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In January of 1931, a contract was signed with Reuter Organ Co. for a new organ for the Congregational Church in Kinsley. A month later, the 1886 Pilcher's Sons organ was removed to make way for the new instrument. With a total cost of $5,655.74, Mr. and Mrs. William G. West offered a substantial gift of $2,500 to the organ fund to memorialize their only son Eldred Floyd West who had died at the age of 12. The new organ was dedicated on Easter Sunday and Dean Daniel Hershler from the School of Music at the College at Emporia, gave two dedicatory recitals. Mrs. Chester Bidleman (Rieta Poss) was named organist with Mrs. Oval LoVette (Elizabeth Sterrett) and Mrs. R. R. Strait as assistants.
In 1933, the Congregational Church of Kinsley became the Congregational Christian Church, and in 1957 changed its name again to the Congregational United Church of Christ. In 1982, a new church building was constructed to replace the old frame one and the 1931 Reuter pipe organ was transferred to it's new home. |
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January 15, 1931
Kinsley Graphic - Progress is being made with the in- stallation of the pipe organ for the Congregational committee. Mr. W. C. Verney, a representative from the Reuter Organ company's factory at Lawrence, Kansas, spent last Monday with the committee in charge. All the final details were considered by the committee and ended with the signing of the contract, with the understand- ing that the organ would be ready for the choir to have a practice or two on Easter music with the pipe organ before Easter. Acting upon a suggestion from a member of the committee, plans were made and arranged for the con- tract to make it possible for pipe or- gan music to be heard from the sound box into the annex. This will be es- pecially advantageous when dinners and banquets are being served. January 22, 1931
Kinsley Graphic - Dr. D. A. Hirschler, dean of Music, College of Emporia, has been secured to give the first two recitals on the new organ, at the Congregational church, April 6th, 3 and 8 P. M. The organ committee of the church met this week and decided to order twenty notes of chimes added to the stops already contracted for in the new organ. February 26, 1931
Kinsley Graphic WORK ON CONGREGATIONAL PIPE ORGAN PROGRESSING - Mr. Floyd Preston, a representa- tive of the Reuter Organ Company of Lawrence, Kansas, arrived Monday in Kinsley to dismantle the old church organ to make room for the new organ soon to be installed; and to allow the carpenters to make the improvements and adjustments for the new organ. Their task will be to build a dust proof blower room under the organ floor; the entrance for repairs and oiling will be through the new organ itself. A sound box will be built and plastered on both sides from the floor to the ceiling; in this box will be placed the organ proper. It has been arranged and planned for, that we shall have a sound open- ing in the new annex, thus making it possible to have organ music in both the annex and the main auditorium. In front of this will be built a Goth- ic arch, and in it, the new organ front, which is being built at the or- gan factory. The woodwork will be dark oak and the display pipes and drapery will be gold. The choir loft will be made much larger and more serviceable. A new choir rail is being made to match the organ front, as well as a new con- sole screen. The new console being detached, will be located to the left front of the pulpit platform. To har- monize with this new work, the wir- ing will be changed and fixtures add- ed in the choir loft. Rev. Graham and wife, Mrs. Ches- ter Bidleman and Mrs. West, expect to make a trip to the factory before the organ is shipped. Rev. Graham will drive Mr. West's car. This new organ will be dedicated on Easter Sunday afternoon at 3 p. m. by Dr. John B. Gonzales, Super- intendent of the Kansas Congrega- tional Conference. This will be fol- lowed on Monday, April 6th by two organ recitals at 3 and 8 p.m. by Dean D. A. Hischler of the College of Emporia. Dean Hirschler is one of the best known organists in the state, having already dedicated over forty organs in the state of Kansas. Tickets for this recital will be fifty cents. March 5, 1931
Kinsley Graphic - The work in preparation for the new organ is progressing rapidly. The carpenter work is nearly all done and the electricians are busy. Soon the work will be completed and the organ will be here. The motor and blower are already here, ready for installation. March 19, 1931
