i t Church Bells, [ D e c e m b e r 4, 1891. BELLS AND BELL-RINGING. ONE SHILLING, MONTHLY. The Society of St. Stephen’s Ringers, Bristol. T he annual dinner of the Antient Society of St. Stephen’s Ringers was held on the 17th ult., at the ‘ Montague,’ Kingsdown, under the presidency of the Master, Mr, Charles R. Hancook; vice-chairs being occupied by the THE THINKER. Wardens, Mr. Frank W . W ills and Mr. Arthur Y. James. There was a full gathering, which included Colonel Hill, C.B., ‘ M .P., the Rector of St. Stephen’s (the Rev. C. H . Jobems), the Rev. E. P. Cole, and many others. A Review of World-wide Christian Thought. The Master proposed the toast of ‘ Good Queen Bess,’ and said it was a cruel expectation that eaoh successive Master should say something fresh 96 pp. Medium 8vo. about that distinguished occupier of the throne ; and in this he thought they would agree with him, remembering that the toast had been proposed regularly for such a very long period. They owed a great deal to Queen Elizabeth beyond the granting of their charter, for it was in that reign that they first had the blessings of tobacco and potatoes. He must admit, how­ Q N J a n u a r y 1 s t , 1892, a New Magazine will be ever, that the Queen had a wonderful musical ear to distinguish the bells of St. Stephen’s from ,the 120 which pealed out on the occasion of her visit. published under the above title, which will aim to This was one thing which influenced the Royal mind; but never let them forgot what that society owed to the Drawbridge. For if it had not been reflect the current religious thought of all countries. It will opened on that great occasion, and if the men who were engaged to open the structure had not taken their time— as every one knew they still did— how contain the following special features :— could they have hoped that the Queen would have been gracious enough to 1. The Expository Thought of the Month. have given the society the charter they so much prized (laughter). They might laugh, but he thought his theory was as good as any one else’s. 2. The Biblical Thought of the Month. Col. H ill proposed the toast of 1 The Master. ’ H e said he had consider­ able sympathy with the object of the society, and had dabbled with campa­ 3. The Theological Thought of the Month. nology himself, but only with handbells. He noticed that the society did not 4. The Literary Thought of the Month. confine itself to mere bell-ringing, but had attempted, and very successfully, the restoration of that magnificent city monument, St. Stephen’s Church, 5. The Scientific Thought of the Month. The Master humorously responded, and concluded by proposing ‘ The Wardens of St. Stephen’s Ringers,’ whioh was duly acknowledged. 6. The Homiletic Thought of the Month. The solemn proceBBion of the Don— the time-honoured function of the 7. The English Magazine Thought of the Month. dinner— was duly performed to the chorus of ‘ See the conquering hero comes,’ most lustily rendered; following which came the reading of the 8. The German Magazine Thought of the Month. ancient charter. The other toasts included ’ The Rector, Churchwardens, and Vestry of St. Stephen’s,’ 1 The Colts and Visitors,’ ‘ The Master-elect,’ 9. The Dutch Magazine Thought of the Month. and ‘ The Wardens-eleot.’ 10. The French Magazine Thought of the Month. On the 20th ult., we gave a brief account of the reopening of the belfry of St. Stephen’s, the ringing chamber being refloored, &c., and two new bells 11. The Russian Magazine Thought of the Month. added. Messrs. Llewellins & James carried out the whole of the work in the 12. The American Magazine Thought of the Month. most thorough and efficient manner. The Antient Society of St. Stephen’s contemplates still farther improvements. 13. The Social Thought of the Month. Bath and W ells Diocesan Association of Change-ringers. 