Columbian Organ Formally Given To The University

At last ttue dream of Ilenry Simmons Frlezo te realized. The üaiversity Jias ;ui organ in lts hall that any institutiüii uf tile woild nught be pa-oud of. And it was dedica ted last nigtot under the most auspicious clrcumstajiecs ; clrcumstainces that sliowed not only the interest of the people of Anu Arbar in tlie event, but the interest oí the people of the whole State. Every city witliin a radlus ui' sevcuty-five miles was represen ted by its best people. AVhen President Kelsey of the University Musical Socie-ty, aróse to make lüs prcsentatioii speech, giving the orgaiito the l'niversity, there was an audience beïore liim, which, thoug'h it did not fill the biy hall, would have been a surprise to tlie beloved ])i-ofessor whose name shall ever be atuuhed to the instrument in runieinbrance ol Ms devotiom to the musical taterests of tJie L'niversity. Hia labors, wliirh doubtless at times gave him sinall raaeoa lor eneouragement to perseAiere, liave borne fruit until the ideáis that be hopel iin time woiild become. realities, have become the vantage ground f rom wüich tlie Oniversity will Kiieceed to still higiier tilinga in t ho art of muaic. It must havo been witb a feeJ-lng of intense joy that Prof. Kelsey stepped forward to to the rniví'i-sity, tlie OolumWa g&a. He made an bnpresdve address whieh Was as follows : President Kelsey's áddress. Ladies ;iml Gentlemen : This eve-ning marks the beginning of a new epocti in the history oí the musical interests associated with tdie University of Mlohigi We welcome you to rcjoice with ae In the poseeesoin of the gTeai Colmnbain organ; to sliare with us t He satlsfaction that arises froni the realization of a lomg' elierished ideal. The placing oí a graad organ in this liall was the thought of 1'rofessor Frieze, iirst president of the Universdty Musical Society. In. Februnry last, when the opportunity was preeeated to secure the organ of the Oolumbian Exposition, it seemed to us that the time had come to make the ideal a reality. Tlie limited resources of the University shut off all prospect of fmancial help from that source ; we were obliged to make au appeal to the frtends of the University and of higher musical education for nueans. We met everywhere with. substamtial encouragenient ; yet so great was tlije fMiancial depressioin that June rarae before it was deenied wise ito make the formal purohase, to that faithful constituency of those who never desert a wortliy cause iai the hour of ïieed, to assist in the balance of the urdíase inoney. As ■the organ neared completion the de--ice of a eubscription concert was adopted, lyitli the result that the debt on the org-an. is to-night so lar reduced tliat pa-ovisiou lor the reinairMler caai be made without serious difficulty. We Hianlt you, kind fiiends, onO and all, foir your g-enerous and liearty response in tliis good cause. Ve tJiank you, reg-ents and members of the facultiee and students of the University, foir your ready assistance, without wliich the securing of tlie organ would have been imI)ossible. We thaaik you, citizoiis of Aim Arbar, for your earneet efforts a ml s uu n ik [5.14.110a jpij We thaink you, citizems of Detroit, for the self-sacrifice and entliusiasm ivith whioh you have givem most lilerally of your means and of your time. ( We thank you, alumni and friends of the University in Grand llapids, Chicago, New York, and other cities, for the substantial evidences of your love for this University and interest in lte progress. Pinally, we thank you, gentlemen of the Farrund it Yotey Org-an Co., for thatkindness and consideration whii-h lia.v! uiiiiiioi-nily cbaracteirized your dealings with us. We are proud to niS-ht, gentlemen, to remember Wo eure in-oud to-niglit, gentlemen, Ihat when the authoriiies of the ColumHian Exposition were searcñiins- for tlie mind that could design, .nul tlie sldll that eould contrive a Sriamd oargan which eitould ilústrate to the natio'ns the highesfc advancement of America, after four centuries of progpeee, in the art of organbuilding-, a Michigan finu received Bhe well-earnpd praJse. Tlie agency through which the funds for the purchase of thi.s tnstrumeni have so far beeai secured is the University Musical Society. This organlzatloo has a charter af lts own; but our board of directors liavv thought it lest to transfer the ownerehip of the organ to the board of regente of the University. We have strivien to sec.uiv this cxrgan not for ourselves but for the Univcrsitv Oie state, the poople of Michigan. But there is a íurther considera! rnvate corpora tions m;lv cliangtj in policy, in degrree of foresdght and mterests committed to their charge are too often subject to great vicissitudes. We believe that a board of regents. perpetually cliosea by the perploof