Part 17 Musical Selections: The History of Organs of Peoples United Methodist Church

The primary source of information on this part of Peoples History should be credited to Dr. Malcolm Cass, the organist since the 1940’s of this church. It is an important part of that history and transcends being applied to only one period of the church history. I have chosen to include the history of the organs at the point where members of the choir, the trustees and the board of stewards and leaders agreed to the need and purchase of its first pipe organ.

The earliest reference to an organ for the Ferry Village Methodist Episcopal Church was made in one of the early brochures which showed that in the late 1870’s, repairs to the church were made, a new carpet, an organ and a stove were sought for purchase. In a receipt dated January 21, 1881 from Samuel Thurston of Number 3 Free Street in Portland describes 1 Burdett Organ, Style 60, #37,350. The listed price for the organ was $435.00. The receipt also indicated that the actual amount paid at the time was $225.00 thus leaving a balance to be paid. Of that balance Mr. Thurston relinquished his fee of $50 thus leaving a balance to be paid of $160.00. A solicitation of the congregation was made and the remainder was paid off in two monthly installments. The organ was probably of the harmonium type also called a reed organ, or parlor organ. Perhaps many have seen this type that was often found in older homes or sometimes a funeral parlor such as Hobbs has one on display. The organist while playing the keys at the same time peddled these reed organs.

In June of 1909 the choir presented a plan to the trustees to purchase a pipe organ for an approximate figure of $1600 at no expense to the church. With the approval of the trustees the choir was authorized to begin the project. The choir would raise or find the money for the instrument as well as pay for its installation. Serious consideration on the acquisition was not reported again according to the minutes of the choir secretary dated, February 13, 1911. A formal committee was organized to investigate the new organ. Presiding on the committee was church organist, Evelyn York listed as the chair of the committee. Serving with her were Minnie Parsons, Miss. Bickford, Mr. Jewett ( possibly the former captain who had not agreed to serve on the Trustees in 1903), Mr. Files, Emma Hamilton, and Mr. Harry Eustis. By May 8, 1911 $221.00 was in the bank, with another $38.65 on hand. All members of the choir were working for the organ project through choir concerts, festivals, fairs, and food sales. On November 13, 1911 it was voted that each member earn $1.00 for the organ fund by December 14, 1911. An autograph quilt with $.10 for each autographed square went to benefit the fund, and 500 copies of a poem were sold for the same cause.

Progress was made in adding to the coffers of the fund and therefore, the committee felt itself sufficiently along the path to raising the funds to have a meeting on January 12, 1912 to meet with a representative of the Esty Organ Company. The gentleman that represented the company was able to extend a blue print of the proposed organ and the Choir Treasurer and Council voted to order the organ from the Esty Company. By May $525 was raised by the choir of 21 members, and the organ was installed by July of the same year. The organs show-pipes stood across the sanctuary front behind the pulpit, chairs and communion table. Discussions on purchasing an electric blower continued for another two years until after the organ was paid for and dedicated. In the meanwhile a blower boy was hired with his salary apparently paid for by choir members who were assessed $.10 a month each.

The total cost as stated earlier was held to $1600, half being paid by the choir. A grant was acquired from the Carnegie Foundation that paid for the other half of the cost. The Carnegie Foundation during this era was responsible for supporting many cultural endeavors throughout the country. Three noted Carnegie supported institutions were Carnegie Hall in New York City, Carnegie-Mellon Institute in Pittsburgh and Carnegie Hall, home to the music and art departments at the University of Maine in Orono. The organ project was fully paid off in May 1914. Its dedication was official with a concert given on May 6, 1914. In October of 1914 the church voted $200.00 for the blower and motor, and the blower boy was then discharged from his duties.

The Esty Organ continued to operate sufficiently until the Ferry Village church on High Street was abandoned in 1945. The organ was then put in storage. Services were held for a time in the Townsend Club on Sawyer Street, but finally the vestry on the new church on Broadway was completed and services were held there while the sanctuary was still being built. At this time the stage in the vestry was used for the choir and the pulpit.

