THE LATE DAVID BELL, ESQ. of BLACKHALL.

The funeral of this deceased gentleman, which took place on Thursday last, was attended by a large circle of his friends and acquaintances, who accompanied the body to its final resting place in the Necropolis. Prominently before the public as Mr Bell has been during the past thirty years, some notice of his active life may possess interest to not a few, associated also as he was with so many public undertakings, the result of which is now seen, but whose origin and early history are lost sight of. Mr Bell was "of the Romans Roman," being, unlike so many of even the wealthier citizens of this city of newcomers, born in Glasgow, and linked to it by every tie of birth and kindred. During the early period of his manhood life, his business, that of a manufacturer, engrossed all his attention, and it was not till he had amassed a competence by dint of that practical shrewdness and thorough earnestness which he brought to bear upon all he undertook, that he entered upon the active course of public life, which made his name so well known. His election as a Town Councillor brought before the notice of the citizens a man that could not fail to attract their attention. Possessing a keen, vigorous, practical intellect, strongly opinionative when once his mind was decided upon any subject, and expressing his opinion in a blunt, outspoken fashion, marked by an eccentric humour peculiarly his own, indefatigable withal in supporting any public scheme, if he once adopted it, he soon made his name familiar and respected. His hobby, if it can be so called, was the architectural improvement of the city, but every project in which the general good of the citizens was concerned, if he once became assured of its being a desirable and good one, found in him a strong supporter. With the building of the Royal Exchange and the erection of Jamaica Street Bridge, his name was peculiarly associated. At all times an advocate for substantiality and grandeur of size in the architecture of public edifices; he prevented, by his strong opposition and representations, the magnificent reading room of the Exchange from being 20 feet less in length than it at present is, the wish of some of the gentlemen in reviewing the architect's plans, being to curtail the fair proportions of the room as it now is. To the last. his interest in the building continued unabated. Regarding it in the light of a successful pet project, he was at all times ready to attack any innovations on the original plan, and our readers may recollect seeing, but a few months ago, the strong opinion he expressed. in a letter to the 'Mail' regarding the painting of the columns of the Exchange Reading Room. A favourite mode with him of ventilating his ideas on any subject, was to

address the public by letter through some newspaper. Parliamentary Reform, the improvement of the river, the Loch Katrine Water Works, anything indeed regarding which he thought he had a new or useful idea to communicate, he at once gave public expression to; and a propos of this practice, reverting so far back as the building of the Broomielaw bridge, we find. him entering on what we should say was quite a new walk in literature for him, in giving to the world a rhymed "effusion", that at the time attracted some attention, and we should say, amongst those who knew the author and his characteristics, was productive of some amusement recalling as it does some fading reminiscence of a matter that at one time engaged the attention of the citizens very considerably, it may still be read with attention as a curious piece of pleasant old doggerel saving altogether of the days in which it was written, and of the man who wrote it. It is as follows THE JAMAICA STREET BRIDGE (A favourite new song) Air Johnny Cope." Text omitted The word " Wier" is evidently a verbal play on the name of the editor of the long since defunct "Argus, connected with an allusion to the weir that then was on the river near the Broomielaw. As a further instance of his public spirit we think the first suggestion of the West End Park originated in an advertisement inserted by him in the Mail, a year or 2 before the matter was taken up by the Council. Another favourite scheme of his was the making of the Windmillcroft Wet Dock, and another the proposed prolongation of Ingram Street to the High Street so as to terminate nearly in front of the University. The building of the Queens Rooms (perhaps the finest rooms in Scotland of their kind), at a cost of nearly 20,000 pounds, and the improvement of his estate at Blackhall, latterly engaged much of his attention. Dying of a brief illness on the 21st instant at the age of 71, he left behind him the memory of a strongly marked, independent, and eccentric character, who had effected some good in his day, by thorough advocacy of schemes which he considered to be for the public benefit. From a Glasgow newspaper.