the stote, and responsible to ttoem, Avhosecoi-porate life is wrapped up with that of the state itself. are the best, the surest guardians of that which may be devoted to educational purposes jiot merely for an age or a .uvneratimi. hut for all time to come. In dflivering this moWe work of art to the board of regents, we can not forget that tire organ is pi-iïnarily a religieus instrument ■ that i-eligion and niOTality, as well as knowledg-e, were recognized by those piomeers of our educatioaial system the framea-s of the ordinance of 17S7 as necessary ito good gOTOniment! Uie wonderful mechanism of the organ will never fail to interest ; its splendid 'harmonies Will ever plea.se but those keys, touched by master hands, will speak a deeper message thaji that merely of beauty, of aestnetic pleasure. Tliis oTgan will Tecome mi educational force in the hearts and Uee of our young people lts harmonies will stir impulses toward the things of the spirit. Oh miay it touch and thirill their inmost Datares, brhiguig them Inspir&tlon tlwgood and tlie truc as well as the beautiiul, Uiting them up away ïroiu that whieh is mean and trivial into the tlair ishining oí the ideal. President Angelí, om behali ol the board of directora of the Dnlversity .Musical ociety, I aek you to accept tiii.s organ for tlie board oí regentó, on whose shoulders rests the nughty n-spon-ibility oí admbüstetrlng the aifaire of this ünlversity. We a.sk yóu to accept it ior the sons and daughbere ol Michigan and student-guests frojn 11 statcs and oountries, who ahell bread the.se halls long alter all oi u.s hcre present shall have been gatherel to fathers. We ask you to accept it for tliat widex circle of tlio.se who, in oun own land and in majiy lands, look fondly to this University as their alma mater, ar the alma mater of their trieads. We mako but one reque.st : that this grand instrument, .standing for generations that no man eau now nuinber, shall bear the name oí that rare and gentle spirit, to wihom the placing ol an organ in this hall was for so ana.ny years ome of life's fondest ilreams. At the close of President Kelsey's address. President Angelí made a fitting addrees in acceptance i the ornan u behulf of the board of regente. He spoke as follows : President Angelí Speakg. Mr. Pres&deiri : I am authorized by the board oi regemts to accept wit.h gratelol acknüvrledgenient, the eplendid gilt which the Unhvrsity Musical Society has made us tp-night, and on thé condiciona oí the gift. In tlii.s we witni'ss the realization of liopes fondly chertehed for the pást twenty years. We desire to join in tlie expresBion of graütuöe to tlie many fiiei.ds avIio made this occa-sioin possible. I deaire to empthasize ir recogüition of t.li splendid audacity of the board of diireeboiB of tlie society, wlio took apon themselvies the burdeii oi bringiiig this result about. I desire also to recognize the wisdom, energy a.nd toil of the president of that society to wliom success is largely due. From diis close intimacy with the old Romans, 'lie seems to lui"ve gained the enerery and perse veranee that have carried him over all otetacles. Caesar did aiot pkuige toto trans-Alpine Gaul wit.li more courage tham he lias shown iin tJils ente-rpirise. I congratúlate you on the splendid success you have aehieved. Felix coronat opus. Thiere is ome other name that I must meutioH. Six years ag-o I was fortúnate eoougii to find quietly at work Ln my old homes a young man whoim I persuaded to come he-re and take the chair of niusic vacated by Calvim B. Cady. In this young man we found the remarkable combinanation of high musical ability with soumd business sense. Thus it is that he has been able ot give us tlie fiinest music in. America- if not as i'.ne as in Germany - at merely nomn;il rates. He has estabüshed the School of Music on its present basis, and has i'nstilled such zeal and enthusLasm into our students in clioral music that we can scareely furnish a si age largo enougli to accominodate tihose who would take part in nis conoèrte. It is superfluous for me to try to say all that my heart would. It is superfluous, for his own hands will booo speak JiLs own praises in ie muic Bweet tlian tongue can ut ter. Finally, my Irlemds, I am sure there is a mame unspoken oai every lip and in every heart, that of a triend no moire to tlie flesh. Forty years ago ünere ca.me 'froni Piovileaice, R. I., a yommg man in the prime of life, distinguishpd foir his scholairship a.nd musical glit. Hnrdly had lic reached the city before musical enthusiasm was aroused. All or eider citizens will bear me oot in saylng tliat that man did more to awakeu inspiration than any other man that ever walked these streets. How often ha"ne 1 sein him stand here and kW ilie i-oiisummaton owr whieh we rejoice to-nigjht. it is a Joy