Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1904-01-14
An kncisnt Organ.

the o.. Louis exposition, IL IN propaoly
not generally known that the frat
pipe organ that reached America is to
be found in St. Thomas Protestant
Episcopal Church, situated on the
brow of hill overlooking Hancock,
Maryland. This neat little brick
church, around which for over GEN.
tury members Of leading families have
been laid to rest, commands the Poto-
mac Valley, east and west, and the
hills of Maryland, West Virginia and
Pennsylvania. Looking west from
the stesple the national pike can be
seen winding down the crowns Of sew
eral mountains.
In this historic pile, one at which
Stonewall Jackson aimed shells from
the West Virginia hills in the Civil
War, has stood for over 40 years
musical instrument which was dedl-
Gated to the worship of God on Amer
can soil nearly one hundred years be.
fore Independence was established.
After 20S years OF use, during which
its strains have given spirit to worehip
in a number of churches, this historic
instrument has Lost none of It's sweet.
ness Of tone.
The organ was brought to America
in 100, q fact which has bsen ascer-
tanned by Rev. J. L. Ewell, rector OF
st. Thomas Church. 1t was first used
in au Episcopal church at Port Royal
Va, Early in the COS the organ was
transported to Hancock on a boat
over the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
from Shepherdstown.
1t was purchased from the Eplsco-
pal congregation at Shepherd'town by
the Rev. Gilbert +. Williams, then
rector Of the Hancock parish. The
Shepherdstown church purchased the
organ from Christ's Church, AleIsn-
dris, Va, in which George Washing
ton worshipped. 1t is believed that
the organ was used in the church
when Washington was an attendsnt
The Rev. DR.. Suer, late rector Of
Chrlst's Church, Alexandra, says the
organ was purchased by a Mr.. Lee
and another man from the Port Royal
church. The present Episcopal
Church at Port Royal Wa built IN
l846 Years before there stood near
Port Royal a colonial church built OF
bricks imported from England. In
this church the organ was placed.
After the Revolution the State gov
ernment acquired much Of the church
property in Virginia, including the
old colonial church near Port Royal,
which was sold, and later became a
part of the R,ppahannock Academy.
In letter reproduced in Bishop
Mesde's book, entitled "old Families
and Old Churches in Virginia isa
reference to this organ. The old
church near Port Royal, before il was
converted into a school, is described.
The letter mentions fine old organ
whose sweet music filed the church
and which was purchased at a great
price in the old country, being the
first organ that came over into Vir.
ginia. Port Royal and Bowling Green
were then the principal towns in Vir'
ginia, and were seats Of wealth and
refinement. Such an organ was an
expensive luxury in those days, but
there seems 10 have been enough
wealth among the Port Royal parish.
ionsrs 10 warrant 1t.
There is no manufacturers mark
on the organ, which is another evil
dence Of It's antiquity. The organ
has rectangular front, is IL feet tall
and top and base measure three BY
six feet. It is Of cherry color, and
the front Is richly carved. 1t has
twenty-five bronzed pipes, large and
small, and the fret small boy in Han
cock that worked the bellows handle
in the back, filing the pipes. is now
an old man. while many Others have
long since passed to their long homes.
Behind and about st. Thomsss
Church in the Civil War were placed
Union batteries. which Stonewsli
Jackson sbelled from the opposite hill
in West Virgins. The church vas
struck, bot the old organ was never
hurt. Strains from the old organ
cbeersd up wounded Union soldiers
when the church was used as a hos
pital and the basement Of the church
as stable for horses and mules
Over twenty years ago John Hays
Hammond, the noted mining engineer
Of Tr.Dsvaal fame. marched up the
aisle Of st Thomss's Church to the
strsins Of MeDdelssohn from this old
organ. He then married Mics Nat
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