"LYTTELTON MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Press, Volume IV, Issue 449, 8 April 1864, Page 3

"LYTTELTON MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

" Tlie following notice of motion was given by Mr. Macpherson— '* That steps be taken to prevent the church bells from toiling for funerals, except on special occasions." Lyttelton Times, April 5. j TO THE EDITOR OF THE ' PRESS' Dear Mr. Editor, —On reading the above in the Lyttelton Times, T was immediately alarmed at the How that was threatening to overthrow one of our most sacred rites, and so hastened at mice to communicate with you, that this time-honored iustitution roight not be done away with. "There is ;*, spirit m that bell, Of which no mortal tongue can tell."

j It is a sermon from the sacred house of God, wafted 'on the wings of the wind far around. When wo hear tiiat M<lemn sound, we say, who is dead? and if for a ■ trooil brother, we tru?t that another angel is added to I God's ho-t to wnt'.-li over us : if for nu unfortunate ; brother, we enn oii'.-r up a prayer to him who rules ' all tliinu'?. While hurrying on in pursuit of pleasure, j honor, or gain, we are arrested by the solemn voice, j and at on?t> fee] the appeal, and our mind*, po entirely j engrossed by dnily pursuit.-!, may be chastened and j sobered to a purity of aetinn. It may be said that this deep and mournful voice produces a barl efleet to the hearer in the hour of &ickness. He may think that that voice may soon usher him to !iis last restiug place, and it may be well that he thinks so; and the warning may be good either for life or death. By such a signal the soul may be rivetted to tin? only means of saving itself. The good icA the purity of the intention and the bad an , led to reflect. Tho solemn voice of the church bell calling the departed to rest in tlieir last home hath another and more powerful and noble inlluence —it teaches us to love one another more. We all seem more boun:l in love when one is called away, for we know not wlu-u we may follow. The sai-red music of the bell calls us to reflect on frail mortality. I earnestly trust tlsat llie tongue of so good a monitor may never be silent at our burials, and that, the soultouchiiifj sermons from the church turret may always have the effect of luoving our hearts to acts of love and good will, and turn us to Him who giveth and lakcth away. Hope.