CENTENNIAL STORY, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, TYLER, SMITH CO, TEXAS, 1848-1948

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Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

Used with the permission of Dr. Michael Massar, Pastor
First Baptist Church, Tyler, TX
Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net
8 March 2001
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                           MINISTRY OF MUSIC

John D. Matthews, an East Texan and a former student of Southwestern 
Seminary at Ft. Worth, Texas, came to the church from Midland, Texas, 
May 15, 1943. He gave his entire time to the church until 1945, when a 
leave of absence from all work except the choir enabled him to go into 
a war plant.  Mr. Matthews has accomplished splendid work in the 
position for which he is particularly fitted and talented. The adult 
choir has grown steadily and now has sixty-five memhers. There are 
thirty in the Junior choir, and twenty in the Cherub choir. A ll choirs 
are robed and have weekly rehearsals. At the Easter and Christmas 
seasons, cantatas are presented by the combined Adult and Junior 
Choirs. Mr. Matthews resigned from his work to accept the position of 
general director of church activites begin­ning April 12, 1948, with the 
First Baptist Church, Beaumont, Texas.
Thirty five consecutive years.  Mrs. James Hambrick has been the church 
organist, beginning in December 1913.  The Three manual Kimball Pipe 
Organ she now pla's was bought in 1939, at a cost $10,884.00 with an 
allowance of $500.00 for the former pipe organ. Prior to this she 
play­ed a Hook-Hastings Organ which the church had bought in 1904 at a 
cost of S2,500.00 with an allowance for an old reed organ.  Mrs. 
Hambrick has been faithful to each of the mid-week and Sun­day services. 
She is an organist of merit and is recognized as the dean of Tyler 
musicans. She is beloved for her Culture. Friendliness and understanding. 
Because of the heavy duties and responsibilities the postion caries, 
she offered her resignation to the church May 12, 1948 that was 
regretfully and reluctuantly accepted.

                            THE CHURCH ORCHESTRA

It is a far cry from the early days when the use of an instrument of 
music was prohibited in religious worship, to fifteen years ago when 
Ralph Parker and Bengie Ford Mason as director and pianist respectively, 
organized the first church orchestra.  They have been the guiding force 
and inspira­tion during these years.

The personel is composed of musicians, giving faithfully of their time to 
this service. Many have begun their musical careers in the orchestra. 
Its membership has changed through the years, seeing new talent added 
from time to time. The total membership now is ten.

The orchestra has been one of the attractive features preceding and 
during the Sunday evening service, heightening the inspiration for the 
hour of worship.