The Story of the Woman's PartyGillmore, Inez Haynes
History
The Story of the Woman's Party
Gillmore, Inez Haynes
National Woman's Party; Paul, Alice, 1885-1977; Women -- Suffrage -- United States
Suddenly the stillness was invaded by a sound—music, very faint and
far-away. It grew louder and louder. It was the sound of singing. It
came nearer and nearer. It was the voices of boys. Presently the
beginning of a long line of boy choristers, who had wound through the
marble hallway, appeared in the doorway. They marched into the hall
chanting:
“Forward, out of error,
Leave behind the night,
Forward through the darkness,
Forward into light.”
Behind came Mary Morgan in white, carrying a golden banner with the
above words inscribed on it. This was a duplicate of the banner that
Inez Milholland bore in the first Suffrage parade in New York. Behind
the golden banner came a great procession of young women wearing
straight surplices; the first division in purple, the next in white, the
last in gold, carrying high standards which bore the tri-color. Before
each division came another young girl in white, carrying a golden
banner—lettered.
One banner said:
GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT HELAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR A FRIEND
Another banner said:
WITHOUT EXTINCTION IS LIBERTY, WITHOUT RETROGRADE IS EQUALITY
The last banner said:
AS HE DIED TO MAKE MEN HOLY LET US DIE TO MAKE MEN FREE
These white-clad girls stood in groups on both sides of the
laurel-covered dais against the shadowy background of the curtains. The
standard-bearers in the purple, the white, the gold, formed a
semi-circle of brilliant color which lined the hall and merged with the
purple, white, and gold frieze above them. They stood during the
service, their tri-colored banners at rest.
There followed music. The choristers sang: _Forward Be Our Watchword_.
The Mendelssohn Quartet sang: _Love Divine_ and _Thou Whose Almighty
Word_. Elizabeth Howry sang first _All Through the Night_ and,
immediately after, Henchel’s ringing triumphant _Morning Song_. It is an
acoustic effect of Statuary Hall that the music seems to come from
above. That effect added immeasurably to the solemnity of this occasion.
Tribute speeches followed, Anne Martin introducing the speakers. Mrs.
William Kent read two resolutions: one prepared under the direction of
Zona Gale, the other by Florence Brewer Boeckel. Maud Younger delivered
a beautiful memorial address.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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