i A new Organ For St. Peter’s Cathedral in Time for Christmas.

The Organ Committee, established during an October 12th, 1885 meeting of the congregation did an admirable job soliciting funds and information toward the purchase of a new organ. The "Benediction"111 or

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Blessing, of this newly acquired instrument took place on Christmas Day, ? 1886.

The new organ was an handsome instrument with a case constructed of oak and walnut; the displayed pipes were richly ornamented in bronzes. The builder was a Mr. George S. Hutchings of Boston who occupied a foremost

place amongst organ builders of his day. An article in The Daily Examiner on the organ reported:

There are two manuals — swell and great organ — with sixty-one notes in each, and one pedal organ of twenty-seven notes. There are 625 pipes, and provision for 183 more. In addition to the mechanical registers the pedal movements are of great importance, adding greatly to the eflfect of the music and to the convenience of the organist. The swell tremolo is upon a new principle, and is so rapid in its action that the unpleasant, slow wavering sound so usual in the stop, is quite done away with.112

The workmanship and quality of materials used were praised as being of the highest order. The organ was dedicated and first played in public, on a fitting festive occasion, directly prior to the 11:00 pm. High Mass celebrating the Feast of the Nativity on Christmas Eve.

The Church itself was decorated most appropriately to mark the festive celebration. The newspaper coverage continued:

At the door, the font and the rail of the baptistry were wreathed with small bands of spruce and red berries, the design of woodwork being thrown into prominence by backgrounds of red and white. Large wreaths hanging between the hammer beams, from the ends of which descend white banners, were charged with allegorical devices illustrative of Our Lord’s life at Bethlehem, Nazareth, Bethany, Galilee, Capernaum, and Jerusalem. There are bands of spruce over the moldings of the doors, and a series of stars on the walls. The broad window ledges are covered with crimson cloth on which are laid white letters in the following mottoes: "The child Jesus", "Now in flesh appearing. ” "Incarnate God. " "God with us. " "Seed of the Woman". "The Virgin’s Son. ”

111. Benediction in this sense means simply the Blessing of the Organ. 112. The Daily Examiner. December 27th, 1886.

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