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A Man & His Music » by Doris Ward A devotee of the fjiano since childhood, Stevenson C. Chase of Cape May Court House had early , aspirations of becoming a concert pianist. But in 1956 while attending the dedication of the new pipe organ at the FirsrBaptist Church • in Wildwood, he became captivated by the awe inspiring sound. When guest organist Kenneth Qoodman touched the keys of that magnificent instrument, 25 years ago *‘I knew this was what I wanted” recalls Chase. “It was the most beautiful music I ever heard. BORN IN Pennsylvania but raised in Cape May Court House, Chase began his musical training with piano, under the guidance of Thomas Sears of Swainton. He continued instructions from Augustive Beah of the Villas, a concert pianist who at one time . played with the Meyer Davis Orchestra. While a student at Middle Township High School, Chase added to his tnusical background by studying the organ, tutored by music director Robert Lafferty. After serving two years in the Marines, Chase enrolled as organ major at the Philadelphia Music Academy, where hefedeived his degree. AUhough raised in the Episcopal and Methodist faiths, he played for ten years at the former St. Simeons in Wildwood as well as St. Mary’s in Stone Harbor, where he was instrumental in obtaining their present orgtTn. AND THROUGHOUT those years, thoughts of the great organ at the First Baptist kept gnawing at him. he found himself unable to resist the call

home

For the past ten years now, Chase has been organist and director of music at First Baptist, where he speaks with pride of the variety of programs presented at 'the church. Oratories such as Handels Meaaiah. and the Ellzah. are well attended, said

Chase. “It would not have , ».«,», UK . V coch m^uu been nearly so perfect, had \ can be played separately, it not been for the versatili- SEVERAL YEARS ago ty of this fine organ/’ during a severe flood, the

Saving A Life Earns Award

MASSIVE PIPES adorning entire wall of the church enhance the beauty of its Romanes-

que design. In the pulpit is the Rev. Kenneth Carpenter.

The towering two-story-high organ occupies one entire concave wall of the church. It was donated in her memory by the children of Sarah Rice, a gifted pianist of Drexel Hill

and Wildwood.

AT ONE TIME it was reputed to be the largest in the area, exceeded only by the organ in Atlantic City’s Convention Hall and another, with 100 ranks, at the First Methodist Church in Millville. "That.is really big,” says Chase, “but I couldn't be more content with our present organ." The instrument is divided into four sections, known as the great organ, the choir organ, the swell organ and the pedal organ. Operated by air pressure delivered through a 14-inch duct, the instrument has 1,830 pipes, ranging in size from 17 feet to as small as a lead pencil. It has three manuals and a pedal keyboard, each controlling the pipes in its related sections, so that each section

pipes became filled with water and actually gurgled as Chase played. A trust fund was immediately established to insure gainst'

any future mishap.

Years ago, organs wen

Chase recalled an incident during his two-year stint in the Marines. Asked to play at a Navy Relief recital for a number of high-ranking officers and their families

Years ago, organs were^-at. Camp LcJeune, the designed to play a heavy, already nervous Chase theatre type of music; to- found himself confronted

day the trend is to play a very, high pitched type of sound. “This organ is the better of both worlds,” Chase explains. "We have no extremes. It’s bright enough to play selections from Bach and yet heavy enough to play 19th Century romantic compositions, such as written by Mendelson and Brahms.” NOT STRICTLY limited to church music, Chase has a wide choice in the selections of his programs. “This instrument has tremendous dynamic range and power, and a composition such as Gilbert Martin's Sound Cluater would probably raise the roof. I’m sure if I attempted that, he laughed, I would be tarred and # feathered by the congrega-

* lion.

While in the same vein.

Cape May - Betsy CrAig, a Lower Cape May Regional High School freshman from this city, was honored as the Lower Cape Optimist Youth Appreciation Winner. In presenting the award recently. James Kelly, the club’s Youth Appreciation chairman, called Miss Craig “the obvious choice” from among the outstanding entrants. JEANNETTE BABBITT,principal of the Richard M. Teitelman School, submitted Betsy's name. In her letter Mrs. Babbitt noted that last summer while babysitting for a vacationing couple,' Betsy noticed that her two-’ year-old charge stopped breathing.’ Immediatly calling upon training while a student at Teitelman, she employed the Heimlich maneuver, thus dislodging ' a nickel that the two-year-old had swallowed. Thf? Heimlich maneuver was part of the CPR (rain^ ing under Douglass DeWeese.-a teacher who . passed away wh^ Miss Craig was a stude^ A special eertificate and savings bond were presented to Miss Craig at the Optimist dinner meeting where she and her parents were honored.

