A Noble Woman: The Life-Story of Edith CavellProtheroe, Ernest
History
A Noble Woman: The Life-Story of Edith Cavell
Protheroe, Ernest
Cavell, Edith, 1865-1915
As the Cathedral clock boomed out the hour the drums rolled in prelude
to Chopin's 'Funeral March,' which struck the first note of emotion in
the massed assembly and brought it to its feet. Slowly the choir, headed
by the symbol of our and Edith Cavell's faith, moved to their places,
preceding the clergy, chief of whom were the Bishop of London and Dr.
Bury, the Bishop of Central Europe.
The service proper commenced with the hymn 'Abide with me,' in which ten
thousand voices joined, and never was it sung with more feeling and
reverence. The last verse in particular must have called to every mind
that inexpressibly sad scene in St. Gilles' Prison. The words brought
solace and strength to Nurse Cavell, and some of her quiet faith, her
touching fortitude, seemed to be communicated to the congregation.
Following the special Psalms and the Lesson from the Burial Service,
band and organ together played the Dead March in _Saul_; and as the
notes pulsed and throbbed, pealed out with mighty rush of sound, or
decreased to little more than the volume of human breath, the terror of
death became secondary to the triumph of the spirit.
With singularly moving effect the choir commenced to sing the Liturgy of
St. Chrysostom, the beautiful prayer that contrasted so strongly with
the crashing harmonies that had scarcely ceased to reverberate far up in
the empty dome.
Prayers from the Burial Service were followed by a special petition
that, 'laying aside our divisions, we may be united in heart and mind to
bear the burdens which the War has laid upon us....' The congregation
sang 'Through the night of doubt and sorrow,' with its happy marching
swing; the Bishop of London pronounced the Benediction; then came the
resonant notes of the National Anthem; and the organ played a
recessional as the choir and clergy retired. A moment later two thousand
nurses fell to their knees, and 'if ever a soul went well charioted to
its Maker it was the soul of Edith Cavell.'
The service was over, and those who had been privileged to participate
in a soul-searching ceremony streamed out into the hum of the mightiest
camp of men the world has ever known. It was like coming from the Holy
of Holies, with an everlasting memory to kindle the love and enthusiasm
of all who worship at the shrine of duty.
And the wonder of it all, it was a great national tribute to one who a
fortnight earlier was unknown outside her own family and immediate
circle of friends. She had 'lived unknown till persecution dragged her
into fame and chased her up to heaven,' as a cry of horror and
execration, mingled with agonized pity for her harrowing fate, flashed
her name from peak to peak and continent to continent.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account