HIGHLAND - Rev. Floyd. Trexler, pastor of Gloria Del Lutheran Church at 3711 Ridge Rd., took a took at the finished product. With a broad smile of satisfaction beaming on his face, he Said.: “The pioneering spirit of.America is not dead!”.

The Reverend Mr. Trexler was looking at the Skinner Pipe Organ which was rebulit and put-together by a group of members of the Highland parish.

As Rev.Trexler proudly viewed the organ he reminded us that the past 12 months at Gloria Dei Church have been “the living; proof that the pioneering spirit in this Bicentennial Year of the United States is indeed alive, and it shows how much good can happen when people become involved.”

David L. Hamblin Jr., Minister of music at the church led a varied assortment of people, including carpenters, teachers, engeneers, housewives, etc; and — without a professional ogan builder’s help — assembled the complex instrument.

The climax of the pioneering Spirit will come Sunday when th massive 24-rank organ, originally built by Ernest M. Skinner in 1927, is dedicated. Dedication will begin during the 8:30 a.m. worship service and will be continued through the 11:00 a.m. service.

Rev. Trexler, who became pastor of the Highland church about one year ago said: “It will be dedicated to the glory of God!” A recital by Hamblin at 3:00 p.m. will be in memory of the late Fred Moline, one of the parishioners who was originally involved in the pioneering spirit but did not live to see it’s fruitful completion and dedication. Moline’s son, Frederick, who also was project, will represent this father during the Sunday ceremonies. A fellowship period will be held after the dedication ceremonies. Rev. Trexler recalled that the Sundaydedication ceremonies will be “a sort of a homecoming” for him.

The organ came from a church in Concord, N.C., a “stones throw” from the area where he had been the pastor of a church before coming to Highland. The story of the pioneering spirit began in March af 1875 when parishioners of Gloria Dei church, searching around for an organ, learned that one, that could fill the need was for sale in Concord. It was in the First Presbyterian Church.

Hamblin was authorized to go to Concord to evaluate the organ and to make a bid. A bid for $3,000 was placed. The congregation became the proud owner of the organ. It was on April 1, 1975 Hamblin, Mr. and Mrs. Wollard Schulz, Mr. and Mrs. Gerge Rogers, Mr.and Mrs. Fred Moline and daughters, Shari and Linda, used their Easter vacation to begin the dismantling and removal of the organ from the church in Concord.

As Hamblin recalled: “It was hard dirty and sensitive work. Everything had to be labeled, and care had to be taken that nothing be lost. The massive organ was loaded into a semi—trailer truck, donated by the Bakker Produce Co., which also furnished the driver.” The truck with it’s valuable cargo arrived in highland on April 5.

As sections of the organ with its more than 1500 pipes — from the size of a little finger to what seemed to be huge wooden smoke stacks — were being unloaded, Pasfor Trexler recalled that he asked: “Wer’e going to put all these pipes and jumble of wire together?”

The pastor’s question was answered in the months that followed as members rolled up their sleeves to work.Trexler said: “If David Hamblin was anything but sure of himself, he never let it be known. Women like Ruth Schulz and Judy Moline worked like beavers, almost any time in the organ chamber.” “The congregation”, Rev.Trexler said, “tallied quickly with the necessary money.” Andrew Duro refinished the organ console and all of the wooden pipes. “IInstalling the organ became a spirit — a spirit of independence so typical in American history,” the pastor said.

Trexler said. “That for $10,000 and a great deal of hard work Gloria Dei church has a beautiful organ with a replacement value of approximately $100,000.”

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