Note 136 — Chapter IV · THE PROBLEM OF WORLD-HISTORY

Besides the clock, the bell itself is a Western “symbol.” The passing-bell tolled for St. Hilda of Whitby in 680, and a century before that time bells had come into general use in Gaul both for monasteries and for parish churches. On the contrary, it was not till 865 that Constantinople possessed bells, and these were presented in that year by Venice. The presence of a belfry in a Byzantine church is accounted a proof of “Western influence”: the East used and still largely uses mere gongs and rattles for religious purposes. (British Museum “Handbook of Early Christian Antiquities)”.Antiquities)”.—Tr.