The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-11
A $4,000 ORGAN.
Mrs. Jane G. Stormont Surprises
the PrsSbyterians.
Announces Gift of Fine Instru-
ment to the Church.
WAS NOT REQUESTED.
PhiIanthropic Woman Saw the
Needs and Meet Them.
Members Of the Congregation
Overcome With Gratitude.

4
| A gift of a $4,000 pipe organ has
been made by Mrs. Jane c. Stormont
to the congregation of the First Pres
byterian church. The gift came un-
solicited and was simply the result of
the spirit of generosity for which Mrs.
Stornont is noted.
The announcement of the gift was
made at the congregational meeting at
| the First Presbyterian church last
| evening by Albert T. Watkins of the
board of trustees and came entirely as
| a surprise to those of the members
who were present. In fact but four
members of the church were aware
that such a benefaction had been Of
fered and would be announced last
evening. The meeting was given over
partially to a discussion of the business
affairs of the church. The purchase
| of new boiler for the steam heating
plant was under consideration and not
until everything of importance had
had a hearing did the announcement
| of the gift of a new organ come.
A more pressing need than the pur-
chase of a new pipe organ for the
Presbyterian church could hardly be
imagined in church circles. For the
past Il years the present organ has
| furnished music for the congregation.
| 1t filled the demands at the time it
was bought but the church has since
outgrown the possibilities of an organ
of that size. In addition time has not
dealt with gentle hands and the organ
has been under the hands of various
organ manufacturers for repairs for
lseveral years in succession. The board
of trustees and the congregat ton real
lied the need of a new organ but they
dreaded to think of the additional ex-
pense which it involved. At the pres
ent time the regular budget of the
church calls for an expenditure of
some $500 a year The salary of
the pastor has been raised $1,000 and
with the expense of fitting up the
steam heating plant at a cost of up
wards of $500 it seemed impossible to
+ think of providing for further i'm
proveEents. When Mrs. Stormont's s
decision became known, the feeling of
relief and gratitude which the congre-
cation experienced can be well
The gift came without any proviso
attached and the only request that
the organ was to cost not less than
$4,000 and that the purchase should
be made at once.
In accordance with Mrs Stormont's
wishes committee was appointed to
look after the purchase of the organ
Following the tender of vote of
thanks which the congregation con-
veyed to Mrs. Stormont most heartily
The committee will meet this evening
to formulate plans. The committee
consists of the music committee, N. H.
Loomis, L. H. StrickIer Mrs G. w
DR.. MCGEE, together with the board
of trustees, John E. Moon, Geo. H.
Whitcomb, G. F. Worley, w. B. Robey
and DR.. Estey, ex-officio member.
Not a Member of the Church.
Mr.. Watkins speaking with ref
| fO tyi
mont is not member of the church.
though [ understand her husband was
a member great many years ago.
She was acquainted with the needs of
the church, not through any represen-
tations with the idea of securing her
attention and contribution, but simply
through the medium of conversations
from time to time. She comes occa-
heard of the needs with which the
church was beset- She no doubt
thought over these things at her
leisure and came to her decision in
that manner. The first I knew about
her intentions was on Wednesday
evening, when she called oat at my
home, announcing her desire and
rendering a check to cover the
amount. 1t certainly came as q
pleasing surprise to me. kept il
quiet until last evening and then made
the announcement. 1t took everyone
} wholly by surprise. I presume made
q
prefaced my remarks with the many
pressing needs of the church and
2 brought in the fact that provision
' would soon have to be made for the
purchase of new pipe organ. This
. made a number of those present look
worried Then I made the announce
ment of the gift
tEIt chased the worried look off thGil
r faces all right. We may have to
l. make some changes in the church in
j order to place the new organ. L
/ probably will have to be placed in g
new location. I don't know exactly
what will be done. What disposition
will be made of the old organ is g
question which also will have to be
threshed out by the committee. I
may be traded in on the purchase OF
the new.
1 "I would like to have an impression
upon another matter corrected. II
seems that some people have secured
the Impression that the church was
. trying to heat the building at the
!. public's expense. That's a mistake
? we wanted to connect on the steam
: pipe which is connected with the
s Edison plant and runs to the manua
v training school. We of course ex
pected to pay for the heat we used
y | and not that we could heat at the
: expense of the board of education and
+ on one meter. That was simply men
toned once as a joke.