The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-14
BLESSING OF THE BELL.
Interesting Ceremony Performed at
St. Dominic's Church Yesterday.

St. Dominic's Church Yesterday.
For the third time in the history of the
church, the bell of ST. Dominica Cath
Ollie Church. at the corner of f and
Sixth Streets southwest has been blessed.
In fact the history of the church and the
bell are more closely connected than is
generally the case with churches and
bells
The history of the bell is in brief: When
the building was first erected ii soon be-
came evident that it was not large
enough TO accommodate the congrega-
ton 1t was decided then to build an
other house Of worship and at the same
time ii was determined to provide for a
larger bell. In doing this, however, the
constantly increasing membership of the
congregation was kept in view and a bell
was provided which would be suitable for
a still larger church when ii became ne
ceSsary to- build one. This was found
necessary in 1873. when the present hand
some building was erected. The bell.
large as il was, weighing over two tons,
was not in keeping with the magnificent
proportions. of the new editce Nothing.
however. was done looking to the chang
ing OF the bell until some time ago when
its tone was ruined by being cracked.
1t was then determined TO provide Il new
bell propoTtiUnatc to the size of the
church. As NJ the time of the first re-
modelling Of the church. the metal of the
old bell was recast into the new. Natur-
ally. however. there was not sufficient
metal in the old bell, and considerable
quantity had TO be added.
The reCasting, which was done in Bal
timore. was completed last week and the
new bell returned to the city on Friday
.pg no
metal il was necessary that the bell
should be blessed again. and the cere-
mony was performed yesterday by his
eminence Cardinal Gibbons. in the pres
ence of an immense congregation AT ST.
Dominic's Church.
The ceremony Of conservation began
with high mass at II o'clock The cele-
brant was the Very Rev f. A. Spencer.
eX-provincial of the Dominican Order
who was assisted by the Rev. r. NJ.
Bloomer Rev J. p Valley. of the Con-
vent of ST. Dominic, deacon and sub
deacon, respectively. The sermon was
by his eminence, the cardinal and was a
characteristic effort of that learned and
sanity prelate.
At the ceremony of the blessing of the
bell, Cardinal Gibbons was assisted by
the Revs. W. J. Scanlon and S. F. Ryan,
as deacons Of honor. and the Rev
Fathers Cornelius Gillespie Paul Griffith
and +. Ryan Besides these there We're in
the sanctuary the clergy Of St. Domnfc's
Church. The sermon at the blessing was
delivered by the Rev. j. p. Moran. rector
Of st. Dominie's Church, and prior of the
Convent of St. Dominic
The new bell was placed just in front
of the pulpit and after both the morning
and afternoon services, was viewed by
nearly every. person who was present
! The bell IS inscribed as follows:
Leo XIII pope; William Mckinley.
| President Of the United States; James
! Cardinal Gibbons. Rev. Father F. l..
Kearney. prov. of St Joseph: J. p Mo-
ran. O. p. prior Convent of St. Dominic
! J. =. Valley, sub-prior of St. Dominic: r
A. Spencer. o. p. ex-provincial; J. A
! Bokel, o. p: ]. p. O'Rourke. William a.
| Johnson. president Of tine Holy Name So
! ciety; Mary Z. O'Connor. president of
! the Young Ladies' Sodality; Margaret
| Travers, president of the coIored Blessed
| Virgin Mary Sodality. March. 1898.
On the reverse side is the following
latin inscription. The text is a little
/ doubtful, but has been freely translated
by the Rev. r. VI. Bloomer as follows:
| OF God in heaven I sing the praise,
! His creatures ] call from evil ways;
His soldiers in battle for mans salvation
I call together in every nation.
To joyful feasts earth's hosts I urge:
| In mournful notes | sing their diree.
The clouds Of heaven ! rend asunder,
In mighty notes ] drowned the thunder.
God on the Sabbath my voice enthrones
My pleading notes move tardy drones.
To satan's hosts my tongue brings fear.
| To loving Christians sweet sounds most
dear