Evening star., 1943-01-07
|ckes Accepts Mural
OF Marian Anderson's 5
Easter Concert
Singer to Be Heard at
Constitution Hall oni9ht,
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 commemo-
rating the Easter Sunday concert of
1889, 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 Andersep makes her first con-
cert' appearahce in Constitution Hall
! for the benefit of the China Relief
ssmo, sdrsncs with very ticket sold ousda
f 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 Ickes told an audience of
900 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.. Ickes 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
10 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 it
free individual in a free land
That. more than ever. is the thing
Tor 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
the fact that l can be in anv wav q
symbol OF democracy. That Easte,
sunday concert was more than q
concert for me. 1t was a dedica tion
When I stood on the steps of the
Lincoln Memorial with the statue Of
president Lincoln at my back and
10000 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 I 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
cere 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 close with Miss
Anderson and the double quartet
singing the national anthem.