The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-24
GRACE CHURCH CHIMES.
A Chapter of R a Information kh,ul 1hOm In Mr..
RIDERS Booi ksies.


A teacher i'm the schools asked the
writer why Grace church chimes We're
rung every year on the 10th of septem-
ber IL Is i'm honor OF Perrys victory
on Lake Erie. This chime was placed
i'm the tower i'm 1861, and was rung Tor
the first time on Easter morning.
March 81 OF that year. A few months
previously the First Light infantry had
made an excursion to Lake Erie In cell
ebration OF that event, and Bishop
clark was a guest of the company
Then came a general subscription of
money for the chime among the citi-
zens Of Providence. and the infantry
company gave one bell the condition
being that the chime must be rung
ION the 10th OF September in each sue
ceedlng year forever" This inquiry
becoming confused the writer was l'd
to the making Of an examination of the
inscriptions i'm company with Mr.. q.
4. Hart. These inscriptions were print
ed i'm the Year Book of Grace Church,
for 1899, but as there printed Opp. lOl-
lO0 they are filled with errors; there
are also somel comical errors on the in
scriptons upon the bells. Book Notes
Will point out a few such errors Bell
A was given by the Providence Ma
rlne artillery The Year Book says
chartered October 3, 1901" The gem
eral assembly was not in session on the
Sth of October nor is the figure on
the bell: the Year Book has alta ,I-d
10 that inscription the names of III. j.
Smith and f. NJ. Smith. These names
are nor on the bell. The gentlemen
We're members of the firm OF "A. ID. &
J. Y. Smith a. CO.. which firm gave bell
&. and their names are cast upon that
bell with the names OF the other MEM
bers OF The firm. The Year Book says
bell + was given by Walter - Burgess,
this name is cast upon the bell, Bur-
gess-the gentleman's name was
Burgess the Year Book says" Attor-
ney general. Rhode Island, 1861, bur
the casting upon the bell reads AZ
torney Gen. If II. !. 1860. Bell q was
given by the WoOnasquatucket Print
Works This industry-calico printing
lis now an extinct Industry there.
The Year Book gives the initials u.
NJ r., r. r.. w. X. as the donors OF
the bell. but on the bell these names
are cast: George NJ. Richmond. Frank
T.. Richmond, Waiter Richmond. The
Year Book gives the inscription upon
Bell + sharp. thus: From the Per-
sonal Staff of Governor Sprague, Will
liam Sprague Governor of Rhode Is
and 1860" The casting upon ne
bell reads: From the personal stan
of William Sprague Governor (sic) of
r. /. 1860" Then follows the names
of the donors. gentlemen. of the staff,
thus: Col l.. H. Fricze, Col A.
Sprague, Col. A. $. Gallup, Col. X. w.
Watson, Col II. Harris. Col. G.. Sherry.
Jr.. Col j. A. Gardner. An erosion
has nearly oblterated the names OF
Col. Gardner and Col. Watson, and
also the words Governor Of" Bell II.
sharp (there are two Il sharps) when
,ast, and first hung, had upon 1t these
words: "Wardens and Vestry-W y.
irinnell, G.. W.; j. b. Anthony. j. w.
!. l.. Pierce, Treas: $. G. Kinsley, X.
ianton. f.. A. Green. w. II. Parkhurst.
Sec. and vestry clerk" These words
ire cast upon the bell. Upon the op-
,osite side the following inscription Us
ut into the bell: Brown University
Bell. Presented by John Carter Brown
ipon condition that this chime OF bells
$ To be rung on the Morning and after
noon OF every Commencement day.
April, 1861 The word From did
lot precede the words "Wardens &
Vestry" on this bell nor has il ever
,een cut upon the bell. Such are some
# the singular errors in the Year Book
ind still more extraordinary. upon the
,ells themselves. Seldom, II ever, are
he conditions of Mr.. Browns gift
omplied with. the chime is never rung
lpon commencement days at Brown
University, and the condition of the
lifts by the Infantry company has not
-lways been observed.-Sidney 5.
riders Book Notes.