Evening star., 1943-06-06
Bells in World
History
BIZ Frederic J. Hnsktn.

inducemert for the more extensive pur-
chase of carillons. Bel1-making is car
ried on in the United States. but Euro
pean foundries lead the world in this
art.
The origin of bells is hidden in obscur-
ity. They have been known in one form
or another from earliest times. There are
Old Testament references to bells on
the garments of priests, while the rites
OF Osiris in Egypt and Cybele in Greece
were accompanied by bell-ringing. These,
however, were small hand bells. The first
known use of larger bells in churches
occurred about 400 AID. when Paulinus,
bishop OF Nola, introduced them in the
Roman province of Campania.
From that time onward the bell be-
came an integral part of a church edifice
and remains so to this day. Indeed. from
mat early date, sketchy sort of history
OF Europe might be written with nothing
more than the story of bells for its
sourcebook. Bells have had their vicissi-
tudes in various countries, being popular
at times and then frowned upon as evi-
dences of superstition.
Today when the sound of telephone
bells, doorbells, the clang of streetcar
Cells and the clamor of firebells and
burglar alarms are constantly heard. the
church bell is probably not given as
much attention as it deserves, Within
the past three decades, however, the i'm
porting of carillons would seem to indi-
cate a return of interest in church bells,
Inc carlton is relatively modern. II
consists OF large number of bells of
various tones and sizes which produce
oehnlte music. HYMNS can be played
melodlously upon it. 1t is operated by a
sort of clock-work which release tha
clappers of the different toned bells as
desired. Many carillons are PLAYED by
use OF keyboard similar to that of a
piano. Pressing on certain KEYS rinps
corresponding bells. Carillons have, as
rule, anywhere from 20 to 70 bells The
great carlton in the tower of Antwerp
Cathedral has 80 bells. Belgium is
chiefly noted for its carillons with the
Ne1herlandS next, but they are to be
lound IN other countries and are con-
stantly increasing in number in the
United States.
Inc carlton never has been popular in
England because Englishmen very early
set up system OF bell ringing of their
own. AS early as 1855 Henry III granted
certain rights and privileges tn tho
Brethren of the Guild of Westminster
an organization of bell ringers. Bell ring
Ing is distinct profession in ENGLAND.
ana the various societies of bell ringers
SEND delegates to the Central Council
OF Church Bell Ringers which meets an
huaIly IN London. Annual beI-rinelng
FESTIVALS also are held and the ringers
take much pride in their art. Bell ring
ing, the ringing of changes and such
tlnllngs, require considerable study and
much practice.
Inc casting of bells is also a distinct
art. In early times bell casters were
equipped with portable foundrles and
went about the countryside, casting bells
Tor churches and chapels. Now a few
hfnlS do most of the European business.
casting follows very definite rules Bell
metal is a mixture of copper and tin in
the proportion of four to one. The thick
ness OF a bells edge must be one-tenth
OF Its diameter and its height IL times
Its thickness according to the rules of the
master craftsmen of the guilds. The
casting requires the primary making Of
a clay mold. The precise shape is given
the clay and the inscriptions applied in
wax. The metal must be of the right
consistency and temperature and several
weeks are required for a large bell to
cool. Sometimes it comes out in perfect
condltlon, but in other cases the bell
must be tuned by filing away thicknesses
and irregularities which affect the tone.
Inscriptions vary widely Nearly all
bells have names, being christened, in
the case OF church bells, when hung. In
this country the most famous is the Lib
erty Bell, with its inscribed admonition
to Proclaim Liberty Throughout the
Land Some bells bear the names Of
their donors, some the names of the
churches in which they are hung. and
some have prayers to the Virgin or other
saints.
Probably the largest bell ever cast Is
the Great Bell of Moscow, which was
cast in 1888. 1t was cracked in the to.1c-
dry and never has been hung or rung.
Weighing 100 tons it is so large that it Is
used as a chapel. and stands 10 feet high.
Its rim is 2 feet thick. The largest bell
ever in actual use is another Moscow
bell which weighs 1913 tons -
Bells are as common in the Orient as
In Wpctcrr E,Iro tbo T,,;t toJ 4o4o
and there, too. they are primarily con-
nected with worship There is an O-ton
bell in Burma and the Great Bell OF
Peking weighs So tons. The Cathedral
of Notre Dame in Paris has bell weigh
ing II tons. Large bells were cast quite
early In France. the famous one named
Jacqueline of Paris. which weighs more
than seven tons, having been hung about
1400. The Amboise Bell Of Rouen, hung
in 1901, weighs more than 18 tons. Great
Tom at Oxford, England. weighs seven
and half tons; Great Paul. st. Pauls
Cathedral, London. 16a TONS and Big
Ben in the Westminster Clock Tower.
1872 tons. The Kaiserglocke, which
hangs in Cologne Cathedral, weighs 271a
tons. 1t was cast from cannon taken
from the French in the Franco-Prussiari
War. i"
Indeed, bells are closely associated
with warfare. just as bells have been
employed to summon people to worship,
so have they been used to call men to
arms, to signal revolt, or to inspire to
deeds of bravery. .
Bells have had a profound influence
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