The Organ in our church was originally installed by the Pilcher Organ Company in about 1903, soon after the completion of the church. The genesis of the organ goes back to 1829, when the instrument was originally installed in another (unidentified) Macon church. St. Joseph Church was designed in a Victorian/Romanesque/Gothic style by two principal architects—the famous Nicholas Clayton, the premier architect in the South, and Jesuit Brother Cornelius Van Otten.
 
The plans for the church included space for a good-sized choir loft for music and for the provision of an organ. The original organ from 1829 was installed in the lower portion of the church, which was the first section of the church to be constructed - (now the social hall) and where masses were celebrated for about ten years. The Pitcher Organ Company of Louisville, Kentucky then installed this organ in the loft when the church was completed in 1903 and enlarged the organ significantly at that time. St. Joseph's parish dedicated the organ on Sunday, November 15, 1903, with a Pontifical High Mass. The celebrant for the dedication was the Right Reverend H. P. Northrop of Charleston. The organist, Professor J. G. Weisz, directed a musical program, which included choral works by Mozart, Rossini, Donizetti, Mercandante, and Weber. Among the instrumental works was the William Tell Overture. 
 
At the time, the organ was probably the largest organ in the Southwest. It was described as having 67 ranks over five divisions. There are numerous reports of dedication concerts and services with various choirs and the Bishops of the Southwest in Macon papers. One account in the Macon Telegraph even prints a homily by one of the Bishops at the time. From the very beginnings of the organ, Professor Joseph Weiss was the organist for an astounding 63 years.
 
The mechanical action of the instrument (A direct wooden linkage to the keys and pipes) was replaced by an electro-pneumatic action in the 1930s. At some point during that period, there were complaints that the organ was obscuring the large Rose Window above the loft. After some time, a decision was made to rebuild the organ so that it would not completely obstruct the rose window, and the Pitcher Company returned and re-designed the organ, reducing the height of the Façade, which is still the one we see today. Consequently, the size of the organ was reduced to 45 ranks over four divisions. However, the Pilcher organ continued to serve the needs of the parish for many years.
 
Unfortunately, there are indications that this instrument was damaged by a violent storm in the late 1960s and the Great division became unplayable. As well, by the early 1980's it became apparent that the organ had deteriorated and would have to be rebuilt or replaced. The Parish Council appointed Mr. Syl Thuente to work with the Pastor, Fr. John Cuddy, and the organist, Dr. Fletcher Anderson, to determine the best course for the church to take. After extensive discussions with the organ builders and repairers, it was decided that a new organ which would incorporate some of the best that could be salvaged from the old organ would best serve the present and future needs of the parish. Dr. Egbert Ennulat, Organ Professor at the University of Georgia, agreed to serve as consultant to the project. The original Pilcher organ case façade and console were retained in the new instrument along with the entire vox humana, some flute ranks. Swell Trumpet 16’, Great Principal 8’ and 16’ Bourdon and several of the pedal division pipes.
 
The current instrument has 53 Ranks (rows of pipes) played on Three Manuals (Three keyboards) and the Pedal Division.  There are over 3300 pipes, some as small as a tiny pencil, and some as large as 16 feet long and thick as a tree trunk.
 
Some of the parts of the organ are over 100 years old and most of the organ is 40 years old. If one thinks for a minute, no auto, appliance or machine in daily use is still generally working after 40 years. This is a testament to the quality of the work done by the two organ companies, which the in foresight of our forefathers had the wisdom to plan. Please stop in to see the tribute hung at the foot of the loft stairs—with over 1000 parishioners who contributed to the cost of the organ!