People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 September 1893 — SOME GREAT EVENTS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SOME GREAT EVENTS.

Transpiring at the Columbian Exposition Daily. Tb* New Liberty Bell Proclaims Frew* dom for All —Religions Leaders in Congress Btate Celebrations. [Special Chicago Correspondence. 1

i S the Col umbian fair draws nearer to its close the fun l grows fast and ' furious. That is to \ say the bustle and f excitement grows apace. Day in and day out the great programme of events is carried out, and so numer-, ous and varied are its features that

Several of the greater events are often crowded into one day. For instance, last Saturday, September 9, the Grand Army of the Republic held a grand * meeting in the fair grounds at the same time the Californians were holding high carnival at their state building. Another momentous event occurred on the same day, namely, the dedication of the new Liberty bell, which had just arrived from its birthplace at Troy, N. Y., where it was made to the order of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The grand army men and the Californians took an active part in the dedication of the Dew bell and the three events were combined, making of the day one of the most memorable periods of the world’s fair season. ' v The bell is one of the finest castings ever made. Not a flaw is in the metal. It is composed curious compound of precious and base metals. More than ten thousand dollars’ worth of old gold and silver ornaments, coins and jewelry were contributed by the patriotic members of the order. An old cent which was worth one hundred dollars from its historical association was contributed. The tone is very sweet because of the quality of the casting and the metal. It weighs six and a half tons —thirteen thousand

pounds. Although it is one of the largest bells of the world, it does hot ■approach in size that of the enormous bell at Moscow, which weighs twentyfive thousand pounds. The bell is six feet high and eight feet in circumference at the mouth. It has a bright luster of a brassy nature. There are three inscriptions on it, one at the top ridge, another in the center and one at the lower edge. The upper one reads: “Glory to God in the highest; on earth good will toward men.” The central inscription is; “A new command I give unto ye, that ye love one another.” The lower is: “Proclaim liberty throughout the land and unto the inhabitants thereof.” This Columbian liberty and peace bell is attracting world-wide notice, and it is indeed a worthy successor of the old elarion of independence; but it is not nor never will be regarded with the same reverence that is lavished on the decrepit veteran that rung defiance to the forces of Great Britain, when this great nation was bnt a puny commonwealth taking its first lessons in' self-government on the shores of the Atlantic. The dedication ceremonies of the now bell were very impressive and inspiring, many noted people taking part and delivering eloquent addresses. The bell is suspended from a huge framework immediately in front of the eastern entrance of the Administration building, from which proud position its tone* go ringing through the grand Court of Honor and out upon the blue waters of old Lake Michigan. At the present writing there is in session at the fair the greatest assemblage of religious leaders the world has ever seen, representative exponents of every religious creed under the sun. This meeting is certainly a most extraordinary affair, and it is undoubtedly of great import among the religions of the world. During the sessions of this most remarkable congress the different leaders of moral and religious teachings ventilate their respective views and compare notes on the means of bringing the people of all lands to a higher state of morality and intellectuality. To behold the fraternization of teachers of men so widely divergent in their tenets and views is in truth a marvel for the age to contemplate with the most earnest commendation. The celebration* among the various

state buildings are still attracting Immense crowds. During the last few> days New York, Kansas and Maryland as well as California have kept open house to the world, and in each instance the affair has been a great success. The state of Indiana has fixed upon September 27 as Indiana day at the fair, on which occasion the Hoosiers will doubtless create a big splurge. The big cows and horses have about had their day at the fair, and they are j to be followed by the smaller stock an- I imals in their turn. The live stock j show has been an unqualified success thus far, and the management is to be congratulated upon the eminently sat- j isfactory manner in which it has ' conducted the very difficult and oner- j ous affair throughout. Hundreds of ! prizes have been awarded in the vari- j ous classes and the whole thing has I been without any jarring or ill feeling that was apparent

THE NEW LIBERTY BELL.