William Dunklin on October 21st, 2025:
The program for the upcoming "formal opening" of the new Pilcher organ at First Baptist Church, Griffin, Georgia, was reported in The Atlanta Journal, Saturday, February 6, 1892, page 5: THE ORGAN RECITAL Which Professor O'Donnelly Will Give in Griffin on Tuesday Evening. Mr. J. P. O'Donnelly, Atlanta's talented organist, will, on Tuesday evening next, February 9th, give a recital in the First Baptist Church at Griffin. This recital will be given by special request of the leading members of the church and will be the formal opening of the new Pilcher organ, recently built. The organ recitals given by him in Atlanta during the past year were evenings of great musical pleasure and profit to the large audiences that invariably attended them. No doubt his friends in Griffin will turn out in large numbers on this occasion. Mr. O'Donnelly will be assisted by the best talent of Atlanta and Griffin. The following excellent program has been prepared: Part First. Overture to "William Tell" - Rossini - Buck — Mr. O'Donnelly. Cornet solo, Serenade - Schubert, The Lost Choral* - Sullivan — Mr. C. T. Wurm. Offertoire in F - Batiste Home Sweet Home - Buck — Mr. O'Donnelly Soprano solo Ave Maria - Millard — Miss Emma Stilwell Baritone solo Salve Regina - Buck — Mr. Eugene Hardeman Part Second. Alto solo Supplication - Tosti — Mrs. Charles A. Sindall. Gavotte from "Mignon" - Thomas Postlude - Levebure-Wely* — Mr. O'Donnelly Tenor solo The Sacrifice of Tears - Barri — Mr. William Owens The Vesper Hour - Shelley — duet for alto and tenor. Mrs. Sindall and Mr. Owens. Prelude and Tuge* in A minor - Bach Grand March from "Aida" - Meyerbeer** — O'Donnelly Quite a number of Atlanta people have signified their intention of going down to the recital. The train leaving at 4:10 p.m. will reach Griffin in ample time. *In transcribing the text for the OHS Database, line breaks and spacing have been altered for clarity. Misspellings and amusing errors have been retained from the original newspaper article. **Believed to be the reporter's error: Giuseppe Verdi seems the only logical composer as Meyerbeer had died before the opera Aida was even proposed to Verdi.

---

William Dunklin on May 31st, 2022:
From the newspaper The Macon (Georgia) Telegraph, July 11, 1891, page 4: "The Griffin Baptist Church has closed a contract with Pelcher (*sic)* Sons of Louisville for a fine pipe organ to cost $2,300."

---

Database Manager on October 30th, 2004:
Installed in a rear balcony of the church. Its purchase precipitated a split in the congregation. Replaced in 1926 by Pilcher Op. 1330 for 11,100 with the old organ taken in trade. The organ was moved to the All Saints Chapel at the University of the South, Sewanee, TN in 1928 by Pilcher as their Op. 1456.5 for $1800.