New Britain herald., 1928-02-13

amusement. occurred early Sunday afternoon. Efforts were being made to locate Oscar Johnson. New Brit ain manager of the Johnson ( Peter. son photo studio. who does most of the Herald photographic work. Mir. Johnson resides in Portland, but having just changed his residence, has no telephone at his home. A phone call to the home of his partner. Ernest Peterson, manager of the Middletown branch, was re- layed to Mir. Johnson. In relaying the message from Middletown to Portland it went through four diff ferent persons. Finally messenger found MT. Johnson in church at Portland and told him his place of business in New Britain had burned down. The photographer had his car outside of the church and 20 minutes later he was in New Britain. only to find that his assistant. Otto Schmidt. was taking pictures in the burning church.
 Church Erected in 1888
 The South church was built, ac- cording to Commander s. H. Woods of the G. A. R.. who is deacon, in 1866. It is constructed of brown stone and has a fireproof exterior. It's construction is remarkable in one respect in that 1t is supported besides its foundation by ten solid brownstone pillars, each pillar more than four feet square and eight feet high. The church claims to have the largest Congregational Sunday school in America, with an enroll nent of more than 1,300 active students. and the largest Congrega- tional congregation in New England, of more than 5000.
 The organ was presented 10 the church by the late Philip Corbin and was known as the Philip Corbin memorial organ. It was purchased in 1896. the original purchase price being $1S,o00. Subsequently the echo organ, the pedal organ. solo organ, chimes and other features were added. At that time it also was operated by a storage battery and a water motor, which furnished power for bellows. These subse- Quently gave way to the modern electric motor. Mir. Corbin pre- sented the church with a sum Of money in 1918 to construct the echo organ. In order to find room for this. it was necessary to cut away part Of the wall in the tower cham- bcr. \ new console was provided at that time, set Of. chimes was in- stalled and the tower chimes were attached 10 the echo organ. Re- gently experts have valued the or gan at sSo.0Oo.
 During the past four months the instrument has been undergoing q more than s15.Ooo. The overhauled organ was dedicated on Sunday. February ,, one week before the tne. It was used publicly only one Sunday and then was destroyed.
 Reritals Planned
 A series Of recitals during the winter and spring had been planned by Carl l.. Bloom, orga mist and choir leader, and as surprise to the pulp lie it had been planned to give one master recital by Joseph c. Beebe. formerly organist here and consid- cred one of the most accomplished in the country. Mir. Beebe now is an instructor at the Hill school for boys in Pottsto VII, Pa.
 The organ had almost 30 miles of electrical wiring and more than b. o0o pipes, ranging from 1s inches square and 1G feet long to an eighth of an inch in diameter and three eighths of an inch long.
 Although no decision was made yesterday upon rebuilding the organ or repairing the church. it is likely this work will go ahead without de- lay. Instructions were given to start work immediately taking up the car pets and cushions in the pews for cleaning. and clearing away the dc bris.
 |, During the time the origin of the fire was being investigated. there was some talk of the organ motor having been found running by fire men. Mir. Chapman admitted haN- ing thrown the organ switch at the request of firemen but did not know whether he threw it off or on. Mir. Bloom. who had been In the church late the night before. Is said to have recollected turning the motor of. Deputy Fire Chier souney admitted last night that it was perfectly possible the streams of water, on the electrical apparatus might have thrown the switch and started the motor. The running of the motor is not thought to have had any connection with the fire.
 Invitation from First Churcl,
 An invitation 10 make use of the facilities of the First Congregational church was extended 10 the mem- bers of the South church soon after it was learned that the latter house of worship could not be used for services. Rev. Theodore Ainsworth Greene, pastor of the First church. Charles J. Parker. F. q. Piatt, r. q. Nfbberts, c. r. Bennett. Mrs. F. C. PlAtt and Mrs. Marcus White met and adopted the following letter which was dispatched to the South church.: ITO the People Of the South Con- |
 gregational Church Of New
 Britain. Connecticut. Dear Friends:
 Upon hearing of the most un-