ilmr we inay, im accept-Ing this gift, associate his name wlth it and dedícate it ïorevcr ti) his meniory. It. is a dclight to mO tliat all future si udcints of the University shall always associate his name with that divine art to which he f ore ver gave hls aid. Music of all the fine arts is the o.nly one that our poets have thonight worthy to be cultivated in the home -a-bove. So may this great vist runiciit elévate nll until we are letter fitted to join with him in the hcavenly chotas. In inti-oducing Goveirnor Bieb, President Kelsey said : To respond to the sentiment, "The Oigan and the State," I shall cali upo-n ome who is not merely the higheei official repireseetatífe of this state, but one who by his acts has shown that he possësses in cha.racter those qualities of firmness, integrity, singleni'ss oí alm and feswless regard for 1 nith, whicli haie ever leen esteemed by t he citizens oi this coanmonwealth,' the highest virtue of a public officer -His Excellency, Jodin T. Rlch, Governor of tlie state of Michigan. The Gorernor's Congrïtiilatlons. Governor Kich in a few appropriate remarks responded to the sentiment, "lilie People and tlie State." He s.-ii.l in part : K gire me great pleasure in iKiJialf of the state rejoice with you in the acquisition of this great instrument. The remarkable growth of the Uoiyersity is a.n indication of the lovO and regard that the people have for it. It is in the truest sense the poople's University. We caainot but be surprised at the progress ot this institution, whicli is only a half century old. lts remarkable growtli is aii indication of the fact that the people oí the state desire to build schoolhouses rather than jails, universities rather tlian penitentiaries. The framers of tüie co,nstitution of Michigan builded inoro wisely than they kuiew. The University hae been supported almost entirely by the people of the state. Tlie people are satisfied and want the institution kept upto its full standard. lts students are from every state in the Union, from foreien countries and tlie i isla,nds of the sea. Ferhape nothing has SO spread the íame of the state as its Univvrsity. It is poouliarly approprtate tliat this organ, which is a product of Michigan, and which has been played apon by the greatest artista ol the worW, should be placed iu Uniwrsity hall. We canmot thank Farrand and Yotey too muoh. gfcving the Oniverslty oí Michigan the íirst opportu.nity to parchase this gitund instrument. AVe cannot be ton thankful to th rniversky Musical society and to all the friends of the Univereity who made the purchaee of the organ poeeible. I believe ihat it will ever stamd as a monument to all who have assisted in placing it herO. Again, I congratúlate yon upon iits acquisition. In imtroducing General Alg'er, President Kelsey remarked : Moeit oí the equipinent nnd woi-k of a ï'nivorsity is teohmácal, and does not touch the sympathie of the people. But in this organ all will find a eoanmon interes!. And we are fortúnate to have with us- to speak of "The Organ and the Peoplo" - one wJuo has been known, as in n singular degree the frlend of the peolle, (eneral Bussel A. Alg-er. Ceneral Aler tor the Peolo. General Alger spoke ito the sentimout "The Orgn.n and the People." The general started out in a humorous vein, saylng: I seem to be enlisted to-ni.'iiit ín a role by uiyself. Ti'ii days isii I was invfted by President Angelí to talk to yon a little, and but a little. lint I was surprised to-night to find myseU down on the programme. However, I uni j glad to be here to exchange conirrat ulations wifcb you on the proud iü-ihiotion tha.i has come to the üni;'rs:ly and the state by tlie acquisltioiix of tli is instrument. I don't kmow how to telk to an organ, and ïhere's ;ao need of talkimg to the audienoe. Preeident Kelsey said he was sui])rised f.liat such liberal donations wero ghiein. Why, we are brought up to it ! In tlie Pi-esbyterriaoi church we take collections twice a day, and besiides are informed by scriptural mottoes tliat "God loviee a cheertul giTer." You eee, we beoome accustomed to tliis business of givïng. Our ohurcli begga.r is back there now. We can hardly realize the ■vonderful influence of music, from the lullaby to the classics of Mozart a-nd Wag:-' ner. In home and iin ehurch, at all tiimes music plays a conspicuous part. It ie omly umder its influenoe that ive fO'rget our cares and trials. It imspires men everywhere. We had im the nimy a band that aroused eaitliusiasm whiSQ all else failed. In tüie terrible winter of 1864 the army oí the Potomao, under Geo. Cr. Jfeade, lay oai the north side of the I'otomac, while on the south side lay the soutliorn army under Robert E. lyee. One night, a band in the no'rtihern army played "America ," a sout.lnern band followpd with "T)ixie." Tlie northern band played "The Star Spamgfled Baoneir," and the snuther.ners played "Tlie Bonnie Blue Flng." Flnally the northero band struck the beautiful melody of "Home Kweet TTome," and the Routhern band joined them in thnt one prent tliat touched the liearts of all. After the preentation and .