Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1881-05-11
The New Organ.

The First Presbyterian congregation of
Brighton, VT, had for several years yearned
for an organ The small meodeon which was
used to accompany the singing of the choir
was not only squeaky and excessively out of
tune but it was the subject of Methodist deri-
sion, and the Presbyterians could not help
feeling ashamed Of it. A tremendous effort
was finally made to raise the necessary funds
for the purchase of real organ. There was
fair, picnic, Il stercoscopic exhibition, New
England kitchen, and series of grab-bags of
unusual attractiveness; and there was great
exultation among the congregation when it
was found that the net combined profits of
these various religious ceremonies amounted
to eleven hundred dollars. This made the
purchase of the organ entirely possible, and
the minister on the following Sunday, made
feeling allusion to the prospect that the en-
vious and wicked opponents of the Gospel
would soon be made to hang their ears with
shame as they listened to the grand tones of
the First Presbyterian organ,
When the members of the CONGREGATION
began TO discuss the question what kind of
organ should be bought, Elder Simpson took
occasion to denounce the whole race of organ
lists He pointed out that ever since the intro
ductiOn of the nelOdeon into the choir the
| organist had been a fruitful source of evil.
Either he was an earnest man, in which case
he constantly quarreed with the soprano and
nsulted the TENOR or he was a careless world
| ling who played snatches of opera bouffe
whenever he had an opportunity, and thus
violated the sanctity of the meeting-hou
The Elder admitted that musical instrument
of some kind was very desirable and he felt
strongly on the subject of the Methodist gibes
at the inability of the Presbyterians to buy an
organ. Still, he said that inasmueh as an
organ could not be had without an organist.
he doubted whether it was not a duty to denv
themselves any musical instrument whatever
This speech gave rise to heated debate
which might have had the most painful con-
sequences had not the Pastor happily sugges-
ted compromise. He informed his flock that
a mechanical organ could be purchased which
would play two dozen tunes without an organ
list after being once wound up. Such organs
were in use, so he was told, in several concert
saloons in New York, and he saw no reason
why one of them should not be eonsecrated to
the use of the sanctuary. This proposal met
with great favor, and q committee was ap-
pointed to have an automatic organ built to
order, and to select the tunes to be played by
it.
In the course of the next six months the
new organ arrived and was set up in its place.
1t was constructed SO as to play twenty-five
of the best psalm tunes and the committee,
with view to fairs and other entertainments,
had incfrnNfaA tho Low 10 10 f,usNb
ular tunes, namely, Strauss waltz and the
galOp from Offenbach's "Orphee." The arri-
val of the instrument created great deal of
excitement in the village, and on the following
Sunday hundreds of Methodists and worldly
people went to the Presbyterian Westinghouse
to listen to the new organ.
1t had been understood that the manage
ment of an automatic organ was very simple
thing, and as a printed code of instructions
was forwarded to the committee by the maker,
it was supposed that no difficulty would be
found in inducing the instrument to play
whatever tune might DO desired. The sexton,
after the matter was explained to him, said
that he would ''work the thing" and accord
ingly he took his place by the organ, ready to
touch the spring that would set it in motion as
soon as the minister should give out hymn.
The first hymn given out was to be sung to
the well-knOwn tune of Ortonville," and
the moment the minister had finished reading
the hymn the organ struck up the tune and the
choir sang with great enthusiasm.
Everybody was satisfied with the perform
ance of the organ except the visiting Metho-
dists, who could find nothing with which to
find fault. When, however, the hymn was
finished the organ did not Immediately stop.
1t kept on and played two more verses, much
to the delight of the Methodsts and the
chagrin of the committee. When it finally
got through with "OrtonviIle" and the minis
ter arose, and remarking, Let us pray" wa:
about to begin long prayer, the organ une8-
pectedly burst out with Windsor" There
was no possible of making any Roadway with
the prayer in opposition to the organ, and The
minister, realizing that fact sat down, and
waited for the sexton to stop the machine
The unhappy man tried every means in hi
power, but he had forgotten the location o.
the proper spring. and the organ played or
until it had gone through with g Windsor
six times, when to the great relief of every.
body, It momentarily paused.
Again the minister remarked, "Let u.
pray" but, az before he was interrupted BY
the dreadful organ, which began to play tn,
Coronation" with every sign of exultIng il
its own wiekedness Six verses of that tun,
were listened to by the anxious Presbyteriaps
while the visiting Methodists visibly chuclled
and one of them, remarking in an audible
tone that he did not propose to attend a con
cert on Sunday, took his hat and went out
The organ went on from one tune to another
Every time it stopped between two successive,
tunes the minister vainly tried to get his in
nings, but every time no was beaten and for
ced to retire. The committee went to tn
organ loft and tried to stile the diabolca
organ with carpets, but nothing could over
power Its grand, clear tone. At last its stool
of religious melodies was exhausted, and
began to play the " Beautiful Blue Danube
The minister, struck with horror at this sac
rilege shut up his Bible with loud bang
and, shouting benedction at the top Of hi
lungs, dismissed the congregation. They pes
sed out of the sacred building to the strains Q
Struss, and while they we're yet on the thresh
old the organ begun the dance music from "Or
phe." This was more than the minister coul