The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-06-08
HISTORY OF TIE VENERAI Ed
RELIC WHICH WILL REACH
ST. LOUIS TODAY.

=
Although the Liberty Bell is the
property OF the City OF Philadelphla,
tide 10 il having been acquired IN
1910 by sale made by the common
wealth Of Pennsylvania OF the State
House Independence HalD and all Oh
its grounds, buildings and appurte'
naucas. including the bell. furniture
ard all other property belonging TO
the State House, the whole being pur.
chased by the city for the sum OF
SO 900, there is not single person
in any State OF the Union VINO does
not feel a personal interest IN the pen.
Thousands and thousands OF people
of the country have barred their heaos
while standing before it, and no one
can be found who would allow another
to DO it an injury.
II was this bell which announced
the declaration of Independence, from
which date, July S. 1r76, it has right
fully been termed the Liberty Bell
The record of this historic bell from
the time it was first brought to this
country for the purpose Of calling
the assembly of Pennsylvania togeth-
er until the memorable day. July ).
1885. when it forever became silent
while tolling in memory OF John Mar
shall. chief Justice OF the United
States Supreme Court, as his BODY
was being taken to Virginia for burial,
forms an important chapter in the
early history OF the country
Though primarily intended only as
bell to call the members of the as
sem bly, together, morning and after
noon. during the sessions of that
body, it was early destined to fill an
important place among other beils
then in use, and the passage taken
iron, the Bible, Proclaim liberty
throughout all the land. unto all the
inha bitants thereof has since been
| looked upon as a prophetic insplra-
ton.
In 1851 the superintendent of the
State House in Philadelphia was d1-
rected to order a Dell from the agent
| of the province in London. The re-
ouirements were that II should weigh
about 1000 pounds and bear this let
| tering: proclaim liberty throughout
all the land, unto all the inhabitants
| Nv
| of the year following the bell was
| brought to this country. but IN Sep
tember of that Year 1t was cracked
| by a stroke OF the claDper. To
| Philadelphia firm was given the con
| tract to recast the bell. that firm be-
| ing Pass & Stow. The Roasting did
not give full satisfaction, and the foun-
| ders We're given the privilege Of again
| recasting it. That work was com
| pleted in May 1853 and in the month
| following it was raised and fixed in
the State House steeple.
Since that date. until the present
| time the bell has been out of the
| State House. the "Cradle of Liberty.
! but six times. the first time beng
| in September lit, when it was re-
moved to Allentown, Pa. to prevent
il falling into the hands of the Brit
| ish. There it remained unti the
| British army evacuated Philade!ph
| All OF it's other journeys were for eX-
hibtiou purposes, its trips being as
| follows: In 1885, to New Orleans;
| in 1898 to Chicago; in 1855 to Attain
ia, Ga; in 1862 TO Charleston, S. c..
and in 1903 to Boston, to represent
Philadelphia at the anniversary OF the
| battle of Bunker Hill, celebration at
which the display of the famous relic
of the Revolutionfo for Independence was
most fitting.
Among the noteworthy instances or
| the ringing of the Liberty bell may
be mentioned the following: 1t rang
September -, 1894 to call the Assem-
| bly, together when the Massachusetts
| Bay votes were received, acquain ting
the assembly with the instructions
sent by that colony to its agent Ill
London, asking him to use his endeaV-
ors to have the sugar act repealed,
and to prevent a stamp act or any
| other imposition of taxes upon them
| or the other American provinces Ten
| DAYS later, September %, it rang to
call the assembly when that body
wrote its London agent in similar
terms with the letter of the Massa-
| chusetts assembly. a year later,
Septembe 8, 1765, the bell rang on an
important occasion, that in calling
the assembly together to consider a
resolution to accept a plan for con-
1 gress of the colonies, which finally
met on October 1868. in New y DIRK
o. Santanber 81 ii Z the bell con-