MLK Chapel: Facilities and Treasures

Wendell Phillips Whalum Sr. Memorial Pipe Organ

Our organ exists due to the tireless effort of Dr. Wendell P. Whalum Sr. He insisted his alma mater acquire this instrument. Dr. Whalum’s “chief concern is to honor the college by making available an instrument that is capable of playing organ literature from all musical periods.” The resulting instrument is striking, both visually and aurally. The façade, which measures 38 feet in width, features an exposed 32-foot principal and copper 8-foot Trompette en Chamade, the lower notes of which are hooded. The organ’s tonal design can be described as “American Classic,” with French flavor and nomenclature. At the time of the instrument’s completion, it was one of the largest organs in the South and the second largest in Atlanta.

Howard Washington Thurman Memorial

Like the Ben Ben Stone, Morehouse’s Howard Washington Thurman Memorial is constructed in the shape of an obelisk. The Howard Washington Thurman Memorial obelisk on the Morehouse College campus is a celebration of the process of enlightenment, achieved through the deliberate acquisition of knowledge, understanding, and the slow revelation of cosmic wisdom.

The monument rises near the footprint of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel and marks the resting place of Thurman, a 1923 Morehouse graduate and nationally-respected theologian. Thurman was considered a forerunner in the religious movement which celebrates the unity of all people and embraces a religious spirituality that is intercultural, interracial, interdenominational, and international.

Historically (1580-1200 B.C.), the obelisk was a sun and light symbol, embodying the transcendence immanent in God’s light. The soaring lines of the obelisk were meant to evoke this transcendence, and its capstone, often coated in gold-silver alloy, reflected light that could be seen 50 miles away. The ancient priests believed that light, consciousness, and understanding were synonymous.

The obelisk remains a symbol of man’s creativity and wisdom. At Morehouse, the monument serves as a beacon for scholarly pursuits, visionary leadership, compassionate service, and a worldview that inspires positive change.