It was also felt necessary that an organ be available while church services were being held in the vestry. An ad appeared in the A. G. O. the publication of the American Guild of Organists for a 2-manual and pedal, motor-blown, 12 stop reed organ, made by Mason and Hamlin Company, one of the best reed organs available. Its cost was $500.00 at the Mystic River Warehouse in Boston. Dr. Cass and some of the other parishioners went down to the warehouse, tried it, and decided it was just what the church needed. Having been pre-authorized to make the purchase an agreement was reached and this organ would be trucked to South Portland for an additional $50 which was done. When the sanctuary was completed and the Esty from the old church was installed in the organ chambers, this reed organ was sold for $550, the same price that the church paid. As a sidenote, if one were to see the hole near the right hand side of the stage in the wall of the vestry and behind the piano that is where the air-pipe extended to thee electric blower motor in the closet. Actually this organ sucked in wind through the reeds, instead of blowing wind out through pipes as in our present organ. This Mason and Hamlin organ went into use in January of 1947 and in December was moved upstairs for Christmas. The Formal Opening of the new sanctuary was held January 4, 1948. The old Esty was now revived from storage, and rebuilt in the organ chamber to the organist’s right. The architect had been given the size of the organ chambers to the right and also above the Pastor’s study to accommodate a new organ when finances would permit. Jason Tilton, son of Esty Organ Committee chairman, Evelyn York Tilton, and a trustee in his own right at this time did the planning. Later Mr. Tilton would join the Reuter Organ Company staff. Dr. Cass was still serving in the Army Air Corps.

In our next episode we will see how we came to acquire an organ of some renown that has served this church for nearly 41 years and is still a remarkable instrument.

Part 16 Selling Pews no longer a practice

Another major change in church procedures that took place during the period of the Lords was that the practice of selling pews. This was not just a local option, this was a directive from the Maine Conference and the Methodist Episcopal hierarchy.

Selling of church pews had been a practice in many New England churches in particular and not simply a Methodist practice as long as churches had existed especially in New England.. Many older Congregational churches in New England still show by the configuration of their pews that pews had been family owned. When the change occurred at Peoples the end of the exclusive use of pews by individuals or families happened. One would also say that social-class differentiation also came to an end.

Originally in 1853 the practice of selling pews had been initiated as already stated. In that year there were 56 pews that were eventually sold. In 1888 the Trustees had voted to replace the pews that were rather crude and had been in place since 1853. The whole auditorium (sanctuary) was being refurbished, therefore, the pews would be changed as well. In the new configuration 85 saleable pews were purchased of which it appears that most were sold. There is a note in the records that shows that even the newly started Epworth League in the 1890’s purchased two pews for the use of their members. The annual fee for the rental of pews varied depending on location within the hall, but the average cost was $12.

On February 21, 1906 the trustees again voted on a reconfiguration and refurbishing of the sanctuary. This change was partially due to the aforementioned decree from the hierarchy disallowing the sale of pews. Part of the change again would be to change the pews and purchase semi-circular pews for the congregation, change the stage area and buy new chairs for the choir as well. Several bids were received and initially the bid was given to the American School Furniture Company for $600. When that company was notified they said that they had miscalculated and that it should be $100 more. Feeling that the company was acting in bad faith the committee of two, Pastor Lord and President Tilton and with the permission of the trustees retracted the offer and instead purchased new hardwood pews at a cost of $680 from the Cincinnati Seating Company. This figure proved to be fair and much less than any other bids submitted. The secretary of the Trustees was given authority to write a letter of thanks to the gentleman who had represented that company so fairly. The new “free seats” would allow any one free access to any of the seating available in this house of worship. As a note to the seating changes the Trustees purchased 32 chairs for the choir from of all places, the Portland YMCA at a total cost of $16 for all of them. Have prices changed?

Even though the selling of pews came to an end we can be assured that some pews even in the church of today are known as the pew for a particular family. Even today the ushers seem to know where people prefer to sit and, therefore, guide newcomers to seats away from those that one might think are reserved for church members of long standing.

Before the Lords moved on the fiftieth anniversary otherwise known as the semi-centennial of the Ferry Village Church occurred. A booklet describing history of the church to date was compiled along with a full description of church activities available at the time. Black and white photographs of some of the influential people in the church added to the booklet that was not published until 1905. The list of trustees included one woman, Mrs. Lucy F. Studley, widow of William F. Studley, among its 10 members.