Kinsley Graphic NEW CHURCH ORGAN HERE Eldred West Memorial Almost Ready for Easter at Con- gregational Church DEAN HIRSCHLER'S RECITALS Will Be Most Important Musical Events of Year in Kinsley; Programs Below - The new organ at the Congrega- tional church is being installed, and Contractor Martin Nahar with Rev. Percy Graham and the church people are working night and day to get it ready for Easter. It is a Reuter and later we will give a full description of its techni- cal virtues. Dean Daniel Hirschler, head of the School of Music at the College of Emporia, one of the distinguished musicians of the middle west, and one of the finest organists, will give two recitals Monday, April 6th. We give his programs in full, be- cause those who hear him will have much pleasure in studying the de- lightful programs which he will pre- sent at the church in two concerts, in which there are numbers that will appeal to all people. Afternoon Program, 3 o'clock 1. Festival Prelude on "A Mighty Fortress" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William Faulkes 2. Indian Dirge . . . . . . . . . . . . Antonin Dvorak 3. Toccata from "Oedipe a Thebes (1791) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .La Froid De Mereaux 4. Funeral March and Seraphic Chant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alexandre Guilmant Intermission 1. Toccata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alphonse Mailly 2. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Negro Spiritual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .arr. by Carl Diton 3. Evening Chimes . . . . . . . . H. A. Wheeldon 4. Italian Rhapsodie . . . . . . . . . Pietro A. Yon Evening Program, 8:00 o'clock 1. Concert Scherzo in F. . . .Purcell Mansfield 2. Sposilizio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Franz Liszt 3. Romance Without Words . . Joseph Bonnet 4. Ariel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Joseph Bonnet 5. Toccata and Fugue in D minor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Johann Sebastian Back Intermission 1. Water Music . . . . George Frederick Handel a. Allegro b. Air c. Hornpipe 2. Echo Bells . . . . . . . . . . .John Hyatt Brewer 3. Bargemen's Song on the River Volga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Russian Folksong 4. Toccata, from Symphony V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charles M. Widor 
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April 2, 1931
Kinsley Graphic ORGAN DEDICATED SUNDAY - The new pipe organ at the Congre- gational church is all ready for ded- icatory services which will be held Sunday afternoon at three o'clock, Dr. Gonzales of Topeka bringing the address. The organ will be used for the first time at the Easter Sunday morning services. Mrs. Chester Bid- leman is organist with Miss Cleome Draut substitute organist. The new organ is a beautiful instrument and a fine thing for the church and Kinsley. The inaugural program will be held on Monday with Dean Daniel Hirschler of the school of music, Col- lege of Emporia appearing in an afternoon program beginning at three o'clock and in an evening program beginning at eight o'clock. Both pro- grams have been published in an ear- lier issue of the Graphic, so that readers could familiarize themselves with the numbers and thus derive a greater enjoyment from the selec- tions. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH Percy L. Graham, Pastor - 9:45, school of Religious Education Classes for all ages with trained teachers. 11:00, Easter Service. Sermon, "The Life Abounding in Hope," fol- lowed by a reception of new members and the regular communion service. 3:00 p.m. Dedicatory service of the new pipe organ. Sermon, "The Ministry of Music." The newly installed Reuter two manual, special pipe organ will be used for the first time publicly at the Easter morning service. Mrs. Chester Bedleman, organist. Dr. John B. Gonzales, state super- intendent, will be the guest of Dr. and Mrs. Graham over the week-end and will be the speaker at the morn- ing worship hour, and at the dedica- tory service in the afternoon. Come early if you wish a seat. Don't forget the Inaugural recitals by Dean D. A. Hirschler, Monday afternoon and evening. Tickets, 50 cents. There will be no evening service Sunday. April 9, 1931
