Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-30

Something of a commotion has been en-
gendered in clerical circles over a move
ment now on foot to prevent noisy ring
ing of church bells in Washington. AT the
request of the Commissioners OF the lis
trict of Columbia local pastors whose
churches are equipped with peils were
invited to the District building to discuss
with Mr.. Macfarland, the president of the
board, the most equitable means OF aliay-
ing what has come to be considered IN some
uarters as nuisance" 1t is claimed
that the constant or regular ringing or some
of the deep-toned church bells Is a menace TO
the public peace OF mind, and II Is expecteo
that after a hearing Is accorded all SUES
in the premises, some suitable action Will
be taken in the matter.
This new movement has opened woe
field of discussion, bearing particularly on
the history of bells, for 1t Is declared tiiat
much as is known of the public and do
nestle life of the ancients. this ls one point
on which there is great deal Of ignorance
and doubt-the manner in Whlch 'hey all
nounced the time of day and the beginning
of church ceremonies or public exhibitions
Various Instruments have been found which
if is supposed were used for the purpose,
but whether they had bells like those or
this day has never been definitely deter
mined The use of bells by the ahclen NJ
becomes all the more doubtful from tlie
fact that the early Christians had none
even long after their meetings had become
sufficiently public to require some klnd Oh
public announcement. Not untll tne lou, II
century was the tuba used IN EsSptii . II
converts for the purpose OF summohihs
the inmates to their stated assembies. ano
this method. evidently borrowed from the
directions given by Moses, remained 1or
some time in force In the conv e, $50 ua
simply. it being the duty of the nrst sister
who awoke in the morning to sing aloud
haIelujah and at once all the others were
required to rise and pray Mechanicai
means were preferred, and in the eighth
century few bells are mentioned, py the
side of the almost universal sohorous
boards which were struck TOT 1he pul
of giving the desired signals These sacred
boards are still used in the east Iney
consist of long thin plank which the
priest balances before him with his lett
arm while he strikes it with a hammer IN
a certain rhythm, producing higher ana
| lower sounds according 70 the piace "here
| the instrument falls. This same quaint
device Is said to have been mentloheo py
| the Chinese to announce the hours Oh the
day and the occurrence OF hres.
| X
| St Gregory of Tours is thought to be the
first author to speak, in the sixth century
of a "signum," or bell, which was struck
| at the beginning Of divine service ana to
announce the canonical hours. History
also relates that bells are Of Italian origin
or invention, having been first made In the
town of Nola, in Campania, anu that they
| obtained from this circumstance the name
of ''campana" when Of large size and OF
| 'nola' when smaller. Bells must have
| been Of early use in the Christian church
however. for they are frequently mentioned
| by French ecclesiastc writers toward the
end Of the sixth century.
| they were rare, nevertheless, as appears
from the use made Of one belonging to st
Stephens in the city of Sens in Burgundy
When the town was besieged IL, by KIN, Kin5
and rang the bell. whereupon the enemy
terribly frightened ran away az and nd, a ban,
very early. In Spain bells had the rare RAJ,
good fortune Of becoming martyrs: The
Christians enjoyed. even under Moorish
rule, the right of worshiping God after
their own manner This did not exemp,
| them from much obloquy, and the faithful
followers of Mohammed ridiculed especially
their fashion of summoning the devout tt
church by the ringing of bells, and wher
the excessive zeal Of some Christian fan