The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-26
NEW PIPE ORGAN
 DULY INSTALLED

The organ and song service at Wesley chapel-Methodist Episcopal church, south-1ast night was a marked success. The large and handsome edifice. situated on the North Highlands, was filled to overflowing. The seating capacity is about 800, but the audience numbered probably 1000, for many extras were used and many persons were standing.
 The occasion was the installation of Q grand pipe organ. costing between 5000 and s40o0. Rienzi Thomas of Montgom- cry, the well-known organ virtuoso. was the organist, and a splendid chorus of fl voices, under the baton of Harry Lyon, sang beautiful oratorio music. The service was a half hour later in be- ginning than the advertised time, due to the fact that the organist and many of the singers were delayed in reaching the church owing to the overcrowded street cars. Groups bound for the Wesley chapel stood at the corner of Third avenue and Twentieth street for nearly half hour. Several cars passed by too crowded to take on any more passengers. MT. Thomas was in one of those waiting groups. and it was nearly s:s0 when he arrived at the church. But the audience
 
 repaid for attending. But as the service was late in beginning, two fine numbers on the programme had to be omitted-the male chorus and the organ piece, March of the Men of Harlech.'
 This was the programme rendered.: Prayer, Dr. L. s. Handley. Hymn, 'I'll Praise My Maker" chorus and congre gation. Scripture reading, pr. R. I. Walston. pastor.
 Organ, offertory (Batiste), Mr. Rienzi Thomas.
 Chorus. "Be Not Afraid' CMendelssohn).
 Soprano solo, 70, Divine Redeemer" (Gounod), Mrs. J. M. Griffin.
 Organ, Funeral March and Chant seraphique (Gullmanp, Mir. Rienzi Thomas. Duet, "Go. Baffed Coward. Go Sam son) (Handel), Messrs. Arthur and John Thomas.
 Chorus, Worthy Is the Lamb" (Mes- siah) (HandeD.
 Address. Dr. J. H. Mccoy.
 Organ, Peer Gynt Suite No. (two movements) (Grieg), MT. Rienzi Thomas.
 Chorus, Judge Me. o God" (Mendels- sohn).
 Soprano solo. q Know That My Re- deemer Liveth'' (Messiah) (HandeD, Miss Sara Mallam.
  (HandeD.
 Miss Mallam delivered her solo with musicianly feeling and fine intelligence.
 Dr. Mccoy in a short address, oonclud- ed by stating that there was a debt of s1750 on the organ. He called for sub scriptions to clear this debt and nearly $1700 was raised.
 description of the organ was printed on the back of the programme as fol- lows:
 The organ, while containing all the essential properties of an up-to-date in- strument, is designed for simplicity of operation. The action is tubular pneu- matte throughout, which affords tho very quickest response to the lightest touch. Every other improvement or convenience of the latest design has been embodied in it. The couplers and stops may be brought into use by the pressure of but tons located so conveniently that they may be reached without removing the hands from the keyboard. Previous to playing the performer may arrange any combination of stops which he desires | to use. and can without hesitation, make this combination effective 1J any pas- sage by simply pressing a button as | mentioned above. Another feature greatly appreciated by organists is the grand crescendo pedal, ty means of which the l entire organ is brought into service or | canceled at will by slight pressure | of the foot
 | The organ contains IS speaking stops, | and all of the pipes, including the dec- orated ones, are speaking pipes. The manual is of German design. The organ was built by the American Pipe Organ 1 company of Pomeroy, O.. whose local 1 agent is the Seals Plano company.