14. Thoughts for Bible Classes. A D istkict Meeting was held at Bridgwater on Saturday, the 28th ult., 15. Thoughts for the Church Year. when the following towers were represented: St. Mary’s, Bridgwater; St. Mary's and St. James’s, Taunton ; St. Mary’s, Bath ; Minehead, Stogumber, 16. Thoughts for Clerics on all Occasions. Old Cleeve, Huntspill, and Highbridge. The bells of St. Mary’s were set 17. Thoughts for our Inquiring Readers. going by members from Minehead and Taunton during the morning, and at 2.30 service was held in the church. A meeting was subsequently held, 18. Pointed Thoughts. under the presidency of the Master, supported by the Rev. J. Utten Todd (Minehead), the Rev. W. Turner (Bridgwater), Mr. C. E, D. Bout- The above Papers will be written by the following able Contributors flower (Bristol), and Mr. Rupert Lewis (hon. secretary). The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, it was decided, on the Rev. Prof. Ch e y n e , Rev. Prof. R eynolds, Rev. Prof. L ia s , Rev. Prof. proposition of the Rev. J. Utten Todd, seconded by Mr. T. Doble (Taunton), B a n k s , Rev. Prof. A d e n e y , Rev. Dr. Gin sb u r g , Rev. Dr. Conder, Kev. to hold the next district meeting at Yeovil. In response to a request from some of the members for information respecting the recent opening of the Canon R a w lin s o n , Rev. G. A. S c h n e id er (Vice-Principal of Ridley Wells Cathedral bells by the Oxford Guild, the Master read a correspondence which had token place between the officers of the Association and the Master Hall), Rev. Principal Ch a p m a n , Kev. Prof. Be e t , Rev. Prof. Cooke (St. of the Oxford Guild, and, in explaining the steps which had been taken in John’s College, Oxford), Rev. Prof. A. L u k y n -W il l ia m s , Rev. Prof. the matter, said he felt it would be better to let the matter rest, but, of course, he was bound to fall in with the urgently expressed wish of the I v e r a c h , Rev. Prof. Gould, Rev. Prof. A ldous, Rev. A . P lu m m er , D.D., meeting. After some discussion, it was proposed by Mr. C. E .D . Boutflower, seconded by the Rev. J. Utten Todd, and carried unanimously: 1 That this Rev. Prof. G a r d e n Bl a ik ie , D.D., Kev. Prof. H odgson, Rev. Prof. meeting, having had before it the correspondence with reference to the re­ M a r s h a l l , Rev. Prof. M orris, Rev. Principal Da v ie s , Rev. Prof. opening of the bells of Wells Cathedral, approves the action of the Master and Secretary, and deprecates the behaviour of the Master of the Oxford Dav iso n , Rev. Prof. G b d b n , Rev. Prof. H utto n, Rev. Prof. M oorhouse, Guild in the matter.’ On the proposition of the Rev. J. U. Todd, seconded by Mr. Boutflower, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the Master and Rev. Trof. Moss, Rev. H e n r y B urton, Rev. Dr. K il p a t r ic k , Rev. Dr. Secretary for the manner in which they bad vindicated the honour of the T homson, Rev. R . M a r t in P o pe , Rev. M acdonald M u n r o , Rev. Association. A cordial vote of thanks to the Vicar of St. Mary’s for the use of the bells brought the meeting to a close. Owing to the inclement weather Prof. K en ned y (Aberdeen University), Rev. Dr. Da v id Br o w n , Rev. the members were unable to visit the neighbouring towers, but confined their attention to St. Mary’s bells, the ringing during the day including touches of G. Ba l l a r d , Rev. H. H. M cC u l l a g h , Rev. J. T. L. M aggs, Rev. G. G randsibe, Stedmak, and P lain B ob. Rjsith, Rev. Prof. R bdford, Rev. Prof. B e n n e t t , Rev. Prof. G ibb Rev. W . Sp ih r 8, Rev. Prof. R o w la n d , and many others. W e have received from the publishers (Messrs. J. Warner & Sons, Crescent Foundry, Cripplegate), a copy in pamphlet form of Twelve Carols The E a r l y N umbers of the Magazine w ill contain papers on the (Is.) by W. Haley, adapted for use on certain specified and limited numbers of hand-bells. This little publication is well timed for the coming Christmas Inspiration of Holy Scripture, the Higher Criticism, and on the Bampton season, and will be found verw useful for those who practice simple tune- ringing. It forms an admirable appendix to the larger work on the same Lecture by Mr. G o re. plan published a year or two ago, and we have much pleasure in recommend­ ing it. For remainder of Bell-ringing seepage 18. JAMES NISBET <fc CO., 21 BERNERS STREET, LONDON. 18 Church Bells, {December 4, 1891; CHANGE-RINGING. ‘LIFE FROM THE DEAD.' At All Saints’, Duffield, Derbyshire. On Friday, the 20th nit., eight members of the Midland Counties’ Asso­ ‘MY LIFE SAVED.’ ciation rang a peal of 5024 Double Norwich Court Bob Major in 8 hrs.