THE LATE DAVID BELL, ESQ. Few men in this City for an uninterrupted period - we should say of fifty years at least - have enjoyed such good and robust health as did the late David Bell, Esq., who died somewhat suddenly on Sunday last, above seventy years of age. We question if during these last fifty years he endured sickness of any kind for more than a few hours if so much. He was hale, hearty and vigorous, and his rosy countenance and general good temper, notwithstanding of many crotchets about him and many taunts he experienced in various affairs of life, sufficiently testified that he was, on the whole, a jovial good fellow, and what is better still, that he was a faithful and industrious citizen, ever attentive to anything appertaining or conducive in the least degree to the welfare of his native city. It is true, as we have remarked, that he had peculiar crotchets of his own, and he broke out occasionally into odd enough rhapsodies, which for a time made him rather ludicrous and exposed him to the animadversions of many friends and the wrath, perhaps, of many enemies: but he always maintained his own ground with considerable manliness and great equanimity, and altogether his services, whether in public or private life, were designed, we believe, and as he himself thought, to advance the prosperity of Glasgow. In doing so, we cannot say that he was forgetful of his own interest. He had a pretty discerning eye in his head; and to him we may ascribe in a great degree the position of the present Royal Exchange of Glasgow and the prodigious rise in value of property in its neighbourhood, especially in Buchanan Street - in which street Mr. Bell, more than 30 years ago, built a pile of buildings, then deemed to be most extravagant in their aspect; but his example, in this respect, has been imitated with almost incalculable benefit to others. We call to mind that he is about one of the last gentlemen who personally laid the foundation of the Royal Exchange alongst with other distinguished citizens, who have gone before him, in the same work, such as Messrs James Dennistoun, John Hamilton, James Ewing, Kirkman Finlay, James Hutchison, Robert Daglish, Wm. Dunn, Henry Monteith, Wm. Maxwell, James Lumsden - names that can hardly be forgotten in the annals of Glasgow. We further call to mind that, amongst more fleeting events of times long past, Mr David Bell may be said to have been one of the few choice Pioneers of Reform, when it was almost dangerous to moot such a subject. He was one of the staunch supporters of the late Mr David Prentice, Editor of the Glasgow Chronicle, then the only paper that ventured to assail

questionable proceedings of a public or local description, and he threw open his house in Clyde Street, opposite the Broomielaw for the reception ot the famous William Cobbett, who unquestionably was the most powerful political writer of his day, as acknowledged by all in the State; and who came to Glasgow, as he says in a queer old letter before us, to preach Politics, for the first time, in the Theatre Royal, Dunlop Street. These were indeed animating days; and it is vain to regret that our venerable friend has departed in a green old age with his intellect perfectly caIm and composed. Not very long ago we had the p1easure to meet him in his beautiful retreat at Craigmore, in company with Sheridan Knowles and one or two others, and the rich stories then told about GIasgow men and Glasgow manners during some of the remarkable periods that have gone past may induce us to give a few pen and ink sketches of them, if we be spared to do so, at another time. Mr Bell, we may remark, married a number of years ago, one of the sisters of Sir Andrew Orr, who brought him a considerable fortune, which with his own, enabled him to retire from the active pursuits of mercantile affairs, and to enjoy, as the saying is, for several long years his otiam cum dignatate. He leaves no family, but is represented by one of the sons of his deceased brother, Mr. Stuart Bell, writer in Glasgow (partner of Thomas Falconer of Brownyside), whose political essays and disquisitions attracted considerable attention more than thirty years ago. Glasgow Gazette 24 jun 1863 THE LATE DAVID BELL, ESQ. OF BLACKHALL. The death of such an active and well-known citizen as Mr. David Bell calls for something more than an obituary notice. He was one of the links of a chain that binds the past with the present of the great city of the West of Scotland, and the incidents of his career cannot fail to be permanently associated with many important events in the history of Glasgow. During his life, and under his observation, Glasgow has progressed in rapid and gigantic strides. Increasing wealth has been applied to new discoveries, and fresh discoveries have developed new sources of production; and the merchant princes of Glasgow have made themselves known over the world. With this class of men David Bell was intimately associated. He was not himself, in the strict sense of the term, a merchant, but was a manufacturer; and although, by neither exporting nor importing, his social position might

