Evening star., 1943-01-07
|ckes Accepts Mural
OF Marian Anderson's 5
Easter Concert
Singer to Be Heard at
Constitution Hall onight,
Attends Ceremonies

Marian Anderson's voice and per-
sonality have come to be a symbol of
American unity" Secretary of In
terror Ickes said last night at exer-
cises featured by the presentation to
the Federal Government of the
Marian Anderson mural commence
rating the Easter Sunday concert of
1899, when $4,000 persons heard her
sing In front of the Lincoln Me-
mortal.
Secretary Ickes also paid tribute to
the Daughters of the American
Revolution for offering the platform
to Miss Anderson while saying to her
people that they will be welcomed on
the same basis as others" Tonight
Miss Anderson makes her first con-
cert appearance in Constitution Hall
for the benefit of the China Relief
Fund, with every ticket sold out in
advance.
Referring to the OARS present
stand. as compared with its refusal
four years ago to permit the colored
soprano to sing in Constitution Hall
Secretary 1ckes told an audience of
300 white and colored men and wom-
en- at Interior Department audito-
rum last night that 1T takes more
strength of character to admit a
change of conviction than to adhere
tenaciouSly to it,
Recalls Scene Of Concert.
Nothing that the OAR could do.
Mr.. 1ckes added, would give them
greater credit or be in more seemlv
Keeping with their tradition than to
open this series of concerts with
Marian Anderson as the guest of
HONOR
Mr.. 1ckes reminded his audience
that four years ago it was his
privilege to introduce Miss Ander-
son to the largest audience that has
ever gathered in Washington, and
to remind it that if it had not been
Tor the great mind of Jefferson and
the great heart of Lincoln she would
not have been able to stand before il
free individual in free land
Ihat. more than ever. is the thing
for which We fight and for which we
are bravely sacrificing our loved ones
and our homes"
Before singing three spirituals and
then giving two encores, Miss Ander-
son said she was deeply touched by
tne TACT that I can be in any wav a
SYMBOL OF democracy. That Easter
sunday concert was more than a
concert for me. 1t was a dedication
When stood on the steps of the
Lincoln Memorial with the statue of
PRESIDENT Lincoln at my back and
1o,O00 fellow countrymen before me.
IL seemed that every one present
was a living witness to the ideals
OF freedom for which President Lin
coin died. When 1 sang that dav
was singing to the entire Nation -
Program Broadcast.
The program was broadcast, and
later newsreels were made. Assist
ant Secretary of the Interior Oscar
l.. Chapman presided. Terming the
Lincoln Memorial concert a sin
CeTe expression OF tolerance" he
said all who were present that day
were impressed with the dignity
OF the human spirit"
Eight colored seamen from the
Great Lakes Training Station sang
several songs to open the program.
Charles Houston, Washington men,
Der of the Marian Anderson Mural
Committee, said the $4,000 attend
ance bore witness that when the
average American is convinced that
an injustice has been done, he will
invariably align himself on the side
OF tolerance and fair play"
Mr.. Houston presented the mural,
the design of Mitchell Jameson,
now an ensign in the United States
Navy, and Secretary Ickes accepted
it for installation in the Interior
Department Building. The brief ex-
ercises came to a close with Miss
Anderson and the double quartet
singing the national anthem