Samuel B. Goslin

“ To ring, and to ring changes, on either church or musical hand bells, are three very different subjects. In order to ring changes, however, it is absolutely necessary to have a good knowledge of ringing, or the means adopted to make the bells sound in their proper time and place, whether it be in the church tower, on the large swinging bells with ropes, or in the parlour or drawing-room, upon the musical bells, held in the hand or hands. ”

“ To ring-in rounds, it matters little which bell is taken to perform upon, as each takes its place in proper turn, whether it be first, middle, last, or any other position, which will be very well understood if the new ringer has practised, as he should do, rounds upon hand bells. ”

“ Change ringing on bells, then, is to be accomplished just as all other arts or studies, not by seeking to take the monitor’s place at first, but by taking the lowest place on the lowest form, and by giving attention to every lesson or hint that can be gathered from others, commencing as with the alphabet, and then proceeding to spell or to compose. ”

“ It may be perplexing when consulting a variety of books, to determine what are the best plans for a beginner to adopt. And it may or should be known that bell ringing is a dangerous practice for a novice, should he commence it by himself without instruction, thought, or care. ”

“ George, Devon, who from quite a young man has entered deeply and fully into all matters of interest relative to Church Bells and Ringing, and who now supervises that bell-ringing page in the interesting weekly paper called Church Bells, where from time to time much is given which is interesting to all who may wish to become ringers in practice or performance, with good and reliable information as the groundwork upon which they desire to ultimately place their edifice of knowledge of the subject in question. ”

“ And for this there can be no better plan than to note upon paper the changes which may be made with from 2 to 4 bells, assuming that one, which may be represented by a cross, star, or other mark, is the bell which the student takes to move, vary, or change. Whether he takes the position of 1, 2, or any other number, No. 1, in a ring of church bells, is always that with the highest note, and in this way it will be plain, first, to presume that there are 2 bells, and the reader takes the second, upon which there are, as he knows already as shown, but two changes ”

“ By such means, and by such practice, it will very soon result in being able to pull by oneself, and then remains only the practice, so as to learn to keep time at both strokes, to get the bell up, and to let it down without help: always remembering that the weight of the body, thrown on to the rope, is far more effective and less tiring than using great muscular force, or bending and twisting the body which causes much needless exertion, loss of power and breath ”

“ The want of something more, as the first steps to ringing, has been felt and acknowledged by many persons at many times; and to supply this want is all that is now attempted—not in any way to disparage the well-known works of others more skilled in the art of ringing, but to lead upwards and onwards to those works by short and easy words and lessons, is the wish of the Author in the following pages. ”

“ Now, although it may be dangerous to begin or to practise by oneself, yet a little help, such as we should seek in learning to skate or to swim, or in any other exercise or art, from an expert, will overcome and set aside all danger, as well as the mind at perfect rest on such thoughts. Therefore, as a precaution, wherever it is practicable and possible, the advice should be taken to obtain the assistance and counsel of a ringer at starting ”

“ In such a case, he runs the risk of being hung by the neck, as was the case not long since, when, at a certain place in Essex, a man pulled the tenor of a ring of bells, left set for a company of ringers, without knowledge, the result being that he was confused, caught by the rope round the neck, pulled up and thrown with great force to the floor, but where fortunately there happened to be some thick cocoa-nut matting, which broke the fall and so saved him. ”

“ When that has been well digested and understood, then, and not till then, the next or following portion can or should be attempted either as for study or practice, viz.:—
“The bells ring out a merry peal,
Their music on our ear doth steal.” ”

“ But whilst in England the townsman, citizen, or villager is accustomed to the order, and the sweet music from the steeple bells, it is strange to find that so few really care to understand by what means, method, or performance such results are produced. Happily, however, much has been done within the last fifty years to emulate enquiry, and foster interest in such matters by many gentlemen, who have spent a large share of their spare time to effect this purpose, both by essays, books, lectures, advice, and practice—foremost amongst them all being the venerable Rev. ”

“ No. 11. The shrouding (the guard of the wheel to keep the rope in its place on the sole) . No. 12. The slider (a piece of wood working on a centre to support the stay) . No. 13. The stay (a piece of wood attached to the stock to support bell when set) . No. 14. The rope. No. 15. The pulley or rope guide. No. 16. The wheel stay (an iron rod or rods fastened between the stock and wheel, to support or steady the wheel, not shown) . No. 17. The sally (not shown, but a soft tufting near the bottom end of the rope. See cut of Bells at Hand Stroke, page 15) . ”