The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-17

sounding over the city like the tones of
the last trumpet The largest bell on
this continent Is In the Church OF Notre
Dame i'm Montreal. There are other
bells not large but dear by the associations
connected. with them, such as the st.
Patricks bell with which the saint called
the people of Ireland 60 prayer and the
Liberty Bell dear TO every lover of
America
For long time the bell has been one OF
the holiest instruments OF the church,
sending out trumpet blasts, calling the
children toIprayer, warning them To seek
always the aid OF her divine founder
inviting them to pray for the living and
the dead. In the prayer In tho oeremo-
nies of consecration the bishop asked
blessing on all Its notes and that lie who
stilled the troubled waters at Galilee may
bring peace TO all hearts. Not from the
sounding brass and cymbals does she look
for the blessing but from the calling OF
the people TO pray, and inviting the
blessing of God down upon all something
those who would do away with the ring
ing of church bells do not seem to know.
The Service of Conservation.
I'm the conservation of a bell the service
consists first of the reading OF "A Psalm,
next blessing Is asked, then the Doll Is
washed inside and out with salt water,
| the salt being typical of wisdom and the
| water of purity. IL Is washed on the OUT
| side to remind Us that the wise man
| should in all his acts edify his neiRhbor
! and on the inside 20 signify that our
hearts and thoughts should be ever pleas
| ing TO God.
| seven times on the outside is 1t annointed
with oil for the sick, typical OF the seven
| gifts of the Holy Ghost, and four times
upon the inside TO remind US OF the four
| cardinal virtues or the four last things to
| be remember As the oil Is OF pene-
| trating nature so we are reminded how
| thoroughly We should be possessed OF the
| Christian spirit and how closely we
should 10 connected with Christ for we
are all annointed to Him. The four parts
where the tongue strikes, reminds US OF
the spreading of the gospel to the four
| quarters of the earth. The sign of the
| cross Is made on the bell and the perfumed
| incense signifies the energy and activity
| Of prayer rising like cloud TO the throne
| of God. The seven crosses made on the
| bell stand for courage, the courage that
| Christian should possess so that he should
never deny by word or act his Christian
| faith.
The bell Is the emblem of the church
militant. Ii reminds US OF all the saUra-
ments from baptism 20 the last one OF
sickness A portion of the gospel from
St Luke which refers 10 the visit of our
Lord to Mary and Martha Is next read
| wherein Christ said that Martha was
solicitous over many things while Mary
had chosen the better part for one thing
only was necessary. The bell would con-
stantly remind the me'p bers of the parish
when they heard IL and were engaged in
many things that one thing only was
necessary. Three times day through the
ringing of the Angelus 10 Will recall to
your minds the mystery OF the Incarna-
| ton.
Importance of the Bells m Mission.
The beauty and Importance Of Its Sun
| day mission was dwelt upon and again
| were the words of the text recalled in
| forcible way, Today ii you shall hear His
| voice, harden not your hearts.
When it rings out the marriage peal 1t
| will remind the married of the solemnity
| of the tie that binds them and also recall
| to their minds the love they owe one an
other; of the obligation they are under TO
| bring up their children In the fear and
love of God. IL will commend them, If
| they have been true To their marriage
obligations and reprove them IL they have
| not. When it tolls for the mass OF requiem
| for the departed, what thoughtslwill it not
| awaken and may lit inspire you TO deeds
| Of charity for the faithful departed. For
many OF you il Will ring whom dead, ana
may you pray now so that others may
| pray for you when your time comes.
| Rev. Father Fitzpatrick closed his SER
mon with an eloquent appeal to his hear
/ ers to cherish ever the memory OF their
dear departed pastor and TO ever continue
true TO his lessons which the bell typified.
| The sponsors for the bell were Michael
McGirl, w. II. Nolan, John Radigan, Il.
" Murphy John McAvoy, John h. Me-
Hugh, Michael +. Sherlock, Francis p.
Lamb. John O'Neil, Miss Maggie Nc
Hugh, Miss Mary Farley, Miss Mary
| Devaney and Miss Mary j. Smith
The musical portion OF the service in
| addition to the chants was under the di-
rection of Choir Director Hugh +. Cas-
sidy, Miss Catherine A. Benson presided
| at tho organ. and was as follows: "Ecce
| Sacerdos,' j. B. Moleton. by choir
"Veni Creator, Millard, three parts and
chorus. Mr.. Hugh f.. Cassidy giving the
tenor solo, Mrs. Thomas f. Cusick the
soprano solo and Mr.. Nathan Golf the
bass solo; 30 Salutaris." " tenor solo. Mr..
| Cassidy, "Tantum Ergo" Rossi, male
! voices Holy God. We Praise Thy
| Name" by full choir. The solos and
| choruses were well rendered.
| In the church portico on wall near
| the center door is u bronze tablet affixed
| TO a marble slab on which is the follow
| ing inscription in illuminated letters /:
| :" 10 the Glory OF God and the memory of
| Rev. James A. Finnegan first pastor of
| st. Edwards Church, who died June III
| A. ID. 1893 the bell in this tower has been
placed by the people Of this parish" The
| same inscription Is on tho bell. Eeeley ~
~ l. Al