The new Episcopal Church in Knoxville, will be a beautiful building when completed.

It is not our purpose to say anything against the Church or its members, we believe in the doctrines of that Church, for they are the doctrines of the Church to which we are attached. But as we are a general superintendant [sic] of all the Churches, the authorities of that church must suffer a word of advice from us, on the subject of bell-ringing.

They ring their bell every Wednesday morning for prayer meeting at 9 o'clock, a thing well enough in itself, because it is proper and right to hold prayer meetings. But to ring as long and loud, is out of the question, it is an outrage upon the city of Knoxville.

We never heard as much ringing at one Church in all our days. What can be the object of such ringing. If they wish the people to hear it, why eight or ten minutes of ringing of as fine a bell as that, would notify every person within two miles of the place.

It they wish their God to know of the meeting, why he knows all about it, without the ringing of a bell. Friends consider the matter, and for the sake of the living, the dead and the dying, cease to ring, forever. . .

Source: The Jonesborough Whig and Independent Journal, Wednesday, September 23, 1846

Transcribed by Robert McGinnis and used with his permission.