Mrs. Studley’s preeminence among women in the church at this time may have been for a variety of reasons. Could it have been that her willingness to purchase the new furnace for the parish hall and all the new electrical fixtures throughout the building as well as the new carpets installed in the newly refurbished sanctuary had anything to do with her signifincant position on the boards of the church? The Board of Stewards included two women; Mrs. John E. Fisher who’s husband also served with the Stewards and Trustees and Mrs. James M. York. This body also consisted of 10 members. The elevation of women into roles of significance was beginning to increase. One would note that the impetus for the women’s movement on a national scale had a great deal of drive from woman who had gained leadership roles in the church.

The Ladies Circle, Home Guards (Girls), Epworth League (Mixed Youth), Queen Esther Circle (Missions), Knights of the Twentieth Century (Boys Group), Standard Bearer Company (Missions), and Little Light Bearers were all active organizations of the church with worldwide and conference affiliation during this time. Additionally we would assume that the choir, also took active role in the spiritual life of the church.

The world of Peoples sadly missed the Lords, but accepted the itinerant nature of the pastorate and welcomed Reverend Frank H. Hall in 1909. Reverend Hall served until 1912. It was during his pastorate that the church choir raised $800 to match a like amount given by Andrew Carnegie for the purchase of an Esty Pipe Organ. While it may place some information out of order the next, episode in this history of Peoples will concern itself with the history of the organs that have served Peoples Church.

Part 15: Financial Woes in Church History during early 1900’s

Having found few detailed records for Stewards and Leaders or Administrative Board from the 1890’s through the Era of World War I, I am indebted to Dr. Malcolm Cass and some of the earlier historians for compiling what is included in this piece of the retold history of Peoples Church. In January 2004, Rosemary Herd in cleaning the old kitchen in the vestry discovered a rich trove of records including some of the missing trustees’ records and membership books. Some of the information that those sources produced can be found within the writing of the next few months as well.

In 1890 T. F. Jones was appointed to the charge and served two years in 1893 and 1894. Ira Ross followed him from 1895 to 1897 and William Wood who served for the following two years succeeded him in turn. It is noted elsewhere that it was during his ministry that on the occasion of Rev. Wood’s presence he recommended that the outstanding debt be paid off. The church body took two actions to raise money. One method was by adopting a special subscription program to pay off the long-standing debt incurred during previous years. Pastor Wood must have been something of a taskmaster because the other means of paying the outstanding debt was to have an additional collection each Sunday for those that may not have been willing to accept the subscriptive method of pledging. At any rate the church was successful in paying off the debt, perhaps because of the tactics that this particular pastor seems to have insisted on.

The next two pastors, W.F. Holmes and J. A. Corey served for a short term each until 1903. No outstanding pieces of information were recorded that involved them or the congregation during that period of time. One small piece of information discovered in the records of the trustees for the year 1903 was gleaned from a receipt paid to Southworth Brothers on March 3 of that year. This was a bill owed to them in the amount of $1.25 for 250 flyers pamphlets) that had printed. Southworth Brothers was a printing company located in the city of Portland. During that same year in addition to paying for a pastor the church voted to pay both the organist and the chorister (leader of the choir). The church also voted to give to the music department a total of $25 for new music. What does that say when the 2004, 101 years later included $50 to be expended on music?

