The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-12
<tn ING out wild bells!
TX Ring out old shapes OF 1oui
l. n disease

<<nI ING out wild bells!
Ring out old shapes Of foul
L \ disease.
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old.
Ring in the thousand years of peace
Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be-
The association of certain famous bells
with historic events affords much instruc-
ton, and singularly gratifes the curl
osity of the antiquary. Bells great ana
small are ringing far down the winding
paths of history; their tones mingling with
the rejoicing of nations at the birth OF
princes; pealing with gladness at coro-
nations, Changing above brilliant scenes of
wedding festivity and tolling over occa-
sions of sorrow.
Bells have been used to call men to
Gods 'house of prayer" and have also
had place in ceremony which shut men
out of that sacred place. By this allusion
lI mean the ceremony of excommunica-
ton that came into practice in the eighth
century. 1t was called The Bell, Book
of accommodation was read bell was
rung, book was closed and the light OF
d candle was extinguished. From that
time the sacrament was shut in from the
person communicated until he repent
ID. This service was looked upon with
freat horror, for It was thought that it
dosed the gates Of heaven against him
Who had merited SO severe a sentence.
10 invoke this awful ceremony was con-
sdered the extreme Of rashness; hence.
shakespeare in King John, makes the
reckless Bastard profanely say;
hell, book and candle shall not drive
me back,
Wien gold and silver beck me to come
on
TIE above reference to an ecclesiastical
ceremony Is reminder OF another eccle-
siasdcal use of bells You will find
refersnce to it in the old nursery rhyme
Mary. Mary. quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?'
with silver bells,
And coc1e-shells,
And pretty maids
All h q row."
1t VIII be remembered that Queen
Mary'siieas of what the church should
be wer contrary to those Of her broth
err. Edward vi, and contrary" to those
of he sister, Elizabeth. Things that
Edwah had cast from the church Mary
tried % restore So, the f1rst line al
ludes 10 her contrary disposition. How
does four garden grown refers to the
growta Of the church. Then follows
Maryb answer. with silver BELLS this
referring to the restoration Of the silver
"sanfus bell.'' used in the mass; the
''cocl-shells' are the little ships in which
pilgr1nages to Rome were made. THE
prett maids all In a row" point to the re-
opening of the nunneries and to the pro-
cessSnals and recessionals Of the nuns.
In every sphere of life bells have had
their place and part to perform At
the fme of the great plague in London.
In ne reign of Charles II. undertalsers
wodd pass through the streets ringing
belft crying out the while. Bring out
YOU dead. Bring out your dead" am
writing from memory, but I think the
readr will find an interesting account
,of Ais custom and Of the plague in
samel Pepys Diary. edited by Lord Bray
brooi In 1925
TN custom Of ringing the Passing
Bell'iis still maintained In many sections
of Ireland. 1t was solemnly tolled as
somene was dying, and invoked tho
prayds of the faithful for the passing
soul.
It yAs q simple and beautiful custom
begotSn OF neighborly love- Christian In
forest ind faith in Immortality
A reharkable use Of bells used to bs
made h Munich. Germany went to the
NORGE In that city and saw number OF
corpss lying upon slabs. In the hands
Of suhe of them were handles connected
with|sensitive wires Attached to these
wirS were little bells In remote part Of
the bunding. Should supposed corpse
eont back to life the slightsst movement