The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-12
messiah" WILL BE GRAND.
Annual Event al LindsbOrg This
Month Greatly Improved.

Lindsborg, kan, April 12.-Linds-
Dorg ana Bethany college are prepar-
ing for the annual rendition of the
messiah" to be given in the Bethany
auditorium April 16, IT, 19, 81 and %.
The chorus this yea numbers over 500
members. Never before in the history
OF h Messiah" at Bethany has h
chorus been SO well trained. The en-
dition will be greatly strengthened by
the assistance of Innes' band which
will play here during the entire Mes
siah" week. Eight concerts will be
given by this famous band. Mme
Partridge will assist in the rendition OF
some OF the wonderful Messiah
solos and the Bethany orchestra will
be reinforced by one Of Innes' best
instrumental soloists. 1t is doubtful if
such a rare musical treat has ever
before been offered the people of CEN
tral Kansas.
AS an indication OF h interest that
is taken in the Messiah" by the peo-
pie at large it is interesting to observe
the extensive arrangements h a have
been made for special train service
during Messiah week. The arrange
ments include special trains from the
south as far as Norman. Okla, Pratt
and Wichita in southern kansas,
Council Grove, Emporia and Eureka
in the central part of the state, kan
sas City, Mo, in h east; Olsburg ana
Manhattan in the north central; Belle
Nlll6, OOWASs BelOlE duC sylvan 6AON
in the northwest and Ellis, Utica and
Dodge City in the west n southwest.
From these extreme and Intermediate
points thousands of music loving peo-
pie will come to LindsbOrg to listen TO
the singing of the Messiah"
The great chorus will be under the
direct supervision of Prof. Samuel
Thorstenberg, who has drilled the
chorus seven years. The Messiah
vas given first at Lindsbors in 1857;
At hat time the chorus numbered
but fifty voices. An orchestra was Sc
cured from Illinois to assist in the rem
dition. The concerts in those early
days were given in the rural churches
in the Smoky Hill valley. Then came
Bethany college II the Messiah
was sung in the college chapel Soon
the chapel was found too small to &C
commodate the ever increasing audi
ences. The auditorium was built ana
the music lovers of Kansas were IN
vited to come to L~indsborg to hear the
Messiah on a anger scale than ever
| before. At first the annual rendition
was given on Good Friday n Easter
Sunday. But it was soon found that
all the people who wanted to attend
could not be accommodated with two
renditions even in an auditorium with
a seating capacity of 1000. To meet
the growing interest in this wonderful
| oratorio a Messiah week" was in
augurated and now the Messiah" is
sung five different times each year.
The effect that these musical events
have had upon the people of this city
and surrounding country is evident
everywhere. There are more pipe or
cans, pianos, musical instruments and
musical organizations in L~indsborg
than in any othercity in Kansas The
Country p~eop1eesfng in the Messiah
and in their homes are found pianos,
choice music and beautiful works of
art.
While Bethany college will always
stand as a monument to the memory
of the late DR.. Carl A. %Swensson, yet
the work which he did to build up the
Messiah" on the plains of Kansas will
add with each coming ear a greater
love for the ideals he represented and
a truer appreciation of his worth as
an n educator and friend of
the great masses of the people.