The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1911-03-18

i0hl tbc iialhb 81 AHe SUI uitlll U5
going down. the name o. Che Lord 10
praised AS Of yore
Anon from the belfry
Softly the Angelus sounded
over the homes Of peace and content
ment Of the simple Acadian farmers.
Every week is joyful peals. ringing
oyer this prosperous city through tue
valley Of the Washita, will summon to
the house Of God before its affairs 10
assist at the sacrifice Of the Mass ana
70 listen to the word Of Truth all th-
members Of this community and es-
lpecially Of this congregation.
But, hearken. the bell brings forth
sad note. The tolling informs he
congregation that one OF its members
strengthened in his agony with the
sacred unction and the Holy viaticum
has peacefully fallen asleep in the
Lord 1t proclaims the passing" Of 4
soul from time into eternity and sup
plicates the brethren to unite in pray
er for eternal rest, its
Hear the tolling Of the bells. Iron
bells
What world Of solemn thought their
melody compels."
Hence dear brethren, the bell is asa
socialted through life to our JOY and 7
grief II speaks not only to the faith.
full, but sends message Of earnest
warning to the lukewarm and soil
lcitous appeal to the incredulous and (
the unbelieYer For man will at times
close his ear TO the harmonious voica (
Of nature and TO the clamor Of his con.
science He will urge to sleep the
Yigilant guards which God has placed
in the firmament Oh earth and in his
heart Then, says the church, / will (
assume voice that will resound in the {
cities and the country, that will awak-
en- those whose faith has become dor
mant, that will recall the hacksliders.
that viii appeal to those outside the 7
pale and call them to their fathers
home, TO the one fold under one shep-
herd. All may they all. like so many
others. allow themselves to be hailed \
by the sonorous voice Of the bell to
the house Of God. the port, the haven
Of grace. the pillar OF truth. where
they will find with God happiness OF +
heart and peace Of conscience. Then
the voice Of the bell will not convey to
them a reproacbs but friendly solici
lation and a reminder; and raising
their eyes to the lofty abode whence
descended the efficacious appeal, they
will be filled with tears. q have lift (
ed up my eyes to the mountains from
whence help shall come 10 me. lPs |
cxx)
The bell is indeed the herald of
truth and virtue for those who listen
70 its voice
In the twilight Of an oriental summer
day, when the glowing sun bathed in
crimson hues had dipped behind thc
hills Of Judea and veil Of grey ana /
lavender was overhanging the plain
Of Jericho and the distant mountains
OF Moab, have listened to the plain
tive singing OF the muezzin on the tap
ering minaret calling to prayer the
followers Of the prophet. Standing in
the shadow OF an old round tower III
the island Of the Saints, / have mused
upon the vigilant role those places Of 4
refuge and those belfries played dur
ing the stormy ages OF IreIand's glor-
ious past. have listened to the
chimes Of SeviIla's Giralda and Oh
the leaning tower OF Pisa. have been
suddenly recalled from silent con
temptation BY gleeful peal Of silvery
tones. have watched ihe bell ring.
ers Of Tlaxcala in Mexico SIS they
were lifted up in the open steepie With
each swing Of the campanas. OFTEN
during my wears Of Study in the Eter-
nal City, have I been filled with rever-
ential awe, when the grave notes Of
81 Peters bell, sustaining harmon
iously the chimes Of many smaller
ones, proclaim ~Urbi ct Orbi" the cei
ebration Of feast
Yei, Notwithstanding all the charm
attached to those impressions 81 for
eign countries. there remains faithful
to me, wherever I journey. the clear.
ringing clink Of small church bell IN
my native land. SO that / might make
mine the sentiment Of the priest-poet
when from mis- study room Of the irish
college at Rome. he wrote
With deep affection and recollection
often think Of those shandon. bells.
Whose sound so Wild would. IN the
days Of childhood,
Fling around my cradle their magic
spell
May the sound Of the bell am now
n n