† The National Anthem
O say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming, whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, o’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof though the night that our flag was still there. 0 say, does that star - spangled banner yet wave o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
| † Hymn 139 | LOBE DEN HERREN | |
| Toccata in C | Johann Pachelbel | |
| Andante Religioso from Fourth Sonata | Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy | |
| Allegro moderato maestoso in C Major | ||
| God of Grace | Paul Manz | |
| † Hymn 577 | CWM RHIONDDA | |
| Elegy | George Thalben-Ball | |
| Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring | Johann Sebastian Bach | |
| Christ is Made the Sure Foundation | Anna Laura Page | |
| † Hymn 529 | FOUNDATION | |
| Marche Romaine | Charles Gounod | |
| March from The Musical Clocks | Franz Josef Haydn | |
| Sketch No. 2 from Sketches for the pedal piano, OPUS 58 | Robert Schumann | |
| Amazing Grace | Dale Wood | |
| Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee | Michael Costello | |
| † Hymn 89 | HYMN TO JOY | |
| Prelude in G, BWV 541 | Bach | |
| † Please stand as you are able. | ||
The pipe organ at First United Methodist Church was built by the firm of Henry Pilcher’s Sons in Louisville, Kentucky. Henry Pilcher, Sr. was born in Canterbury, England and apprenticed as an organ builder in London. In 1832 he arrived in New York and established his business in Newark, New Jersey. His son, Henry Pilcher, Jr. would open his business in St. Louis, Missouri in 1852. During the Civil War era, the firm relocated to Chicago, Illinois. This factory survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and, in 1874, the Pilcher firm once again moved and opened their business in Louisville, Kentucky. The firm built over 1,800 organs for churches, concert halls, and universities across the country. In 1944 the factory closed and the assets were sold to the M. P. Möller Organ Company of Hagerstown, Maryland.
Initially, the contract for the organ was signed in 1907 and installation commenced later in 1908. The Pilcher firm assigned the number 629 to the Belton instrument of which the purchase price was $4,000. Today the replacement value is over $250,000. From 1908 until the rebuilding in 1954, the instrument had an attached console in the middle of the case, containing the keyboards, pedalboard, and stops. During these years, the instrument employed mechanical action, commonly know as tracker action. In 1954 a detached console was installed and the action of the organ was electrified. This work was performed by Otto Hofmann of Austin, Texas. The organ currently contains 1,093 pipes of metal or wood which range in size from smaller than a pencil to over eight feet tall.
A most unique feature of the instrument at the time of installation was the use of a water-powered hydraulic engine. The water which came from the city of Belton caused a piston-like device to operate the bellows. In fact, there are a few people in Belton that remember seeing water trickling down the curb on Third Avenue while the instrument was in use. To turn the instrument on the organist would turn a small brass valve located to the lower right front of the case.
Later, the water engine was replaced by a large electric blower placed in the basement that, to this day, creates the needed wind for the organ. The manufacturer of the electric blower and in all likelihood the water engine was the Spencer Turbine Company of Hartford, Connecticut. In 1 892 Mr. Ira Hobart Spencer decided that he would create a mechanism that would not require him to manually operate the bellows u ti organ at his church in Hartford. Thus, the company bearing his name was born and remains in business to this day manufacturing not only electric blowers but also other mechanisms that involve compressed air.
Today, the congregation of the First United Methodist Church is blessed to have this instrument provide music in corporate worship and concerts. From the initial installation in 1908 until today, the church has always maintained this grand instrument. With proper maintenance and oversight, this instrument should continue in service to the glory of God for years to come and help proclaim through music the good news of Jesus Christ.
Robert C. Green
BELTON “It’s all really unique.” That simple statement by organist Robert Green summed up a lot more about the First United Methodist Church’s pipe organ than he probably thought it would. First, it’s been around for 100 years. “It was built by the Henry Pilcher’s Sons. Organ Company out of Kentucky in 1908,” Green said. He’s played organ since the ninth grade and went on to get two degrees in music. He’s also worked for two organ companies.
Second, it doesn’t look like the usual pipe organ from that era. “I think that the façade is bigger than normal, much wider,” Green said. “The oak paneling is even unusual. A lot of pipe organs are shoved back in a chamber and this one is freestanding. This is more like they did them in Europe.”
Third, it hasn’t had much rehabilitative work for its age. “Pipe organs are generally built to last at least 50 years. It’s really pushing it to last 100. It’s even amazing that the 1954 rebuild is still going,” Green said. “A lot of organs rebuilt then are in need of a great overhaul.”
The only major changes made to the organ are the placement of the playing con sole and the addition of an electric fan to the bellows that create wind to sound the pipes. A piston controlled by a water pump originally ran the bellows. Green has heard stories of overflow water from the pump running down Third Street during services. “And everyone knew that meant the organ was on,” Green said.
The organ is the centerpiece of the church’s sanctuary and plays an important role in the worship services. “At some churches people may think the organ is too loud, but here they are just first class,” Green said. “Piano and organ are very important here. We use them together and separate. It’s what I call the Belton experience. It’s grounded in tradition while moving forward.”
The church’s pastor, Darren Walker, said he is proud to share in the historical moment. “I think it’s all really neat,” Walker said. “It’s amazing to be a part of a church with this kind of history and length of service.”
Walker mentioned the organ is part of the reason why some old-timers called the church the “Cathedral of the Southwest.” Green has been the organist at the church for three and a half years and finds it “interesting” to be the organist during the anniversary.
“It’s a testimony to this church to see to it that is has lasted all this time,” Green said, “Part of it is good building, but also good love and care too.”
At Sunday’s celebration, there will be hymn singing and solo works by Green. The event will be followed by a reception.
Just like his simple words used for describing the organ, Green’s comment about performing was another exercise in understatement. “It’s just an honor,” he said.
Robert Green’s love for organs is more than a musical one. “Organs are both mechanical and musical,” Green said. “It’s a rather complicated piece of machinery besides being a musical instrument.”
Green isn’t sure about the original cost, but after a little research he learned most organs that size and age were purchased for $2,500.
“Most of it is original. The facade is original, the wind chest, the bellows and the wooden framing,” Green said. “You can’t put a price on its historical significance.” Today, an organ of equal size would cost $300,000, Green said. “And that’s on the low end.”
Like most pipe organs, it can imitate other instruments with its 1,081 pipes. “This one has flute-like sounds and string-like sounds. I won’t say they are exact copies though,” Green said. The organ is number 629 out of about 1,800 made by the Henry Pilcher’s Sons Company from Kentucky. The organ’s pipes are handmade.
“Even to this day they are handmade,” Green said. “No machine makes them.” Today, the wait for an organ of equal size would be a year and the installation would take about three weeks. Green wouldn’t even guess how long it took to install the organ 100 years ago.
‘I’ve always wanted to know how this organ got here,” Green said. “I’m guessing train. I just don’t think they brought it down on a truck from Louisville, not with the old road system. It probably came on a train.”