be humbler, his efforts in utilising and disseminating materials for home consumption were not less indispensable to human happiness. In his day the production of iron began its stupendous growth steam by sea and land took their origin; the tiny silver stream of Clyde became a harbour for an innumerable fleet and a forest of countless masts; population expanded, streets were opened in every direction, while parks have been formed and lawns laid out. But what to do with all this had David Bell, the pullicate manufacturer in Glasgow? Why, his active mind was ever on the stretch. He was incessantly plodding, planning, and devising. He retired early in life from business, but he was incapable of being idle. To some extent, David Bell was to Glasgow what Provost Drummond, in the last century, was to Edinburgh the great improver of the city. The justly celebrated West End Park was heartily promoted by David Bell. He was one of the principal projectors of the Royal Exchange. But the chef doeuvre of his schemes was the Queens Rooms, in which he embarked and risked an amount of capital which, had he been a man of ordinary mind, would have made him shrink. These rooms for beauty of design, completeness of execution, and suitableness of locality are almost unsurpassed. Nor were his suggestions idle schoolboy dreams. His ideas were all practical, and distinguished by utility. That he had his peculiarities, and was characterised by eccentricities, no man professes to doubt, but so has been every man of genius and of talent. The lessons of experience have, however, taught that truth in the first instance is almost always found in the minority, and the peculiarities of the genius of one age frequently become the adopted principles of a subsequent and more enlightened one. Shortly before his death M. Bells mind was occupied in suggesting improvements about several of the streets near to the College. He was eminently a public man. He was repeatedly elected a member of the Town Council and the Clyde Trustees, and continued to take a warm interest in all matters prominently affecting the welfare of the city. In political principle Mr. Bell was a philosopher, strictly so called. He occasionally assumed, to a surface observer, the appearance of dogmatism, but his opinions were marked with perspicuity and profound judgment. He adopted no creed, and espoused no heresy; but thought untrammelled by prepossession and spoke from conviction. His candour did not indeed secure him friends, but he valued honesty more than formal friendship. If he was not theoretically universally skilled in the science of political economy, his knowledge, so far as it went, was, at least, practically sound. He was the stern advocate of free trade, reduction of taxation, and economy in the expenditure of the public revenue. Cobbett, the celebrated political

writer of the beginning of the present century, and whose portrait hangs in the dining room of La Belle Place, was Mr. Bells early friend and admired associate; and from him, doubtless, Mr. Bell derived his clear, comprehensive, and accurate conceptions of the science of money. As the disciple of Cobbett, Mr. Bell held money to be a commodity like anything else the subject of barter, and that the value of money, like the value of anything else, is developed in the process of exchange; that money, therefore, must possess inherent and intrinsic value, and be limited in its production by the same laws which limit the production of any other commodity which becomes the subject of exchange. Moreover, he believed that money is not itself capital, but is merely a medium or instrument of exchanging capital, by the intervention of which instrument exchanges of capital are effected more rapidly and numerously than they could be without such a medium. Money is thus not an agent of production, but an agent of exchange merely, while the agents of production are land, labour, and the powers of nature. Mr. Bell married, somewhat late in life, a daughter of the late Mr. Orr, well known in Glasgow, and has left no children; but it is believed that he is succeeded in his estates by his nephew, Mr. George Bell, a young man, who is in business as stockbroker and accountant in the city. In private life Mr. Bell was kind and hospitable, and did many acts of silent generosity. He had a thorough appreciation of the weakness and the vices of human nature, of the mercy of a God, and the necessity and provision of a salvation; and, while we watched the lowering of his coffin into the grave, we marked that his tombstone had no epitaph but the simple initial letter of his surname, while it bore in modest relief, directly above his forehead, the Calvary Cross, emblematic of the Christians confidence and hope. Glasgow Herald 27 jun 1863 From the book by Robert Alison, published in 1892: The Anecdotage of Glasgow David Bell of Blackhall takes a hint from a camel
IT is easier," says the Book, "for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven." The late facetious Mr. David Bell of Blackhall,

