The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1906-05-02
BELLS IN CHURCHES.
FIRST USED BY PAULlNUs, BISHOP
OF NOLA, ABOUT 900.

The Early British Christians Used
Wooden RattIes to Call the People
Together For Worship - Bells and
Thunder and lightning.
Church bells are of ancient origin.
The aucients had bells for both sacred
and prOfane purposes Strabo says
that market time was announced by
their sound and Pliny that the tomb
OF an ancient king of Tuscany was
hung round with bells The hour OF
bathing WIS made known IN ancient
Rome by the sound Of bell. The
night Waterman carried one, and II
served 10 call up the servants IN great
houses. Sheep had them tied about
their uecks To frighten away wolves,
or. rather. by way Of amulet
Paulinus, bishop Of Nola, Is general
~ considered the first person who in
troduced bells into ecclesiastical serv-
Ice about the year 100. Historians say
that in 6l0 the bishop of Orleans, being
at Seno then In state of siege, fright
ened away the besieging army 10y ring
lug ST Stephens church bells, which is
a clear proof that they were not 1T that
time generally known in France. The
first large bells are mentioned by
Bede IN the year CSC. Before that pc
Rod the early British Christians made
use OF wooden rattles 10 call the con.
-. 4ft n f.af her
Hand bells probably hrst appeared at
rel xiOus professions aud were after
ward used by the seeuIars. The small
bells were not always held in the
hand rhey were sometimes suspend.
ed upon stake aud struck with ham
nirfs
The arrival OF kings and great per
souages was anciently greeted by ring
Lug the church bells lnguiohus, abbot
OF Croy land. who died about 100,
speaks OF them as being we'll known In
his time and says that the first abbot
OF Croyland gave six bells TO that mon
astery that is to say, two great ones,
which he named Bartholomew and Bel
adine: two OF medium size, called
Turketulium and Bettrine; two small
ones, deuominated Pega and Bega. lie
also caused the great bell to be made
called Gudla, which was tuned to the
other bell and produced an admirable
harmony not To he equaled In Eng
land"
The bells used In the monasterles
were sometimes rung with ropes hay
Ing brass Of silver rings at the ends
for the hand. They We're aneientiy
rung by the priests themselves, after
ward by the servants and sometimes
by those Incapable of other duties, IA
persons who We're blind
The doctrine Of the Church Of Rome
concerning bells Is that they have mer
II and pay Gud FOR the living and the
dead second. Tint they produce deVo
tlon ia thu hearts of the faithful. The
dislike OF EVIL spirits 10 bells Is wei
expressed 10y Mynken de Worde In the
Golden Legend" The passing bell was
ancientiy rung for two good purposes
one To bespeak the prayers Of all good
Christian people for soul Just depart
Ing and the other to drive away the
evil spirits who stood at the foot OF the
bed or about the house Such was the
general opinion respecting the efficacy
OF bells before the reformation, bul
since that period iii has been the usua
course In the Church of England tha
when any sick person lay dying /
bell should toll to give notice 10 th'
neighbors that they might pray Tor th'
dying party. which WIS commOnl.
called Il passing bell, because the sicl
person was passing hence To another
world. and when his hreath was ex
PRED the bell Iung out that the neigh
bors might cease their prayers. for tina
the party was dead " 1t il now only
tolled after death.
The saints bell was not So callet
from the name of the saint that wa
Inscribed ON it on of the church Il
which II belonged. but because 1t wa
always rung out when the priest cam'
to that part of The service, "Sanctus
Sanctus. SuuctuS. Domino Deus Sab
baoth." purposely that those persons
who could not come to church Nigh
KNOW III WHAT u spiculh tiii't inc Ncii
gregation were ut that instant engag
ed and So, even in their absence, b'
once. ut least, moved 10 lift up thel
hearts To him who made them. Bell
at one time We're thought an etfectua
charm against lightning The frequen
firing of abbey churches by Lightning
conruted the proud motto commonl.
written on their bells in the steeples
wherein each entitled itself to six
fold efficacy VIZ.
Mems death / tell by doleful knel.
Lightning and thunder l break asunder.
on Sabbath all 10 church call,
The sleepy head / raise from bed
The winds SO fierce / dost dispense;
Mems cruel rage / do assuage.
IL has ancientiy been reported, oh
served Lord Bacon and Is still re
ceived that extreme applause AM
shouting of people assembled In multi
tudes nave SO raretied and broken til
air that birds flying over have fallel
down. the air not being able to sur
port them. and II Is believed 10y som
that great ringing of bells IN popu
lous cities has chased away thunde
and also dissipated pestilent air-Ney
York Herald.
suee.Iuu