The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-30
ohurrh p.Ila arovine obaolete.

The sentiment that clusters around
the "viIIage church bell" when people
worshiped In primative way Il robbed
Of an It's solemnity and tender associa-
lions when one lives in the
midst of a dozen or a half
dozen deep throated. iron tongued
monsters in the city that fracture the
atmosphere and destroy the peace and
quiet Of the Sabbath morning. Some
church bells are rung on the least prov
ocation without any reference to the
feelings and the nerves OF the people
living in the vicinity. That the people
have some rights these noisy distrac-
lions are bound to respect has been eff
fectually proven in the courts. The
bells of shandon may have sounded
very grand on the pleasant waters of
the river Lee'' to the poetic fancy Of
Poe, but they would lose their music
and charm when punched in the
steeples Of dozen contiguous churches
and ali changing at the same time.
For various reasons, and eminently
good ones, the church bell Is becoming
obsolete. The temper and nerves Of
residents IN close proximity to the loud
sounding Sabbath disturbers OF Wheel
ing are not improved by their tintinna-
bulations, nor are they In the proper
frame OF mind to worship when called
to service with such an ear splitting
summons. In other clues the reform
in the ringing Of church bells has been
going on with marvellous results. A
writer in the Pittsburgh Dispatch treat
ing this subject, with reference to that
city, says:
It seems but yesterday that I recall
the bright, balmy Sabbath mornings
when was awakened by the vibrations
OF a hundred bells calling worshippers
10 religious services. 1t would have
been hard to find a place in Pittsburgh
in those days where the sound Of church
bells did not penetrate. But now there
are probably twice as many churches,
many standing close together, as though
seeking company, but on Sabbath morn
lngs almost the only bell sounds heard
in the greater portion OF the city come
from the street car gongs.
Rev. DR.. William j. Reid. pastor Of
one Of the largest churches IN Pitts
burgh, ana Rev. DR.. Allison. Gator of
the Presbyterian Banner. agree that
church. bells are nuisance ana are go
ing out of use in al. modern churches.
The former declares theS are menace
to the wsll-belng of the sick-and he
might have added that they are in no
wise comforter OF the slnner-while
the latter gentleman claims that the
only excuse for ringing church bells
was based on sentimental grounds"
Continuing, DR.. Allison said:
1 remember the incident Of the late
DR.. John lIall, pastor Of the Fifth Ave
nue. Presbyterian church, New York,
who. one Sunday morning, whiIe walk
ing to the church, was startled by the
terrific vibrations OF the great bell in
the tower, which hao just begun TO
ring. The very windows in the neigh
boring buildings ratified Close BY was
ST. Luke's hospital, where were hum
dreds Of sick and suffering. DR.. Halls
sympathetic nature was touched, and
he gave the order then and there that
caused that great bell to remain silent
ever since.
With modern clocks and watches,
which are cheap and reliable, the bell
is not needed to announce the appoint
ed hour for worship as 1t was in times
gone by. From health point of view
one OF the strongest arguments against
the changing church bell is maintained.
The action Of boards OF health In vari-
GUS cities has effected the stoppage of
the ringing OF bells which harassed the
sick. The supreme court of Pennsylva-
mia has taken similar stand in cases
that have arisen in Philadelphia; while
the general protest OF the ever-growing
community Of night workers, who have
to get their rest in the day time, has
added to the weight of sentiment
against the church bell.