Often the significance of a period of time in the life of a church is determined by the effectiveness of its pastor. From 1903 until 1909 Reverend Wilmot P. Lord and his wife graced the spiritual leadership of Peoples. To this date no one had been Pastor of the church for more than a few years at a time. The short term that most pastors had served in the past was a remnant of the day when most pastors were itinerant and didn’t stay in any parish for any great length of time or were expected to serve more than one charge at a time. During the term of the Lords’ the parsonage next to the church was sold and moved from that lot, and a parish house and kitchen were added to the rear of the vestry. The cost of the project undertaken, only a few years after nearly a disastrous financial condition had prevailed, was $760. Since the parsonage was sold and no other parsonage would be purchased until 1914 a housing allowance was provided during the interim between church owned parsonages. It is also reported and recorded that sometimes the housing allowance was used to pay a parishioner for the housing that they provided the pastor and his family through the rental of rooms or a floor in multi-family housing. When the trustees had voted to sell the parsonage and prepare the area for the new parish house, the pastor already was living elsewhere and the parsonage had actually become a church run apartment house with two tenants. There was some question about whether one of the families “were behaving themselves” even though they were not forced out until the trustees took their vote. It may have been that the trustees felt uncomfortable as landlords and that maintaining the property was costing as much as the rent that was taken in. Charles A. Tilton, the elected President of the Trustees proposed that he buy the parsonage for the amount of the remaining indebtedness on the building and also pay for the cost of moving the building to another location of his choosing. With Trustees approval the parsonage was transferred to Mr. Tilton, the inhabitants were evicted and the house was moved. Mr. Tilton had to move the house by July 1, 1904, which was done, even though authorization and transfer didn’t occur until May.

Adding members to the Board of Trustees in 1903 apparently was by interview of said candidate by committee. The interviewing committee consisted of the pastor who at the time was W. P. Lord and the head of the trustees, Charles A. Tilton. The candidate in August of that year was Captain Lincoln Jewett. Captain Jewett in response to the interview indicated that at this time he was reluctant to become a member. In another interview the candidate was Captain Arthur J. Brown who was emphatically interested. Trustees at the request of Captain Jewett did not vote for his membership while they did vote unanimously for Captain Brown. However in all the records that have been perused can we find any mention of Captain Brown actually attending any meetings.

Most frequently recorded names of trustees from the 1890’s through the years of World War I included Charles A. Tilton, George. W. Doughty, Albert E. Thurrell, William Studley, Edwin Boultenhouse, and John Fisher. Many of these same names are recorded as the primary members of the Board of Stewards and Leaders as well. In time the latter Board would become known as the Official Board which eventually became the Administrative Board and finally the Church Council. The Church Council actually was a merger of the Administrative Board and the Council on Ministries..

The other major change in church procedures that took place during the period of the Lords was that the practice of selling pews came to an end. This was not just a local option, this was a directive from the Maine Conference. Selling of church pews had been a practice in many New England churches in particular and not simply a Methodist practice. Many older Congregational churches in New England still show by the configuration of their pews that pews had been family owned. When the change occurred at Peoples the end of the exclusive use of pews by individuals or families happened. One would also say that social-class differentiation also came to an end. The old pews that had been used since 1853 were taken out and replaced by new pews that provided a semi-circular configuration to the sanctuary. Even though the selling of pews came to an end we can be assured that some pews even in the church of today are known as the pew for a particular family. Even today the ushers seem to know where people prefer to sit and, therefore, guide newcomers to seats away from those that one might think are reserved for church members of long standing.

Before the Lords moved on the fiftieth anniversary otherwise known as the semi-centennial of the Ferry Village Church occurred. A booklet describing history of the church to date was compiled along with a full description of church activities available at the time. Black and white photographs of some of the influential people in the church added to the booklet that was not published until 1905. The list of trustees included one woman, Mrs. Lucy F. Studley, widow of William F. Studley, among its 10 members. The Board of Stewards included two women; Mrs. John E. Fisher who’s husband also served with the Stewards and Mrs. James M. York. This body also consisted of 10 members. The elevation of women into roles of significance was beginning to increase. One would note that the impetus for the women’s movement on a national scale had a great deal of impetus from the church life gave to women.

The Ladies Circle, Home Guards (Girls), Epworth League (Mixed Youth), Queen Esther Circle (Missions), Knights of the Twentieth Century (Boys Group), Standard Bearer Company (Missions), and Little Light Bearers were all active organizations of the church with worldwide and conference affiliation during this time. Additionally we would assume that the choir, also took active role in the spiritual life of the church.

The world of Peoples sadly missed the Lords, but accepted the itinerant nature of the pastorate and welcomed Reverend Frank H. Hall in 1909. Reverend Hall served until 1912. It was during his pastorate that the church choir raised $800 to match a like amount given by Andrew Carnegie for the purchase of an Esty Pipe Organ. While it may place some information out of order the next, episode in this history of Peoples will concern itself with the history of the organs that have served Peoples Church.