from the March 12, 1913 PENSACOLA NEW JOURNAL

Owing to the unavoidable absence of Mr. J. W. Lurton leader for many years of all that is best in music in Pensacola who was called from the city on business, Mr. J. O. Walker, himself a musician of prominence, made the opening address, which was in part as follows: 

It is unfortunate for this goodly audience that Mr. Lurton, who was to have been the patron saint of this occasion, its good angel, should have been suddenly called away from the city, and the management has asked me to officiate in that capacity. It certainly is gratifying that this first attempt to exploit a school of music should meet with such quick and encouraging recognition. Pensacola has been, and is, making such rapid strides forward in everything that makes for the city's mental, moral and physical betterment, that it is deemed eminently appropriate that the attempt should now be made to establish a school of music, and tonight you will see just what that attempt has produced, after only two or three weeks have passed since its inception. It certainly would seem that this city which, on account of its prominence in this part of the state, might be called the capital of West Florida, has arrived at that stage in its development when the wonder is, not that she should now have a school of music, but that she should never have had one before; and you are to be congratulated that the opportunity, the occasion, and the man have arrived; and the people of Pensacola are to be congratulated that in the person of Prof. Gilfillan Scott we have at once that rare combination of master of music and genius for organization which he, during his two years' residence with us, has shown himself to be. Here, then, you can see what he and his splendid staff of specialists can do, have done, in less than a month of their organization- 

During a rather long life I have been in many cities in this and the old world, and believe me, I have never lived in a place where there was more amateur musical talent; but unfortunately it as if the kind that is segregated, unorganized, undeveloped, embryonic. It is the function of this Pensacola School of Music to take this talent in hand and give to it the touch that it needs, of the master hand, and the master mind. During my fourteen years' residence in this city I have seen many a brave attempt to establish such a musical center, only to go down in defeat; and right here is where I would like to scold you a little, for it has not always been the fault of those who have attempted the project, as Prof. Shaffers, Miss Cawthon, Prof. Seals and others, as it has been your own fault, for projects like this must have support; you cannot sell your wares where there are no buyers. Peter Pieman could never have lived to make more pies if nobody had bought his wares and he had had to give them all to Simple Simon. So I say, now that you have this school, with such a staff, give it your support, encourage it, foster it, and let us show that we are people or an enlightened community.

What of music? "God is its author, and not man; he laid The key-note of all harmonies; he planned all perfect combinations, and he made us so that we could hear and understand.".