The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-10-22
'LAFAYETTE'S NEW ORGAN.
Reformed Church Has Just
Secured One Of. the
Finest instruments
in the City.
ITS MECHANISM DESCRIBED
Mr.. Louis Sher wood Speaks
of It's Wonderful Tone
Among the Churches.

Among Gn6 0HuICIlO0.
The Lafayette Reformed Church, al
C-ommunipaw avenue and PIN street, OF
which the Rev. T. J. Ko1nmers is pastor,
is little heard of even in church circles,
but alterations are now being made IN
that church which should give it a place
among the largest and most prosperous
in this city. The alterations are the most
thorough the church has undergone
since it's erection many years ago. Ihe
first and by far the most important is the
new organ which is to grace the rear OF
the church. Since last June the organ
builders have been working on this organ
and their labor will be brought to and
end about the latter part of next week.
To one who is familiar with an organ, q
description of the one in the Lafayette
Reformed Church should prove interest
ing. It is wonderful the amount Of mater
ial that is necessary to construct one
Of these ponderous Instruments. This
organ weighs about seven tons. A box
about twenty feet long and five feet wide
supported by iron poles, was built to hole
the mechanism, The wall of the rear OF
the church was cut away for a distance
of about thirty feet and almost to the
roof. The pipes and bellows on the IN
terror extend almost to the roof. FhIs
organ is known as a tubular pneumatic
organ. which it is claimed is far
superior to those run by electricity The
batteries and wires of the electric organ
get out of order and in such cases the
organ is useless for the time being ~
St. Bartholomew's Church. New York, an
electrician is in the organ to look after
the electrical mechanism when the organ
is being used.
The tubular pneumatic organ is run By
air. which is pumped into a storage tank
by small stops at the slightest pres
sure on the keys. A small engine run by
water power and which IS started by the
mere turning of a small wheel in a closet
near the keyboard, starts the bellows
pumping. These bellows fill the storage
tank and when 1t is full the engine stops.
A small dial ON the right hand side OF the
keyboard indicates whether or not the
air is in or out. There are about l,SoO
small lead pipes which communicate
with the keyboard. The pipes contain
the air, which when the keys are touched
release the air and force it into the
mouths of the big pipes. The slightest
touch on the keys releases the air and the
organ can be played as easily as a
piano.
The interior and exterior of the organ
are black walnut. stained and polished
The keyboard is Of the same material and
set off in mahogany. It is a beautiful
piece Of work. The organist, Mr. Louis
Sherwood. said that although the organ
was by no means the largest and costliest
in the city, he could match it against
any for tone. 1t is a perfect organ and
has a most brilliant tone. Mr.. Sherwood
spent much time in going around among
the churches in adjacent cities exanin-
ing organs until he found just what he
wanted. He said that in many cases
he found the electrical machinery OF
organs he examined was out of order.
There are thirty stops in this organ and
six pedal combinations. A pedal which
few, if any churches in this city have, is
attached to 1t. 1t is called the De
Crescendo pedal. which gives the full
tone to the Who'll organ without
touching a single stop with the
hands. Hand pump has also been
built in the basement in case the engine
should get out of order, but it Will take
three men to work it should the occasion
require it.
The money to pay for the instrument
was raised by a fund started by the young
people of the church, some three years
ago. Some of the money was contributed
and the rest raised by holding entertain
ments and ~sociables. The organ will cost
when completed about $4,000. The work Of
tuning it has been in progres for a week
past and will be finished about the latter
part of next week. a committee is pre-
pairing arrangements for an organ recital
to be held in that church in about two
weeks and on excellent one It promises to
be. AS the new organ is located at the
rear of the church, a choir loft capable
of holding fifty singers was built around
the organist's seat. The pulpit is just in
front Of the organist. In this manner the
organ and choir viii face the congrega-
ton. where formerly they were in the
rear. The old organ and choir loft is in
the gallery at the front of the church.
The new plan greatly pleases the con-
gregation. The choir will be increased by
a few more chorus voices, as the church
now has an excellent male quartette.
The church has recently been painted,
the work being finished a few days ago.
The church was newly carpeted and all Of
the pews vanished. The ceiling will
shortly receive a new coat Of paint and
will be decorated. Muller & Abel, Of
New York, are the organ builders.