who, with all his faults, was a warm friend to the prosperity of Glasgow, took it into his head, when he was comparatively a young man, to retire from business in the manufacturing line, which he had pursued with considerable success in this city. The text of Scripture above quoted took hold of his mind, and so he took stock, and, having found that he had some thousands of pounds more at his command in the Royal Bank than he expected, he shut his books, closed his mercantile affairs, quietly retired, and settled down to enjoy his otium cum dignitate. He was questioned one day at a convivial party by the late John Henderson, Esq. of Park who gave and left so much of his large fortune for many important religious and benevolent purposesto this effect: "Pray, Mr. Bell, what induced you to retire so soon from business, when, by continuing in it, you might have made a much larger fortune ?" David shook his head, and begged to be excused from giving his reason. This only made Mr. Henderson the more eager to know it, and to press for an answer. "Well, well," said David, "1 have a very good reason to give if you urge me for it, Mr. Henderson." The latter smilingly responded, and Mr. Bell explained: "Well, well, you will know that wonderful passage in the Bible "(above quoted, and which he repeated with animation and force). The company were a little startled by his quotation, and David capped it by adding: "Now, I just took the hint from the camel, and hope to be rewarded for my forbearance." David Bell of Blackhall, well known for his public spirit, was a potential for representation of Glasgow in parliament (Lloyds Weekly Newspaper, 1852).
Public Monument and Sculpture Association National Recording Project

The Progress of Civilisation Region ID Work ID

Manual Reference Title Assistant Sculptor Architect Builder Date of design Year of unveiling Unveiling details Road

GW 226 AN/056/1 The Progress of Civilisation Buchan, Walter Mossman, John G Wilson, Charles York, William 1857-58 C.1858

Clifton Street

Precise Location A to Z Ref OS Ref Postcode Work is Listing Status Duty of Care Commissioned by Notes

7-11 Clifton Street, across east faade, under cornice, Hindu Mandir 35 J15 G3 Extant I Hindu Mandir (temple) David Bell, of Blackhall

A frieze illustrating the different periods and stages of the progress of civilization (from south to north): Prehistoric man with his primitive implements; the taming of the horse; a sower with ploughing oxen; a winged male flanked by scenes of the harvest; a group of three Glasgow merchants (David Bell, Robert Hutchinson and Stevenson Dalglish); a steamship; a classical battle scene with six warriors and a chariot; and a musician playing a lyre (1) The building was erected as assembly rooms by the merchant David Bell, of Blackhall. It was originally called the Queen's Rooms, and by c. 1939, was in use as a Christian Science church. It is now a Hindu temple, called Hindu Mandir David Bell founded and financed the building. Robert Hutchinson and Stevenson Dalglish were art collectors and sponsors of the School of Design (later Glasgow School of Art) circa raw year Condition At risk

C. 1858 Good Not at risk In incised Roman lettering, in pediment, south faade: ERECTED BY DAVID BELL OF BLACKHALL / MERCHANT IN GLASGOW / MDCCCLVII CHARLES WILSON MQR ARCHITECT / MOSSMAN SCULPTOR / W T EDMISTON WRIGHT / WILLIAM YORK BUILDER

Inscriptions

Signatures

Elements
Element Details
Part of work Sculpture Material Blond sandstone Dimensions

From a Salvation Army magazine:

From the top: Thoughts from the General Hopes and Prayers for 101, by General John

Larsson The Salvation Armys IHQ International Headquarters is back once more at its historic address: 101 Queen Victoria Street in the City of London. When Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, opened the new headquarters on 9 November 2004 I remarked that the building could really be called the Elizabeth Orr Bell building, for it was through a donation of 70,000 made by this friend of The Salvation Army in 1891 that William Booth was able to buy the freehold of the 101 site. In todays terms that was the equivalent of a donation of well over 4 million. Elizabeth Orr was a sister of Sir Andrew Orr. Their parents were Francis Orr and Mary Glen.
Sir Andrew Orr (1801-1872) was a wholesale stationer and Lord Provost. The son of a wholesale stationer who founded Francis Orr & Sons, Andrew inherited the family business. He was a councillor from 1842-1860, Lord Provost 1854-1857 and was knighted in 1858. Orr was a member of the Clyde Navigation Trust and served as its chairman 1854-1857. He was a prominent supporter of the Loch Katrine Waterworks scheme in 1852, and Chairman of the Glasgow & South Western Railway Co 1849-1871. The son of a wholesale stationer, Orr joined and extended the family business. In public life, he served on the Glasgow town council from 1842-1860 and was Lord Provost for three years from 1854. He was knighted in 1858. From 1857 Orr was active in acquiring land for public parks in Glasgow, in particular Queen's Park, and sat on the committee which shaped the 1859 Glasgow Public Parks Act. He was also involved in the scheme to the supply Glasgow with water from Loch Katrine, the legislation being finalised in 1855, during his provostship. From 1849-1871 he was chairman of the Glasgow and South-Western Railway Company. In 1859 he bought the estates of Harvieston and Castle Campbell in Clackmannanshire, later adding Aberdona and Sheardale. His later years were spent here, and he died at Bridge of Allan on 19 April 1872. Excerpt from an article about David Livingstone:

