Another abuse crept in. The ringers considered that they had done quite sufficient when they had rung a peal before Divine Service. Their ringing ended, they would withdraw to the road or loiter about the churchyard, talking and smoking, whilst worship proceeded within the church. In a certain place that I know the ringers had been allowed their own way under an indifferent rector, and the worst possible condition of affairs had resulted. Then came a new rector with the reforming spirit in him, and he resolved to put matters to right. Hitherto the belfry key had been retained by the sexton, a prime offender. The parson demanded it. The sexton refused to surrender it. Then the rector went with a blacksmith to the tower door, broke it open, and affixed a new lock to it with a key that he retained for himself. Great was the indignation among the ringers, and an anonymous letter was received by the rector: "This be to giv Nottis. If you pass'n doant mind wot your about and let we ring the bells as plazes we, then us wull knock your little 'ed off." The rector was not to be intimidated. That night he went to the belfry and locked himself in. At the usual time for the practice to begin the ringers arrived, and he heard them discuss him and his doings in the churchyard. That he did not mind. "I say," remarked the sexton, "ain't he the minister? Wot do that mean but that he's sent by the bishop to minister to us and do jist as us likes?" "Shure, b'aint no meanin' in words if that ain't it," responded another. "Us won't be pass'n-ridden," said a third. "Us'll break open the door," said a fourth. "And if he interferes, us'll scatt his little head open," said a fifth, "as us wrote he--you knaws." Then came a bang against the tower door. Now there happened to be a little window close to the door, just large enough for a man to put his head, but not his shoulders, through. "I put on the lock, and I'll have it off," said the blacksmith. "I've brought a bar o' iron on purpose." Then the rector put his head through the window, and said, "Will you? Here's my little head, scatt that first." The men drew back disconcerted. He had gained the day, and established his authority over the ringers, and control of the belfry door. And now, in the same place, there is as well-conducted a set of ringers as may be found anywhere, and some of the old lot are still there. The first step in the reform of the belfry was that of obtaining mastery over the key. A second step was taken when the west gallery was demolished and the tower-arch thrown open, so that the bell-ringers were visibly in the church, and so came to feel that they were in a sacred building in which there must be no profanity. In several instances much good has been done by the rector or the curate becoming himself a ringer, or, if not that, taking a lively interest in the ringing, and being present in the belfry, or visiting it, on practising nights.