Kinsley Graphic KINSLEY'S NEW PIPE ORGAN Memorial Instrument Dedicated Easter Sunday Afternoon By Dr. Gonzales ELDRED FLOYD WEST Mr. and Mrs. W. D. West Give Organ in Memory of Their Only Child - Sunday, the new pipe organ at the Congregational church in this city given as a memorial to Eldred Floyd West, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. West, was dedicated. Dr. Gonzales of Topeka preside at the dedication ceremonies, assisted by the pastor, Rev. Percy Graham. It is a beautiful instrument, and will give great pleasure to this com- munity through all the years to come. We can think of nothing that is a fin- er memorial to the dead than an or- gan, an instrument to produce beau- tiful music. The boy, Eldred Floyd West, is whose memory it is given, was a fine boy, and in his name those who come after him will hear the great music of the world played on it. Eldred was born April 27th, 1910 at Great Bend, and died in Kinsley, January 17, 1923, being 12 years, 8 months and 20 days old when his life ended. His body rests in the mauso- leum at Great Bend, the city where he first saw the light. He was a boy lov- ed by all who knew him, and the cen- ter of all the hopes and ambitions of his parents, a brilliant student, with a life of promise before him. His memory will be kept green in the hears of those who knew him by this gift in his name. The organ is a two manual one, with 800 pipes, made by the Reuter people at Lawrence, Kansas. The company sent two experts here to in- stall it, and everything about it is in keeping with so fine a musical instru- ment. The pipes are concealed in an organ room, and the front covered with cream plaster which contrasts nicely with the dark oak finish of the console and the screen. The screen and choir front were both made by the company, and the choir stall has room for three rows of singers. The organ is set at the north of the altar on the floor. A new oak floor was laid on the platform, and the whole church was rewired when the old organ was taken out. The organ generates its own elec- tricity from a big motor in the base- ment. It is a wonderful instrument with an echo organ and beautiful toned singing pipes. At the dedication Sunday afternoon Mrs. Chester Bidleman, who will be organist, presided at the organ, and the following dedicatory services were given. Prelude, Andantino . . . . . . . . . . . .Gounod Doxology Invocation Solo, "Christ Triumphant" . . .Pietro A. Yon Irene Zimmerman Scripture Lesson, Psalm 96 Prayer Gloria, Amen Hymn Organ Selection, "Lost Chord" . . .Sullivan Anthem, "Hosanna" . . . . . . . . . . . Granier Sermon, "The Ministry of Music" Dr. John B. Gonzales Unveiling of Memorial tablet Hymn Benediction with Choral Response Amen Dr. Gonzales, who is state suprerin- tendent of Congregational Churches, made a very interesting address on the Ministry of Music. Rev. Gra- ham unveiled the Memorial Tablet with a few words to Mr. and Mrs. West whose gift made it possible to bring the organ into the community. The church was beautiful for the Easter services with baskets and bouquets of Easter flowers sent by the Andress Greenhouse. Monday Dean Hirschler of the School of Music at the College of Emporia gave two concerts, one at three o'clock in the afternoon, and the other in the evening. Dean Hirschler is a concert organ- ist, and both recitals were played with fine musicianship. The programs were varied to suit different tastes, and the audiences at each concert gave rapt attention to the musician playing for them. He gave short talks on each pro- gram which the audience liked and received many encores, responding to them generously. These concerts by Dean Hirschler were the finest musical events of the year in Kinsley, and it is hoped to have him again in the future. Pietro A. Yon, the great organist at Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York, was honored on the programs, Miss Zimmerman singing his "Christ Triumphant" at the dedication of the organ, and Dean Hirschler playing his Italian Rhapsody at the Monday afternoon concert. The great number on the two pro- grams and the most serious, which was fully appreciated by the audi- ence was Johnann Sebastian Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, in which Dean Hirschler brought out the lovely voice and all the power of the new organ. The evening program was full of rich music, played with fine feeling and technique, among the numbers being two compositions by Joseph Bonnet, Ariel, and Romance Without Words, and three numbers from Handel's Water Music, a. Allegro, b. Air, and C. Hornpipe, and a part of the Fifth Symphony of Widor, a French composer. So the audience heard many great musical writers for the organ, from Bach and Liszt to the modern in several lands. A very good audience enjoyed the afternoon concert, and the house was packed for the evening musicale. |
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