The Church Bells That Talked
In Abingdon, Virginia, church bells have been heard talking. Saying the names of farmers and their families. The church bells have been offering advice on subjects ranging from marriage to education. The citizens of Abingdon are not in the least surprised that the church bells know them and offer sound advice.
"Usually a church bell is a bell is rung to signify the hour or the time for worshippers to go to church, perhaps to attend a wedding," said Reverend Paul of the First Baptist Church. "So we don't think much of it, if the church bells want to offer us some good pointers how we can improve our lives."
Church bells typically have the form of a cup-shaped cast metal resonator with a flared thickened rim, and a pivoted metal striker or clapper hanging from its center inside. The church is usually mounted high in a bell tower on top of the church, so it can be heard by the surrounding community. The bell is suspended at its apex from a horizontal axle, so it can swing from side to side. A rope is tied to a pulley or lever on the axle, and hangs down to ground level.
To ring the bell, the bell ringer pulls on the rope, swinging the bell. The motion causes the clapper to hit the inside rim of the bell as it swings, making the sound. Alternatively, the bell may be suspended from a stationary support, and the bell rung by pulling a rope attached to the clapper to one side.
The church bell in Abingdon seems to rung by celestial forces. Usually around three or four o'clock in the afternoon. The citizens listen carefully each afternoon. Newspaper reporters wait patiently and write down everything the church bell says.
The following day quotes from the church bell are printed on the first page of the newspaper. The quotes often are biblical passages from Psalms or The Gospels. Though frequently the church bells suggest particular advice on matters of life and death. Advising against pre-marital relations, divorce, drug abuse, alcoholism, gambling and gluttony.
"We listen carefully to everything that bell tells us. It knows a lot. It knows what's important. You hear it start up. A little prayer. A little sermon. You know what's coming. It's got something to say and it rings loud. On Sunday, it tells people to come to church. Don't go fishing."
"It politely suggests. It don't preach. It wants us to pray more often. Read the Bible. That bell will ring and ring and we listen. We know everything it's said. They got a book coming out that has everything that bell has said. And everybody is going to buy."
"Sometimes the bell tells a story. Sometimes it tells a joke. Or recalls some memory of Heaven. If you listen to that bell you learn all kinds of things about the Lord and Heaven. That bells knows us better than we know ourselves."
"For many years, the church bells whispered to us. But two years ago they started saying things. We're so grateful. We don't how we got along without the church bells. It's perfectly naturally to hear them calling our names."
"Last week they called us a fine people and asked us to exercise more. Eat more protein and fiber. The bells are always truthful. We can count on them to tell us what we need to know. The bells know are dreams and sometimes they remind us how much we need our faith and how good we are as a people."
"The bells make us feel more grateful for what we have. They speak to us. But they also listen very carefully. It's as though they wanted to learn everything about us. Sometimes they asked us questions. And not easy questions. Hard questions. Like who are we? What do we want out of life?"
"But how were we to answer. We didn't know at first. Then it occurred to us that all we had to do was pray. And that's what we did. And the church bells heard us. We knew the bells heard us because the very next day the bells congratulated us. The bells speaking in a voice to each of us. It was a miracle. And that pleased us. We liked miracles. And church bells talking seemed perfectly heavenly."
"Occasionally one hears of the church bells helping children with their homework. Telling them how to work math problems. Coaching them in various ways. Offering encouragement and in some cases telling them how much they are loved. How they should in turn show their love for their parents."
"Those church bells have become a part of us. We know what we'd do without them. Once they told Harold Boss where to go fishing. What spot was the best to fish in. And what to use for bait. And once Sarah Delp was told by the bells which of her gentleman callers was the best suited for her in marriage."
"I can't recall the church bells ever being wrong. They once named the children in town that needed discipline. Need more love. Needed a haircut. Or new shoes. We collected money and sent it to the need family. The children got new shoes."
"Then one day the bells told us the best prices of grocery items. And where to buy them. Meatcuts and canned goods. They told who the best mechanic in town was. And where we could get a good deal on a lawnmower or automobile."
"The bells have never let us down. They continue to encourage and support us. We wish to return the favor. So we listen. We learn. You can learn a lot from church bells. But you have to listen carefully."
