MY FAVORITE CURRENT EVENTS AND COMMENTS COLUMN:
It was Convention Thursday. The new film on the life of Aimee Semple
McPherson� had just concluded.� Mrs.� Harold Helme approached� informing,
"Esther Fricke Stuart passed away last night."
That� name means little to most who have entered Foursquaredom� since
1944. But it was definitely a "household word" in myriads of homes during
Angelus Temple's first twenty one years when Esther's musical ministry won
her� a� place� probably� second� only� to Sister's� in� the� love� of� the
congregation and radio
audience.� She� was� the only person uninterruptedly on staff� from� the
Temple's first year until the year of Sister's passing.
When Winona gave me the news my mind embarked on a nostalgia binge. I
rejoiced that Dr.� Evelyn Thompson had loaned me her auto two days earlier
so� I� could� drive to Sherman Oaks and see� Esther.� I� recalled� Sister
McPherson's� statement about the Kimball:� "That organ--of all� inanimate
things� I love it the most." The Los Angeles RECORD had captioned a� four
column picture of Esther at the console on its June 25,� 1926 front� page:
"Angelus� Temple� organist� plays hymns of praise at the� console� of� the
tabernacle� organ,� in celebration of Aimee Semple McPherson's escape from
the� hands of kidnappers..." And Sister hurried into the Temple� to� pray
and praise as soon as she arrived home.� "Esther Fricke," she wrote, "was
in her place at the organ, her skilled fingers caressing the keys, rousing
the chiming bells into rhapsodies and paeans of thanksgiving."
Esther had come to the Temple when the organ was finally installed at
Eastertime 1923.� At her funeral Dr. Rolf McPherson reminisced, "When she
first came she hardly knew any of the church songs, and she was fearful as
she� sat down to the organ the first time." Dr.� Guy Duffield added� that
Esther� was not dressed properly for church at her first service and� that
Sister� suggested� she come the next time more appropriately� attired.� A
friend� told me that Esther's earrings dangled almost to her shoulders� on
that first appearance.
Very� soon� the organist was thriving amid� church� activities.� Dr.
Duffield told the funeral audience:� "Esther had a part in what I� regard
as the greatest church revival of all history. . . She was a great part of
that� blessing the Lord sent and used to win many souls to� himself.� You
just� can't think of those early great days without thinking of Esther� at
the organ." And Dr.� McPherson shared, "My mother's ministry was enhanced
and blessed by her ability."
Altogether� Esther� played for many more than 5000 services and� over
2200� one hour radio organ recitals,� rendering thousands of� requests� of
listeners,� often� complemented� by soloists like Joseph Waugh and� Evelyn
Petit.� Dr.� Duffield� recalled how from time to time "we'd have a� number
from� that� indomitable� group of young ladies� that� we� lovingly� called
'Fricke's� Follies'!"� The real name was "Melody Girls."� Dr.� McPherson
mentioned that Esther played for his wedding to Lorna Dee and how she "was
really� a great inspiration to many lives that are in the� ministry� today
and� that have developed musical talents that they are using in the church
work." She certainly inspired and helped me.
Esther� served� on� the LIFE Bible College faculty for� a� number� of
years.� She also kept track of the count of water baptisms every Thursday
night. I well recall her signaling Sister when the figure reached 40,000!
Esther� resigned� in� 1944� because of health and� the� wish� of� her
husband.� After Mac's tragic death in the early 1960's she began to� work
like a beaver,� even though approaching age 70, to pay off pressing debts.
At� times� she� had� to� play� in� churches� definitely� not� evangelical.
Sometimes� she� heard� suggestions not to use numbers about the� blood� of
Jesus.� But she often included Sister's songs and people really expressed
enjoyment� of� unfamiliar� melodies like "Calvary's� Rose,"� "The� Key� to
Paradise," and others.
Financial needs continued.� I well recall regrets she expressed that
she� had� no way to come to my Bible prophecy series at Angelus Temple� in
1976� and could not even listen to the KFSG broadcasts because she had� no radio.
Esther� treasured� memories of Temple ministry.� She� wrote� to� the
Duffields,� "The� years I spent at Angelus Temple were indeed the happiest
years� of� my� life,� and� I loved every minute of� my� work� with� Sister
McPherson.� Sister McPherson still remains the most talented lady I� have
ever met."
Perhaps the most stirring statement I ever heard at a funeral was Dr.
McPherson's at Esther's service:� "I've travelled in some countries where
they� pay� people to mourn and to wail at the loss of some family� member,
but you know,� we who know Jesus Christ--if anything--I'd like to pay� for
somebody� to be of good cheer and to rejoice at my funeral because there's
a difference when you know the Lord." He concluded,� "We'll say� farewell
to� our dear sister,� but we expect to say hello again in the presence� of
God."
Many� have already said hello to Esther in heaven.� In my remarks at
the� funeral� I� alluded to the reunion at� her� arrival.� What� glorious
greetings� must� have� been� exchanged� with� Sister,� Dr.� Walkem,� Viola
Anderson,� Brother Arthur,� Dr.� Gurden, Sister Sarah Cohen, Ruth Clawson,
Thomas� Johnson,� and multiplied thousands more who loved Esther and� whom
she� loved,� but� most of all with Jesus who alone makes it� possible� for
anyone to enter Glory.
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