Faulk County, SD History .....Chapter XIV Church Bell 1909
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CHAPTER XIV.

THE DONATION OF A CHURCH BELL.



    Among the early settlers of Faulk county there was no one of broader and

more liberal view than Capt. John Douglas, who located in the extreme western

part of the county, or one who took a deeper interest in the general upbuilding

of society. His family, his town or his immediate surroundings were far from

being the whole world to him. Among the public spirited acts of Capt. Douglas,

and one that reached our people in a way not to be forgotten, was his influence

in securing to a struggling congregation a fine toned bell that continues to

ring out upon every Sabbath morning a call to assemble, recognize and "Praise

Him From Whom all Blessings Flow."



    The interest in and appreciation of the act by the people of Faulkton, is

best told by the following extracts from the local paper of that week:



    "Judge J. Douglas, of Lonaconing, Md., father of Capt. J. Douglas of Seneca,

has presented to the Congregational church of this place a 550-pound bell, tone

"a." The bell will be shipped from the McShane bell foundry of Baltimore, and

will cost $140. The bell is the free and generous gift of Judge Douglas, and one

that will be most acceptable and gratefully received by the church and fully

appreciated and enjoyed by all. It is anticipated that its welcome tones will be

heard in Faulkton within a month."



THE BELL.

    "The Times last week mentioned the arrival of the bell donated by Judge J.

Douglas of Lonaconing, Maryland, to the Congregational church of this place. On

Saturday afternoon it was raised by willing hands to its place in the belfry of

the new church—which is an ornament to the town and county—and an impromptu

service was held. Among other choice selections rendered by the choir, was the

following hymn, written for the occasion by C. C. Moulton, leader of the choir,

which, with its perfect rendering, seemed a happy inspiration, aptly expressing

the sentiment and feeling of the hearts of all:



Thanks be to God

    Our bell has come!

Its tones our hearts rejoice.

    Now, let a joyful song of praise

Ascend from heart and voice.



Its clarion tone,

    From yonder tower, 

Shall o'er these prairies ring!

    Inviting all to come to church 

And worship Christ, their King.



With grateful hearts

    Our thanks we send

To him who gave the bell;

    And may the blessings of our God

With him forever dwell.



    Rev. Douglas, pastor of the church, spoke with much feeling in behalf of his

people, giving Judge Douglas the thanks and God the praise. Others spoke,

representing the generous sentiment of other churches, in congratulation of Rev.

Douglas and his people in gratitude to Judge Douglas for a gift so unsectarian

as to be of equal pleasure and benefit to all; in representation of the

sentiment of thanks, universally shared by the citizens of the town, for the

generous gift; praise for the good genius of Judge Douglas, in discovering the

key that would open to him the door of every home in Faulkton, and the improving

by him of an opportunity to reach directly and at once the hearts of all our

people by the single stroke of the bell; in acknowledgement of the gratitude of

the people for the bell—the first church bell in the county—the hanging of which

would mark an event in the progress of the development of the county and the

building of Faulkton, that would be looked back to as a mile stone in our

history. As supplementary, and in addition to such action as might be taken by

the church, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:



    Whereas, Judge John Douglas, of Lonaconing, Maryland, has presented a church

bell to the Congregational people of this place; and,



    Whereas, Its tones, sounding from the belfry of their church, are enjoyed

and appreciated by all the people of Faulkton; therefore,



    Resolved, That the citizens heartily unite with the people of the

Congregational church in extending to Judge Douglas most sincere and grateful

thanks for his thoughtful and generous gift.



    Resolved, That a unanimous vote of thanks is due Capt. J. Douglas, of

Seneca, through whose interest and influence the magnificent gift of his father,

Judge Douglas, was made to the people of Faulkton.



    Capt. J. Douglas, of Seneca, accompanied by his daughter, Miss Jessie, and

his sister, Mrs. Beltz, of Ohio, was present at the hanging of the bell. The

Captain spoke in modest depreciation of the magnitude of the gift, in the

estimation of his father, and, while he gracefully acknowledged the expressions

of thanks and gratitude, thought them greater than would be desired by him."



Additional Comments:
From:



HISTORY OF

FAULK COUNTY

SOUTH DAKOTA

CAPTAIN C. H. ELLIS



TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PIONEERS AND PROMINENT CITIZENS



ILLUSTRATED

19O9





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