OPENING OF THE ORGAN AT THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1785, 10 November 1879, Page 3

OPENING OF THE ORGAN AT THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

The ceremony of opening the new organ in the Church of the Blessed Sacrament, Barbadoes street, took place yesterday morning. At the hour announced for the celebration of High Pontifical Mass, the church was com. pletely filled. Extra preparation had been made to giro additional effect to the celebration service, the altars being decked with choice flowers. The Right Reverend Dr. Moran, Bishop of Dunedin, officiated as celebrant, assisted by the Yery Reverend Father O’Malley, S.J., as Deacon ; the Rev, Father Grunholz, sub-Daacon ; and the Reverend Father Devoy, 8.M., as Master of Ceremonies. The Right Reverend Dr. Redwood, Bishop of Wellington, assisted at the throne, the priest being the Rev. Father Ginnaty, S.M. The following was the order of the service;— Haydn’s Mass No. 1, in its entirety j Offertoire, Antiphon B.Y.M. (composed by Professor Hughes, in Gregorian style) ; “ Tota pulcbra cs Mana ” solo, with quartette accompaniment; “War March of the Priests,” from Mendelssohn’s oratorio “ Athalie.”

Professor Hughes officiated as organist, and Mr 0. Bonnington as leader of the choir. The sermon was preached by the Very Rot. Father O’Mallfy, the subject being the origin and history of music in the Catholic Church, and its influence on devotional exercises. Early morning masses were celebrated at six, half-past six, and seven o’clock, Dr. Redwood acting as celebrant at the last. The church was crowded on each occasion. Solemn pontifical vespers were celebrated in the evening, the Bishop of Dunedin officiating as celebrant ; Deacon, Very Rev. Father O’Malley, S J.; Sub-Deacon, the Rev. Father Q-runholz; Master of Ceremonies, Rev. Father Devoy, assisted by Mr Wm. Hoban. The sermon was preached by the Lord Bishop of ‘Wellington. In his preliminary remarks Dr. Redwood thanked the Bishop of Dunedin for coming to Christchurch to take part in the celebration, and also expressed oimself in the same terms to the Rev. Father O’Malley for his discourse on religious music. The choral part of the service was highly effective, the training which the choir had received under Professor Hughes being very noticeable.

The congregation left at the conclusion of vespers, while a grand march, composed by Professor Hughes, was being played on the organ by that gentleman. The organ, which is a very powerful and fine-toned instrument, was built by Halmshame and Co,, of Birmingham. It was imported by Mr O. Bennington, of Wellington, and erected by Mr Farrell, formerly of Telford’s celebrated manufactory, St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin. The exterior of the instrument is very handsome, the case being of pine wood, and the pipes richly and elaborately ornamented. By the following description it will be seen that the new organ is one of the most complete and powerful in the colony. Three manuals ; octave and a half of pedals (radiating) ; five composition pedals, viz., three for great organ and two for small.

The list of stops is as follows .- Great organ—Open diapason, Bft; dulciana, Bft; stop diapason, Bft; principal, 4ft; twelfth, 2|ft; fifteenth, 2ft; mixture, 4 ranks; trumpet, Bft. Choir—Dulciana, Bft; stop diapason, Bft; celestina, 4ft; waldflute, 4ft ; cremona, Bft. Swell—Bourdon, 16ft; open diapason, Bft; stop diapason, Bft; principal, 4ft; fifteenth, 2ft; mixture, 4 ranks (disconnected pro tern ); horn, Bft; oboe, Bft. Pedals—Bourdon, 16ft ; open diapason, I6ft.

Total, 28 stops. Couplers—Choir to pedals, swell to pedals, great to pedals, swell to great, choir to pedals.