LD
4114
So68B
By
Edward Sorin, e.s.c.


NOTRE DAME, INDIANA.
When in May, 1866, the Statue of Notre Dame was blessed here
by Archbishop Spalding, in presence of five other Rt. Rev, Bishops
and au immense concourse of people, the bells of ene new chime, or at
least six of the largest, were freely rung iu full peal, to the delight of
all present. 'Ï'he following day, at thv solemn procession of the Blessed
Sacrament, around Sc. Jost'ph s Lake, the same beautiful siuuds, elec­
trifled, as it were, for two hours, all who att -ude.l th � graud ceremony.
Never will the TllPffiory of these t w.i glorious d ays be obliterated at
Notre Dame. The bells of the first chime in the United States 'had
never before delighted, to such au extent, two large American . assem­
blies of pious worshi ppers. The venerable Bishop Timon of Buffalo,
among the rest, was so charmed with the harmony and rich sounds of
the new bells, and their wonderful effects fur miles around, that he
wished, b.fore he left, to obtain au acrouut of the various weights of
the twenty-three bells e.im posing the chi me, the cost of the w hole, etc.,
etc., and the residence of the tou.xler in Franc, with a firm deter­
mination to send him all order, on his return tu Bufla!o. fol' even a
larger chime; a resolution which. we all kuow, he carried out im­
mediately, to the great delight of the city" and which, ever since,
is enjoyed there, by day and by night, as the richest aerial
music in the New Worlù. The chime of Buffalo includes 44 bells;
there is nothing to equal it ill the States. It has added not a little,
as all say, to the enjoyment of the citizens in that already famous
city. By itself, it would immortal iZI� the uum . of the saint ly Bishop,
who enriched his beautiful Cathedral with this graud and perpetual
rehearsal of pious hymns and tunes of what is admitted to be mo-t
.exquisite ,in church-music; th�8ho�rly aud mo�.t sweetly charming all


ears and bringing home from on high, with real rapture to the soul,
recollections of the purest jo 'ys, filling the air with the choicest
praises of God, of the Blessed Virgin and of most popular saints,
at a time when luxurious voices and lascivious airs from theatres
are heard on every street, anti repeated everywhere in private circles.
What a consolation for Christian hearts to hear from the skies, heav­
enly accents, angelical invitations, to rise from the low walks of vice
to the true aspirations of innocence and virtue! Each time the
chime fiJls the atmosphere, is it not to say, to each and to all, Sursum
corda? " Your l earts on high!"
But to return to th � m »lest chime that came first from Bollée's
celebrated fou udry in France, aurl has been for many years entirely
eclipsed by the larg-r chime of Buffalo, we beg to state, that a
few days after the memorable occasion of May. 1866, above alluded
to, the large bell (3.0\)0 Ihs., cast ill Cincinnati), which had served
for a basis to the other 2:�, was found materially altered in sound; on
ciose examination, a crack, at least a foot long, was discovered in it,
probably the result of the long and heavy ringing, just mentioned.
Not a few said it was a trick of Satan. as in St. Benedict's life­
others added that Satan should not be allowed to rejoice in his success.
Meanwhile, to ring it any longer was out of the question. To replace
it, however, was a heavy expense-too great for the resources of the
Institution. The dilemma became embarrassing ; for the chime, with­
out a basis. could no longer be used. A wise head, trusting more than
the rest in the Blessed Queen of the place, suggested that the broken
bell be replaced by another, four times, or even five times larger,
positively declaring that, while few per�ons would feel inclined to
subscribe anything for an ordinary bell, many would be delighted to
contributefor the acquisition of an extraordinary one, especially if they
were offered the assurance, that, by suhscribing a certain amount their
names would be cast on the bell. The wisdom of'fhe counsel was ad­
mitted, and fully justif (1 hy the result. In a few months the list of
generous donors was filled and the new bell (16,000 lbs.) was ordered
at Bollée's foundry. The following year, the bell was sent, with its
clapper 500 lbs, in weight-multitudes gathering to look at it wherever
it stopped. The first founders of bells in the country came to ex-


· a�ine it, amo� "�ieneel; himself from Troy, State of New
York. They were all struck with the clearness of its marvellous­
sound. reverberating for full two minutes as Mr. Meneely himself
proved it to his own astonishment. 'Vith a favorable wind, it has been
heard twenty-four miles, South, and twenty-seven miles, Wt:'st. In
calm weather, it is an enjoyrn-ut for miles around, to pause and
listen to such a magnificent voice, pa .... sing over hills and valleys, as the
Psalmist has it, like God's own voice over mounts and waters: c. Vox
Domini super aqua s."
But the more delighted everyone here feels with the wonderful
sound of this great 'bell, the more keenly is also felt by all the dis­
proportion between it and the modest original chime. Ever since.
the casting of the new bell, Mr. Bollée himself has b. en urg-ing the
complement of the work, by the casting of a set of be.l . .; "in keepin q
with the fineet one," as he writes, "thrtt ever left his .foundry." In a
recent letter of last December: he seit a plan, or scheme, of a new
chime based on our present B .urdou, which hp eo'emnb; and repeat­
edly declared would be the first chime in the uo.ld, giving at the same
time the positive assurance that he is wil liug to forego all profits and
be satisfied with covering his expense�. The new chime is to consist
of 63 bells; the first one weighing i of ours, (12,000 lb ... ) This new
plan includes a large cast iron cylinder 13 feet long and 5t in diameter,
upon which to set all hymns and tune- and airs desired. The plan
is mœt elabo-ate, and contains all the late improvements rewarded
by the French Government, placing Mr. Bollé � at the head of all bell
founders in the world. As a corresponding part of the cylind r is a
key board, patented equally to Ml'. Bollée, and Oll which a pianist or
an organist, call play, with the same eas-, as OIl bis own instrument,
any piece of mU3lC he wishes, and be heard miles off. On each bell,
there are three hammers securing to the artist all LOne.:5 and half-tones
of the musical scale.
The best friends of Notre Darne are unanimous and urgent for ac­
cepting an offer that might never he made again. They unhesitatingly
declare that the S .. im e method th at covered the cost of the Bou rrlou,
will fully meet the expense3 of the new and grauel undcrtak iug, The
largest bell being here already; the tower also being declared by Mr.