Page:The Early English Organ Builders and their work.djvu/109

 committee composed of Masters of the Bench of both Societies was appointed in May, 1683, to decide upon the instrument to be retained for the use of the Temple Church; and in about a year or fourteen months after, each competitor, with the utmost exertion, of his abilities, had an instrument ready for trial. When Harris had completed his instrument, he presented a petition to the Benchers of the Inner Temple, stating that his organ was ready for trial, and praying that he might be permitted to set it up in the Church on the south side of the communion table. An order was accordingly made by the Benchers granting the permission he sought. This petition of Harris is dated the 26th May, 1684; and thereby the date of the completion of his instrument is established. It is almost certain that Smith's organ was ready previous to the above date, and that for some reason (possibly to avoid the necessity of revoicing, if he should be the successful competitor) he had obtained leave to depart from the order of February, 1682, so far as to place his organ in the Church, and this suggested to Harris the propriety of adopting the same expedient."

The musical reader is aware how Dr. Blow, and the celebrated Henry Purcell, were engaged to exhibit the powers of Smith's organ upon appointed days; and how Harris employed Baptist Draghi, one of the royal organists (not Baptist Lully as Burney says) for the same