Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-11-21

largest ana most expensive and most
perfect of all instruments for the pro-
duction OF harmony, the pipe organ,
is peculiarly product o: Massachu.
sets.
The continued supremacy OF the old
bay state in this department of in
struction. which, of course, particu-
larly concerns the churches of every
American city, Is right In line with
the traditions of American musical
history. Pipe organs were introduced
for the first time In North America
at Boston, and, as was the way In CO.
lonial times, vigorously opposed,
since there was still large debate
among Puritans as TO whether music
was Of God or OF the devil. The run
ming fight that lasted for a century
or more In the communities of New
England and the middle states as to
whether the church organ might or
might not be properly used In wor-
ship seemed somehow to be based on
such misconceptions as that of the
worthy mechanic who complained to
- ~~N'~S@N ~a'A 81 Auhir hdfV hO VD~
lection to the organ, but | under
stand whenever the organ lis brought
In there is to be an attack made on
the ,ctrine of the Abatement" AS
late as 1852 subject for public dis
cIssion ut Harvard college commence
ment was Does music promote SAL
vatbon?" and although the matter
was decided, In the Affirmative the
decision was not reached without
much bitterness of spirit.
Despite--or perhaps because CT
intensity of the feelings engendered
by such arguments the leadership in
the manufacture of pipe organs seems
to have been preserved by the New
England capital from early days dow,
to now when. In the year 1905. ac.
cording to the census bulletin just
cited, 1877 pipe organs were construc
ed in Massachusetts, nearly all
them In Boston and the nearby sub
urbs. The aggregate value OF thes
was s52o,Ss7, representing about q
per cent of the value OF all made In
the United States, and by far the
largest percentage OF high priced or
gans, since two other states, Illinois
and Ohio. made as many pipe organs
but OF far smaller average value
The church and concert organs that
come out of Massachusetts workshops
averaged about $500 each, while the
average for the whole country was
only $4,000.
Behind the making Of these pipe or
gans In the bay state there Is a long
line OF trade traditions dating from
the first American church organ built
in Boston In t745 by Edward Brom
field. Jr. This man, only an amateur
Mt the business. planned an instr u.
ment of 1900 pipes but, dying Mt the
early age OF %, he left theswork only
partially completed Professional or.
gan building In this country began at
Boston In 1852 In the shop of Thomas
tombstone.
To guide the efforts of the earliest
American organ builders good models
were already at hand. Pipe organs
boxes of whistles" as the Scotch
called them--were brought to these
shores long before they were made
here. At Portsmouth. New Hamp-
shire, Is still played the oldest church
organ in the United States. one that
was imported from England In 1T0s
by Hon. Thomas Brattle. noted cit
lien of Boston and one of the found
ers of the Brattle st. church. II was
left at his death In 1913 to the church
bearing his name with the condition
that IL this Puritan body did not &C.
cept II, the instrument was to go 10
Kings Chapel, then representing the
Church of England In New England.
Brattle street politely but firmly re.
fused II, and the organ was installed
In Boston's Episcopal church later TO
be sold to chapel of the same de.
nomination at Newburyport, and final
" to be set up In st. Johns chapel
nj Portsmouth where during the peace
conference 1t pealed forth it's notes of
peace and good will TO men" II is
only little organ, of course, as com.
pared with the Dig ones OF today--an
AFFAIR eight feet two inches high. five
feet wide and two feet seven inches
deep but II was well made originally
and II has had good care. 1t Is prob
ably more often examined by curious
sight'seers than any other musical
instrument in the United States. for
everybody who goes to Portsmouth
wants 20 see the first specimen
brought To this country OF the glori.
Gus instrument which ACT vogler In.
vented.
Another famous pipe organ from
abroad was Installed In New England
at much later date and time when
American manufacturers were doing
creditahle work, though not equal 20
that Of the Germans and tho French.
About midway in the civil war DIR.
Oliver Wendell Holmes. whose inter.
est in music was very keen. wrote an