Washington Post
Item Information
- Title:
- Washington Post
- Description:
-
The ashes of Mrs. Anne Sullivan Macy, who brought light to Helen Keller, were given a resting place at Washington Cathedral yesterday. "Properly called one of the greatest teachers of all time," was a tribute given by Bishop James E. Freeman at the services. Mrs. Macy was the first woman to receive the honor of sepulture in the cathedral. Her ashes were placed in the columbarium adjoining the Chapel of St. Jospeh of Arimathea in the cathedral crypt. Miss Keller, accompanied by her secretary, Miss Polly Thompson, sat near the altar and listened as she had been taught to listen by Mrs. Macy. Miss Keller and member of the Macy family came her from New York. Music Opens Services The services were opened by organ music and singing of "Lead Kindly Light" by Ross Farrar, tenor soloist of the cathedral choir. Canon Stokes read the psalms and lesson. Comparing Mrs. Macy with Florence Nightingale, Bishop Freeman said the cathedral was honored in giving a resting place to Mrs. Macy. "But possibly no recorded services rendered by a woman bears comparison with her supreme accomplishment in bringing light to one whose life was enveloped in black darkness," said Bishop Freeman. "The touch of her hand did more than illuminate the pathway of a clouded mind," the bishop continued. "It literally emancipated a soul. When St. Paul, on the way to Damascus, received his high commission, he was told that one of its purposes in ministering to men was to turn them from darkness to light." This was in consonance with the word of Christ himself, where He said: 'I am come into the world that which see not might see'.' Near Divine Service "In bringing light and understanding to the unresponding mind of Helen Keller," Bishop Freeman said, "Mrs. Macy gave to the world one of the rarest women of our generation. The friendship of Mrs. Macy with her great pupil constitutes a record of service of incomparable value. It is utterly reminiscent of the ministry of Him who restored men and women - men and women who had met with grave misfortune - to the normal ways and habits of life. In many respects it is the nearest approximation of divine service of which this generation has knowledge. It was more than patience and persistence and excelling skills that made the work of Mrs. Macy so notable,' he continued. 'It was a deep and understanding love that would not recognize failure or defeat; a love that resisted and overcame every obstacle and triumphed because it was love. The name of the teacher an her distinguished pupil constitute one of the most glowing annals in the history of our age. In a period that is characterized by quest for material things and material values, where there is much of sordidness and selfishness, the work of Mrs. Macy furnishes an example of Christian service and devotion that merits our profoundest admiration and encourages us to believe that the ministry of Christ is not without witnesses in our modern age."
- Name on Item:
-
Washington Post
- Date:
-
1936
- Format:
-
Newspapers
- Genre:
-
Clippings
- Location:
-
Perkins School for the Blind
Samuel P. Hayes Research Library - Collection (local):
-
Condolence Letters and Clippings
- Subjects:
-
Blind
Perkins School for the Blind
- Permalink:
- https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/b8516408m
- Terms of Use:
-
Samuel P. Hayes Research Library, Perkins School for the Blind, Watertown, MA
Contact host institution for more information.
- Notes:
-
Newspaper clipping from the Washington Post on November 3, 1936. Headline: Tribute is Paid Mrs. