The Oskaloosa herald., 1902-02-06


church plan.
The Chimes
The part of the church that per-
haps appeals most largely to the gen.
eral public and that which marks the
st. James church above all other
things, is the magnificent Memorial
of a set of bells, or chimes, presented
to the church by Mrs. Alice Bennett
in loving memory of her father and
mother, Micajah T and Virginia r.
Williams. This splendid gift has been
placed in the bell tower. built especi-
ally for its reception, within the past
few days, and the blessing of the bells
was made an appropriate part of the
| Sunday service. The blessing occu-
pied a part of the evening program.
The chime is composed of ten bells,
the largest weighing 2,199 pounds and
measuring about fifty inches in dia.
meter at the base. The weight of the
smallest bell is two hundred and TWEEN
ty-five pounds and is twenty-five in.
ches across the mouth. The height
of each of the bells is three-fourths OF
its diameter at the base, the height of
the largest bell being about thirty
eight inches and that of the smallest
bell about seventeen inches. The di-
mansions and weights of the other
bells of the set graduate between
those of the largest and the smallest.
The Chime is tuned to the key of
f, concert pitch. In addition to the
| octave in the key of r there is the
fiat seventh of the key, E fiat, and al
so the next note above the octave G..
This chime is tuned by a method
differing from that employed by any
other company. A certain key in a
given pitch is determined upon and
then each bell is attuned to this key
separately, according to the note that
it will occupy in the scale of the key,
so that it is possible to ship each bell
to its destination and have it set for
use before the mex one is cast. This
is advantageous If ever one of the
bells should become cracked, as it
could then be taken down, returned
to the factory and be recast and in
perfect tune with the rest of the set.
The chime is operated by a key
board that is placed in the second
story of the tower and Just above the
organ room. The key board is made
of CHARTERED BAL and stands about
four feet high. 1t is composed Of
ten levers, one for the operation of
each bell. The levers are connected
with the striking apparatus of the
bells by mea of a long wooden rod
and a chain or cable of metal. The
stroke given the levers is playing is a
decisive one. The force of the stroke is
against the coiled spring. the tension of
which a be very accurately regula-
ted. The hammer swings on the in
side of the bell something like the or
binary tolling hammer. The bulb or
hammer proper is of bronze, a compo-
sition softer than that of the bells.
The stroke of the lever below carries
the hammer in the direction of the
bell but as it is against the tention of
the coil springs the hammer is thrown
Immediately away upon it's contact
with the bell, making its stroke a
short, quick or snappy one.
Above each lever is the letter of the
scale representing the tone of the bell
operated by that particular lever, so
that it is possible for a person who
reads music to play the chimes with
small difficulty.
The tenor" bell, as it is called, or
the F bell, is hung free and will be
used for the ordinary purposes of a
church bell. When it is used in the
chime it is locked in place and operat-
ed as the other bells. 1t is tolled by
means of a large wheel, seven feet in
diameter.
The bells of the st. James church
are of a very beautiful, mellow and
musical tone in the key of f, which
is generally considered the best key
for chimes. Ten tones are separated
in the scale used. On each bell is an
appropriate inscription placed there
by the order of the donor.
ID" Inscriptions
The bells with their number and
tones designated, and the inscriptions
engraven on the sides are as follows:
Bell No. Tenor Bell, F.
For the honor of God
and the use of this church
these beIIs were raised
in memory of
Micajah T. and Virginia r. Williams
by their daughter.
Alice w. Bennett,
A. d. 1902.
Bell No. &c.
We praise Thee oh Cod:
We acknowledge thee to be the Lord.
Bell No. "a.
All the earth doeth worship Thee:
The Father Everlasting.
Bell No. Abb fiat.
Glory to God in the Highest,
And on earth Peace.
Good will toward men.
Bell No. SC.
May God Bless All,
Whom we do call.
Bell No. CD.
May all in truth,
HERALD :. SHRDLU UNNNU
And harmony rejoice,
To honor church and state.
With heart and voice.
Bell No. 7.-E fat.
Day by day:
We magnify Thee.
Bell No. Sc.
Giving thanks always
For all things
Unto God and the Father.
In the name Of our Lord Jesus Christ.