ïepeptn.nce addresses hid ben cnmpleted, tlie nndienee a rose and joined in the ddlcatory hynin. to the tune of Duke Street. The hynin was as follows : The Dedlcatory Hynin. Thy thaughts. O God, are far above, Thy ways beyond, our eurtlily ken : Aud jet. Thou hast a heart ui love,- ïbou dost accept tbe praise of men, We Uless thy name in this glad hour.- 'i'ky gift oi soiig is ncü uud free; In Juuniuuieri we leel tüy power, And uiusic drawfe us iiear to Thee. Accept this that our hauds have wrought. Lel Uiy voice in its toues üe lieard; So Bhall it stand with biessiüg liaugUt, Ana liearts with heaveuiy joy be sllirod. l Huülcal Prugiain. Of the musical part of the prograuime it would meed a musical critic to write. 'Tli music itself has beeo deecribed in these columns. TJie renditiun oi it was superb. Il tlie orga.n excels anything elae in the world, dt is but justice to say lluit Prof. Btamiey is equol to tdie task of the beat org;ui in the world. He played not ouily witili liis head, but hls hands a.nd ïeet as welk It is iinpoissible to leuter into a description of it however. 'J he organ ëasily drowned out e"ery voice in tJiat great hall when it carne to tdie doxology, ehowing its wonderïul power. In reading music Prof. Stanley is indeed a wonder. Instead of reading it note by note, he reaxis it by wlaole pages, grasping the entire page by glancing down it, as one ordinarily glance.s along a line. Tliis is Jiot all natural. .Some of it is acquired, ior he sp&nt two ort hree years m 'Germany in ncquiring this accomplishment. There lias been only one other maai known here who could do anybhitig of this kind. Tlie late Prof. Wateon oever had linie to cut the leaves of a lino!;. He would open it up and glance down one page and then the nest, ireading in an hour what it would take an ordinary reader days to digest. And he never failed to grasp every idea presented In the books read. and remember it, also. l'rof. Stanley has this gift to a wonderful extent. If he did not have it he could not play three keyboards at one time. Huinoroiis ( halrmau Banche.r. Buring tlie progress of the musical pirogramme, President Kelsey called Mr. Chas. Euncher, of Betroit, to the platform to say a few wortls in behalf of the Betroit delegation. Mr. Buincher, cliairinan of the Betroit coinmittees, resiiondcd to the invitation in a happy way. He said that there wero occasions when certain things were better left unsaid. Tliis was one of those occasions, he said. Tlien he aroused the laughter of everyone by saying that he once heard a story. A man's wife died and lie had to ride iin the funeral procession with his motlier-in-law. He assured the funeral manag-ement that they had taken away all the pleasure of the occasion for him. Mr. Buncher ed the people of the good feeling of liis delegation forthe üniversity and said the omly mistake Ano Arbor people had made was, that they liad not asked enougli. Snuif Who Wer Thre. Aanomg 'ihi' Detroit people preseni ere the following : General and Mrs. lUisscll .. Alger, James B. Sciripps and family. ]. ,M. Ferry, Ix'vi 1. i'.arbour, Mr. Bdson, Chas, üunchor, R. H. Fyfe a.nd wiic, Dr. E. T. Tappey and daugiit-er, Ita-. E. S. Sherrill, E. W, I't'iidletoin, Mr. nnd Mrs. J. Patt&reon, Mr. H. L. VO'tey, Mr. and Mrs, E, Ij. Thonnpson, Albert P. Jacobs and ia.mily, l'rof. J. H. Halm and wife, Misees Alucr. l'almer, Oliitteiiden ajid Wondell, Mrs. C. K. Baekufl, F. L, Bliss and wlle, Hoyt Post, Mats. CkslBns B. H'ubbard and Geo. H. HopÜns. Among tlie other visitoi-s were T'rosideint C. K. Adame aaid wife, of MVidi'snn. Wis., tJie boa.Td of regenta and tlii'ir families. Governor Rlch aind wiie, and Dr. Wallace Eadcliffe, of Detroit. Se'eiral were present irmn S;ii.iiaw and Bay City, Jackson r t in 1 Graad Rapids. The audience was doublless as fine a one as ewr sat ii Dniverslty liall. Thp l'innii.-hil Qncstion. As bo tlie finajiclal part of the confort, wliioli ík ;tlie vital part, the result b gTatlfylng. President Kelsey bas nol lieai-d f rom all thet icket sellers yi-l , but etttougfli is known to warrant i'ir Btatetnemi that at leasi $5,000 was r&teed ly last nigjit's effort Tlhie, added to the $7,000 alreafly raised, matos $12,000, leaving sa. om) yet to le raised. Tlhis wiU ie done by a series of concerté when tickets will lx; sold at 50c, 75c or $1.00, as may be decided best. President Kelsey wlio has done horoic work in tliis magnltlcent enterprise, foels vorv mnch srafified. aind hrlievos that the balance wlll be secured without wcy p-reat offort.