BE still,
showed the face Of the vicar. and recall
ed even feelings Of reverence and duty.
There was a faint ,ull in which a mag
nifcent male voice arose. singing the
hymn that not long nee had died mo
the solemn hush OF prayer,
"Ob, God. our helm in ages mast"
and Joined. half through the line nv the
clear notes of Ruby Eliorgs trained So
prauo.
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s"liaH- cHIIu mas DeeH KNOWN 10 faIiy
scattered reg m 5nt' Inc crowd paused