Should Have a Bell

The Methodist Church bell. Courtesy of Martin Balding

This is a follow up on a story I published on December 17, 2017 about the history of the Methodist Church bell. It should be noted the church was destroyed by fire in 1915, and work started the following to rebuild. The church had limited funds and it initially seemed as though the church would have to go without a bell.

The following was an editorial in the Lassen Advocate of December 22, 1916: “The question of a bell for the Methodist Church has again pressed itself and there seems to be some difference of opinion in regard to the desirability of placing one in the church. It is hoped, however, that a full-toned bell of comparatively low pitch will be decided upon, for a village church without its bell seems almost like a ship without a rudder. But there are bells and bells, and while present financial conditions of the church a question of cost must be considered, a judicious use of money set aside for the purpose can just as well procure a pleasant deep-toned bell as to the mistake of placing in the church a ell every sound of which startles one with the thought of fire.”

Methodist Church
The aftermath of the 1915 fire.

By the time church was dedicated in 1917, it did have a bell. It came from the old Lassen County Courthouse, as the new courthouse design did not include a bell.

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