Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-12-15
THE BELLS OF BELGIUM
4 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
BY JOHN w. PHILLIPS

For over three hundred and fifty
years the carillon-meaning a set of
bells--has sent down from lofty tow
er or belfrey to the peasant, the
housewife, the shopkeeper the fish
erman, the tourist and the school
child, its friendly, cheerful message,
and at the same time pealing en-
trancing music to the people of Bel
GUM. The cavillon, made UP with as
many as fifty-two bells, is Capable
OF producing wonderful and beau
tlful music. There are many caril-
ions in Belgium. They are common
TO the low, fiat countries, where high
towers are better adapted to the
landscape than in hilly countries.
Thus the bells. being at n great
height carry their message to neigh
boring towns and villages, who share
the mysterious, wild and charming
music from afar. This brings about
community good fellowship. this
greeting from an unknown neighbor
to another. 1t brings human unity
ana sweetness, 4 source of common
enjoyment, means of alarm or
warning If necessary, an expression
OF gayety at festivals. holidays or
birthdays, or an expression of SYM
pathy in time of grief and calamity;
thuS enabling all for miles around
to share the burdens or joys through
the voice of the bells.
AS the player on the bells is in
visible, there is an element of mys-
terry in the tones that float from the
tower. The air currents affect the
power of the tones, and also affect
the direction of the sound, so that
the listener is often puzzled in trying
TO locate the exact source of this
II
ment of uncertainty and mystery is
one of the chief charms of the caril-
Ion. In certain weather, with strong
cross air currents, there is a rugged
wildness and strangeness, a dynamic
torce; at times a far-away sound,
that suggests much. We know now
where Tennyson got his inspiration
for Ring Out Wild Bells" and where
Millet got his inspiration for "The
Angelus;" and where Blashfield con-
ceived his picture of THE Bellring-
ers," depicting bells in agitated mo-
ton with angels swinging in wild
rhythm from the clappers. We can
well imagine then, how these bells
have influenced the thoughts, the
customs, the emotions and the lives
of the loyal and simple Belgian folk.
To them, these bells are the voices of
the sky-voices that laughed and
made merry with them; wept when
they wept and suffered when they
suffered.
Many of the Belgium people have
been sorely stricken; many of the
kindly bells lie twisted and dumb /;
but not before they had proclaimed
the beginning of the struggle that is
to Ring in a thousand years of
peace;" for it was at Liege that Pa
gan and Christian met in deadly
combat. 1t was at Liege that the
beast was held at bay until a SYM
pathizing mankind could take up the
challenge. At Liege the issues were
clearly defined. 1t was Liege that
thrilled the world when 1t proclaim
ed to the Pagan foe Thou shalt not
covet;" Thou shalt not steal;"
Thou shalt not bear false witness"
Thou shalt not kill" 1t was at Liege
that Christian martyrdom asserted
itself. The sacrifices begun at Liege,
have marked a bloody trail even to
Jerusalem, the Holy City. This is not
war of autocracy against demo-
cracy. 1t is a war between Christian
ity and. Paganism.
The ruler of a people, who puts
himself above God--or even equal
with God-who scorns the teachings
VI LhO hdii Va IdtilOSs wiz i6hOi Ss
the principles of civilization and JUS
tice--is n Pagan, nothing else. He
has not heard the message of peace
and good will sung by the bells. His
only use for bells is to pattern them
into weapons of destruction.
But this last remnant of Paganism
is to be wiped out. The Christian
church should take tremendous cour-
age. The whole civilized world is
fighting her battle. The soldier is
singing as he goes to battle. The Red