I was present in the City Hall when Sir Andrew Orr, the Lord Provost of Glasgow, presented to Livingstone the freedom of the city. The hall was literally packed. Sir Andrew spoke of the missionary's perseverance, his love for the down-trodden African, his discoveries, and added that Glasgow honoured herself in bestowing honour upon such an eminent man. The vast audience cheered those remarks, but when the noble missionary rose to return thanks, they sprang to their feet and cheered with a depth and a volume such as I had never heard before. Several minutes elapsed ere the distinguished traveller was allowed to say a word.

From Glasgow Herald, 22jun1855: DAVID BEFORE THE PEERS. London, Monday Evening. The Loch Katrine Water Bill came on before the Committee of the House of Lords this forenoon; and before this can reach you in the course of post you will have learned the result. I may, however, send you a few lines regarding the great event of the day. As the hour of eleven approached, the parties interested began to make their appearance, and considerable stir was created in the lobby leading to the House. The civic dignatories and officials of Glasgow, supported by engineers and chemical witnesses, mustered in great force, and as much anxiety appeared to prevail as must have existed in the British Camp at Waterloo on the glorious 18th of June, of which this was the anniversary. There was no appearance of an enemy till close on the stroke of eleven, when all were startled by the advance of the Laird of Blackhall, who was seen making his way through the crowds of wigged counsel and anxious onlookers. David, however, did not mount a wig himself. His well-known umbrella was under his right arm, and in his left he carried a small leadcoloured leather box, richly ornamented with brass nails. Of course the citizens of your good city knew him well, but the strangers present were not so well enlightened; and as the box he bore was identical in form with those carried by men high in the Cabinet, he was by many set down as a member of the present Ministry; but as he was evidently less jaunty than Lord Palmerston, less venerable than Lord Lansdowne, bigger than Lord John Russell, and redder in the gills than the whole Administration put together, these curious strangers were much at a loss to find a name and a place for him. Counsel usually employ a clerk or porter to carry their red or blue bags; but the economic foresight of Mr. Bell was much admired, for, by getting up the Ministers box for the occasion he was not only enabled to assume an official aspect, but to save the porters fee into the bargain. Your townsman looked remarkably well on the whole, with the exception that there was a spice of danger about him. On the Committee assembling, the Noble Lord in the chair read over the names of all the parties appearing for and against the bill; and on David Bell of Blackhall and Craigmore being called in the latter category, the said David responded by a pretty loud Here. The Chairman Who appears for you? Myself, replied David. Where is the Clerks note permitting your appearance? asked the Committee. I have none said the Opposition; but, although now a little downcast, he bolted off for the requisite authority, and, returning in a jiffey, took his place amongst the members of the Bar of England, in the capacity of his own counsel. Serjeant BELLAZIS opened the case for the Promoters in his usual quiet, clear, and modest manner, and in the course of his speech he read Mr. Bells petition, commenting on it as he went along. During the delivery of his address, he was frequently encouraged by loud cries of Hear, hear, from David himself. This rather unusual interruption wakened up their Lordships, who became evidently impressed with the notion that they had got a queer specimen of a Scot before them, and they could not help showing that they looked for some fun. Matters went on smoothly, however, although it must be confessed that the Promoters now and then looked rather shaky and uneasy, while the Laird of Blackhall stood boldly on his pins. At length Mr. Serjeant Bellazis assumed a somewhat serious tone, and, while objecting to the locus standi of Mr. Bell, proceeded to

