John Weeks Moore

“ Nor let any one despise this method as a dull substitute for the wilder peal, which seems to cheer the people on their walk to church by its sonorous changes. It is possible that those who object may never have listened to good chimes. If so, let them withhold their judgment, for we can assure them that eight sweet-toned bells, if well chimed, afford as beautiful music as ever charmed a Christian's ear. The effect, too, being more solemnizing than inispiriting, is only more becoming the occasion ”

“ Lest any of our readers, however, should not understand what chiming is, it consists of swinging the bell to and fro by the rope, so that it moves like the pendulum of a clock, and comes in contact with the clapper, which remains nearly stationary inside, owing to its weight and the loose manner of suspending it. ”

“ A peal, in technical language, is a performance on the bells of more than 5000 changes ; and it occupies the ringers a considerable period of time, generally more than three hours. But a touch or flourish on the bells, which is the ordinary method of notifying any joyful occurrence, is round ringing varied by changes at the option of the ringers, or according to the custom of the belfry. It is usual in the first instance to set the bells ; that is, to throw every bell, with its mouth upward, in a stationary position in the frame. ”