Choir Sets 3 Concerts

Betsy Craig

•Reunion Set —^ .COURT HOUSE. - Middle Township High School class of 1970 is having a 10th year “Better late than never" class reunion Dec. 30 For information call Chfis Higgs, 522 4959 or 263 1252.

by an organ with an extremely sensitive pedaloperated volume control “1 WAS UNABLE to control the shaking in my foot,’’ grinned Chase, "with the result that the volume kept rising and falling, completely out of control. Startled looks from the choir director, a captain’s wife, and a graduate of Westminister Choir College made matters even worse. Finally in desperation, I removed my foot entirely from the pedal and the rest of the performance proved quite satisfactory." Recalls the musician, “It gave me a taste of performing in public ..one, I wouldn’t care to repeat.” Now in a reflective mood, he added that music has gotten very strange. "It's almost like abstract art. I suppose it's what turns you

on."

Whatever it was that turned on this talented musician was augmented by a grand musical instrument. Together they are making beautiful music Doris Word of Goshen la a ' freelance photographer /writer. .Theac are her photos.

Mourning Dove-

(From Page34

’ COLD SPRINGS - The Madd Abrartis/Mcmorial School chorus will present Christmas concerts at the Millman Center Villas during the senior citizen luncheon Dec. 17, at the school here 9:35 a m. Dec. 18, and 1:20 p.m. Dec. 22. The public is invited to both concerts at the school. The choir is under the direction of Marmie Garrison, and Linda Seager is

accompanist.

THE PROGRAM includes: A-Caroling We bo and Let There^Be Peace On Earth featuring 3rd grader Martin Biersbach; I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claua featuring Tracey

Noland (3rd). Travis Noland .(1st) and Sherry Leidi (1st) There's No Place Like Home for fhk’ Holidays featuring Patricia Heritage (3rd) and Taihmy Hughes (4th): Hfive Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,. Keep Christmas with ydu, and Martin Biersbach as Oscar the Grouch in I Hate' Christmas. The teachers of Maud Abrams will be singing White Chrlstnias The senior citizens at the MiHman Center will bey given Christmas cards and letters made by the,3rd and 4 th graders.

British Seagull 387

(From Page 3 4

, centers. It took you a long time-to move that dump near the airport and all we’re askinghs a nice dump out of the way of planes and secluded and open enough to offer us a variety of delicacies. .This would be a very smart move on the part of airport officials because our natural instinct tells us that in order to eat we must live. If you go around shooting up the airport with your fake and then real bullets,"why we'll get so mad we'll show you a bit of bird

power Ahd man, once we organize - watch out!

IXM)K, COMMON SENSE SHOULD TELL YOU that there’s no way in the world you'JI be able to get rid of every single seagull and bird in the world It wouldn't be healthy if you did Sure, you might shoot a few birds and scare us away for a few days, but more of us will be back Why don’t you look qt the problem from a gull’s point of view We won’t move Vour airport if you don’t shoot our friends. Set up a nice big dump qut in (he wilderness (is there any left?' and we’ll oblige you by frequenting the

tylace and letting yOur flight patterns alone

And send Goddy Goodin. Godin or something on his way and let him take care of the bjrds in North Jersey. From what we hear, there’s plenty of birds up there that need

tending.

NEXT WEEK The Observers

ENGROSSED IN HIS WORK, which is also his joy. Stevenson Chase strokes I keyboard during one of many practice sessions prior to a performance.

easily upset by the firing of guns. It is also very suscep tiblwyto a disease called canker,— the same disease which, in conjunction with 'heavy hunting pressure, Tendered the passenger pigeon extinct. In 1863 the U.S. Supreme Court established that wildlife belongs to all the people. And at least 93 per cent of New Jerseyans do not hunt. This overwhelming majority of citizens

. who respect nature must not be duped into sacriflc ing yet another treasured species to the guns of the few. Wo urge all who read this to write their Assemblyman and Senator urging defeat of the bill which would permit the kill of the mourning dove. - Susan Russell is director of education for Friends of Animats, headquartered In Neptune. N.J. (201) 922 2600.

Talk Guide t POMONA - The Stockton State College Office of Information and Development recently published its 1981-82 “Speakers' Guide." '' > .The faculty and staff members listed in the guide are available for speaking engagements for service and charitable organizations. Fo** information call 652-1776, ext 526