Middletown transcript., 1898-05-21
THE ORGAN RECITAL.


The organ recital at the bethesda NJ. e
Church on Tuesday evening was in every
way success. The occasion was the ini-
tial public test of the new pipe organ just
completed by Mr.. John Brown, of Will
mington, the organist and expert being
Prof. S. Tudor Sirang, A. G. o.. who pre-
sides regularly at the organ in Epiphany T.
E. Church, Philadelphia The church on
Tuesday evening was weIl-flled with those
who appreciate music, there being many
from distance, the result showing that
| the judgment of the committee in making
a nominal admission charge was more than
i vindicated. Without an admission fee the
house would have been crowded and by
many who could not appreciate the music
or OCCASION The instrument is Beautiful
externally, filling the recess back of the
pulpit completely. 1t contains two man
uals and has 628 pipes Theprogram COM
prised ten selections, the professor adding
three more and the general verdict of the
recital and the organ was one of approval.
The action is easy, the touch is light. the
tone is excellent In fact Mr.. Browns or
their tone gentleman of Middletown
who is an enthusiast on the subject of
pipe organs and had not little experience
in connection with them says he never
saw more organ aud better for the money
anywhere. Certainly the congregation and
pastor of the NJ. E. Church are to be con-
graduated and especially the music COM
mittee who have had the whole matter in
charge. A brief account of the work of
that committee will be timely and appre-
ciated undoubtedly.
The members Of the Committee on Music
are JOS c. Parker, DR.. w. E. Barnard, DR..
Chas. a. Richie. j. H. Emerson and g. E.
Hukill Last November the committee
in discussing matters coming before them
introduced the idea of new pipe organ.
They called meeting Of the official board
ofthe church and laid their plans before
them. The plans were so fiattering for sue
cess, the necessity for new organ being
conceded by all, that at a subsequent cffi-
cial meeting the FIVE gentlemen named were
empowered TO put their plans into execu-
ton and the result is one of the handsomest
instruments on the peninsula, The COM
mittee began its work not without some
misgiVings; to secure pledges sufficient to
wa-rent the ordering of the organ was no
small task. As long ago as 1884 Mr.. Henry
Clayton, loyal Methodist and christian.
laid the foundation for the new organ of
which he saw the necessity then and he
would have contributed personally perhaps
one-third the cost but the brethren were
not ready. BY means of lectures. etc., Mr..
Clayton raised hundred dollars, the
amount sometimes being greater often less
as the entertainments proved successful or
failures financially. He restored the sum
to hundred dollars on his last unappre
ciated effort to increase the organ fund and
this sum in the Citizens Bank was the nu-
cleus around which the present committee
built They solicited plans and specifca-
tions for an organ and had seyen sub
mitted by the best manufactures of pipe
organs in the country. They disabused the
minds OF the builders that there was to be
a fee to any one for influence, as is often
the case, ETC., but that the offer was open to
all on the best organ for the money. They
laid before Prof Strang without his
knowledge as to the bidders the seven plans.
He fianally selected the one offered by Mr..
Brown, and after some slight changes in
specifications tins was the organ built ac-
cording to contract and upon time. Prof.
Strang's approval on Tuesday after testing
it thoroughly is great satisfaction to the
committee. The old organ cost $4,000 and
had been used Is years. It was sold for
$4,000 to go to Ferndale, California. The
committee have been faithful in their work;
they have given much valuable time; they
have visited the city several times by SUBJ
committees as the occasion required: they
merit the thanks of the Bethesda Metho-
dist.
OF the finances the paster, Rev. !. L.
Wood, has been the special subcommittee
man and upon him the labor of soliciting
subscriptions has devolved. He has had
substantial encouragement. There are those
of one family. name who will contribute
$3.50 or 5000 or perhaps more, and others
have been liberal according to their means
and tomorrow Mr.. Wood expects to make
his report to the congregation. 1t isunder-
stood that he has done successful work
and Mr.. Wood shares largely IN the praise
due those who have so completely, SO sue
ce ssfully managed this organ matter. Your
labors are well done, gentlemen.