show the danger of allowing a single individual the privilege of appearing against a whole community, and of thus entailing upon that community a large expenditure which might otherwise have been saved. This argument seemed to stagger even David himself; and he was still further put about when the Chairman called on him, upon a point of form, to show cause why he should be heard. The Laird then took speech in hand in a cool but energetic manner, and, seasoning his remarks with quotations from Shakspere and the Scriptures alternately, proceeded to give the reasons for his appearance. Amongst other illustrations, he cited the case of Ninevah with its mighty population. It was said on the very highest authority, that if Peradventure there be five wise men in the city, I will save it for their sake. Now (said David) I think I stand in the same position in reference to Glasgow that these five men did to Ninevah, for, taking the population of Glasgow at 400,000, I stand in the same proportion as the five wise men did to the 2,000,000 of souls who inhabited the great city of the East. As he warmed with his subject the orator waxed vehement, and abjured their Lordships in the most striking and solemn manner that if they valued their own peace of mind they would not pass this bill. If they did pass it, it would, like Banquos ghost in Macbeth, haunt their Lordships House for ever and a day, or at least, it would be seen year after year hovering about Westminster in the shape of an Act to amend an Act, at the expense of the bone and blood and sinews of thousands of the poor of his native city, whose substance would be wanted, and whose furniture would be distrained to pay the unlimited rates which would be imposed on them by this infernal bill. He said he was compelled to appear from the duty he owed to God and his own conscience, and thus stimulated he was detemined that his light should not be hid under a bushel. He did not enlarge on the subject as to whether or not Glasgow was really suffering dreadfully from the want of water; but he laid the butter thick upon the Peers by thanking Providence that there was a House of Lords; and, after a strong attempt to resuscitate the lead dodge, he was cut short by the Chairman, who, without asking for a reply ordered the room to be cleared. On re-assembling, the Chairman put Davids pipe out by telling him that he had no locus standi. On this doleful intimation, the Laird took up his brown umbrella and ministerial box, and lurched out of the room a sadder but perhaps not a wiser man when he entered it. I presume the able Parliamentary reporter who, I observe, attends to your interests in London will have told you the rest. From the Glasgow Herald 1apr1862: SANDYFORD CHURCH-PRESBYTERIAN FORMULA-A QUEER MEETING. A meeting was held in the Queens Rooms last night, called by the following advertisement: The congregation of Sandyford Church are requested to meet in the Queens Rooms, this evening, the 31st instant, at 8 oclock, to consider as to a change in the mode of public worship contemplated by a certain party or parties, as respects kneeling at prayers and standing whilst singing, and particularly of all such as are opposed to any change in these respects, or as to the introduction of instrumental music of any description whatever, without the previous sanction of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, as by

