DEDICATION- OF THE NEW PEAL OF BELLS, S. ANDREW'S CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1578, 15 August 1882, Page 2

DEDICATION- OF THE NEW PEAL OF BELLS, S. ANDREW'S CAMBRIDGE.

The new peal of bells for P. Andrew's Church, Cambridge, which lately arrived fiQtn Home, and which have now been' placed in position in the tower, were dedicated on Sunday last by the Lord Bishop of Auckland, Dr. Cowie. It is now about a year since the idea of procuring a peal of bells for the new church was first conceived ; and the time which has been allowed to elapse since the idea was first mooted, until to-day, when it has been realised and the bells arc sendiug forth their glad peals trom the tower, is a full indication of what really can be accomplished by a community when the ta&k is undertaken with earnestness. Those who have taken the initiative and worked hard in bringing the bells amongst us are deserving of much credit, but we cannot but recognise the bearty co-operation which has been extended by the public generally. The peal which consists of six cast steel bells, weighs nearly 30 cwt., the largest bell being between 7 and 8 cwt, with a diameter across the mouth of 37in. The smallest measures 25in. The two smaller bells are hung above the other four, the latter all swinging on the same level. The lot are hung in heavy kauri framing, the yokes and wheels being of elm, and the entire fixtures have been put together according to a plan which accompanied the bells from Home, under the superintendance of Mr D. Richardson, .architect, Cambridge. Since the bells have been hung in the tower, the ringers have been practicing nightly, and have made satisfactory progress in their profession. When the entire peal is swinging, the wooden tower vibrates considerably, but as it is a well built structure, of the best possible mateiial, and well bolted and strapped together, no doubt 3 are entertained of its not being strong enough. In addition to the hand-ringing process, a I chiming apparatus is also attached to the bells, which is of great convenience, as it only requires the exertion of one man to work ; but otherwise there is no scarcity of volunteers, there being at present seventeen names on the list of ringers. Four 'of these, Messrs 0. Garland (leader), Webber (sub-leader), B. Garland and Morsebead, are all old hands, having learned the art in the Old Country. A fault has been discovered in connection with one of the two smaller bolls, as both of these are almost of the same sound, and when ringing, create a somewhat discordant sound. The other four bells give every satisfaction, and when ringing together can be heard for a considerable distance on a calm night. The Dedication. The dedication service took place in the church at 3 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, when the church was well filled. After the voluntary, the bishop, preceded by the churchwardens and the incumbent, entered the church, the congregation singing the hymn " When morning gilds the skies." After prayer the lord bishop ascended the pulpit and delivered an excellent practical address from the text, Luke xix, v. 45 and 46 : "And he went into the Temple and begau to cast out them that sold therein and them that bought, saying unto them 'It is wiitten my house is the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves.' " His present visit was his thirteenth to Cambridge, and since his first he had witnessed with satisfaction the rapid progress which the church had made in the district, and the increased provision in spiritual matters which the Anglican congregation, of Cambridge had acquired since then. When he first came amongst them they had no church building, and they were indebted to the Wesleyans, who put their small church at their disposal on that occasion. Many who were present on that occasion, he noticed, were also present on this occasion, and the church which they had since erected to the service of Nod was a token of their perseverance, and of their earnest devotion to His cause upon earth. His lordship then referred to the edifices erected by the Christians of the East during the early ages to the service of God. It was necessary to see these to enable us to conceive the faith and reverence of these people and their idea of what a place of worship should be. Some people said that sumptuous buildings were not necessary to the worship of God, and that prayers were as effectual when offered up in a barn as anywhere else. This was so, when they could not afford to erect expensive edifices. It was equally true that men could eat their food in a barn, and yet they built for themselves costly and beautiful dwellings. It might as well be said that they could worship God if there was no light in the sun, if there was no grass in the fields, or if there was no moon. These were not indispcnsible to divine worship, nor were fine churches ; still they did not always consider what they could do without, but what would enable them to do things in the most fitting manner. Churches were regarded in the early days of Christianity as the outward symbols of their religion, and that those early Christians devoted themselves to the building of houses of prayer was apparent enough from the remains to be seen. The Church of S. Sophia, Constantinople, was one of the best examples. If in days such as those gone by, when men it might be said had more time for reflection aud for meditation, it was felt to be necessary to build churches to remind them of their duty to God, much ! more was it necessary to do this now, in days when there were so many things in the hurry and bustle of life to distract men's thoughts from their Heavenly Father. Now that they had a peal of bells in their midst, they would learn in time what the various modes of ringing signified ; their signals and other features. They would know when the bell were ringing the wedding chimes, when they were tolling for the dead, and when they were summoning them to prayer. During his visit to the East he had been struck with the devotion of the different people there. When the bells of the churches rang forth their peals of joy or sorrow, or indicated the time for prayer, these people, no matter how engaged, or in what situation, whether guiding the course of their boats through the canals, or engaged in any other worldly pursuits, would always kneel down, or assume other customary attitudes, and pray fervently, regardless of the scoffings of foreigners. If those who could not find it convenient to come to church on Sunday, or attend public worship on other occasions set apart by the church, would, on hearing the bells ringing in the tower, summoning them to prayer, retire to the church within themselves, their own hearts, and there offer up their prayers to G od, their devotions w ould be equally i acceptable. The sermon was listened to throughout with much attention. After the congregation had sung the hymn, "All people that on earth do dwell," and the usual form of prayer had;beeu offered up, his lordship with the incumbent and church officers entered the, tower, 1 and ,the usual dedication aceremony was performed. After, the jbells bad been dedicated they were committed,' by the bishop to the joint custody of the incumbent ' and churchwardens, to be , used by their joint consent, Bubject to " the ultimate control 6f'th'e*bis'hop of the Diocese." The hymn, " Bejoice tne Lord is King" having • been' sung, ; the service concluded with the bleasing said^byAthe" _ : A * - " \ '