law established. Without such authority, where is innovation to end? My son, fear thou the Lord, and the king, and meddle not with them that are given to change. Proverbs xxiv, 21. There were 40 persons present, 3 or 4 being ladies. Previous to the constitution of the meeting, we observed Mr. David Bell canvassing some of the gentlemen present to consent to take the chair, but they all refused. He then explained to the meeting that he had a series of resolutions to propose, and he could not take the chair himself, as it would be inconsistent were he both to be chairman and to propose resolutions. He requested that the gentlemen present should propose some one to be chairman. His request not being complied with, he moved, successively, 3 gentlemen to take the chair, but they declined, and he was requested himself to take the chair. There being a pause in the proceedings, Mr. GILCHRIST proposed that they should have a tune on the organ. (Laughter.) Mr. BELL No, I think it would be a great improvement if you would sing a song. (Loud laughter.) A gentleman present, whose name we could not obtain, said that the meeting was called for the purpose of seeing whether the congregation was unanimous as to how God should be worshipped, and that it, there, should be conducted with solemnity. He thought they should dissolve the meeting, seeing they could not get a chairman. Mr. BELL No, I will take the chair myself rather. (Laughter.) He accordingly did so, and proceeded to state that he had called this meeting with the utmost disinterestedness, and with the most perfect respect for all the members of the congregation, and all the seatholders of the congregation. He had done so, not only as respects Sandyford Church, but as respects a thousand parishes else throughout broad Scotland who were desirous that that form of worship and that formula of worship should be continued to the latest posterity; improved it might be, changed it might be, for all things were liable to change, but on the principle that any change which was made, or which was to be made, should be made under the authority of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and not off a single congregation. He had not asked a soul to come here this evening. He had been out of town on the previous Sunday, and a few Sundays before that. He then narrated conversations he had had with 3 or 4 gentlemen, some of whom had told him that next Sunday they would be kneeling at prayers and standing while singing, and others had said that those who told him must have been joking with him. He didnt think so; he did not think that one of the elders and he had too great a respect for the elders, especially when engaged at the door (ironical hear, hear) would make a joke on such a subject. He said he did not care whether they lay on their backs (loud laughter) or crawled on their bellies like the serpent in the Garden of Eden. (Renewed laughter.) He thought, however, that standing at singing was methodistical. Standing at singing was injurious to the Church of Scotland. (Ironical hear, hear.) Many people had to walk several miles, and were tired; and old people, if they happened to be a little late, must bolt up before they get time properly to sit down. He had heard that Mr. MDuff was indifferent about this movement. And where would it end? Why, they would be chanting soon. He had a pretty good musical ear, and he would yield to no man in Glasgow of his years either for whistling or singing. (Loud and continued laughter.) But where would it end? Were they to bring in a bass fiddle, were they to bring in a bass drum, and tinkling cymbals? (Renewed laughter.) Then they would have a man

intoning soon. (Here Mr. Bell, amid loud laughter, and extending and waving his arms, hummed over a few notes, illustrative, we presume, of the melodies which he was afraid might be ultimately introduced.) And now, since they had put him in this position, and as he had resolutions to propose, he would vacate the chair, and he would suppose that this hat was in the chair (and he laid his hat upon the desk in front of the Chairmans seat). He then read as follows: At a meeting of leading members and seatholders in Sandyford Church, called by public advertisement, and held in the Queens Rooms, on Monday the 31st of March, 1862, - Mr. ( ) was called to the chair. Resolved (1st, That this meeting, whilst approving of the form or formula of public worship, as respects sitting whilst singing, and kneeling or standing at prayer, which obtained in Sandyford Church, on Sabbath the 23rd March current, and previously, is of opinion that no change in said form or formula of worship in that church, or other Established churches, without the previous sanction and authority of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, whether as respects instrumental music of any description or not. 2nd, That a copy of this resolution be addressed to the minister of Sandyford Church congregation, with a request that he submits the same to the Kirk-Session and managers of the church. He then called upon any gentleman present to second the resolution, but none did so. He repeated his request several times, without response. Mr. BELL then said If none of you second the resolution, then each man to your tents, oh Israel! (Loud laughter.) Mr KERR rose simply to express his conviction that the course taken by the Chairman (Mr. Bell) in advertising a meeting of this kind was most uncourteous and uncalled for, insomuch as an open meeting of the congregation was called for last Wednesday evening, when it was unanimously agreed Mr. BELL (interrupting him) I beg leave to call you to order (laughter and loud noise) I beg leave (renewed noise, during which Mr. Bell repeatedly tried to make himself heard) I beg leave to say (cries of fair play, and laughter) I beg leave to say, until this resolution is seconded there can be no debate. Mr. KERR I can move an amendment. Mr. BELL (emphatically) No, not until the resolution is seconded. Mr. KERR Do you propose to take the sense of the meeting? Mr. BELL No; not until the resolution is seconded. Is there no person present to second this resolution? Mr. GILCHRIST Mr. Chairman, you are out of order. Mr. Blank is in the chair. Mr. Blank should put it to the meeting. (Loud laughter.) Mr. BELL I will put it to your bald pow. (Renewed laughter, and slight hisses.) The resolution was not seconded. Mr. BELL Then I declare this meeting at an end. The meeting accordingly broke up.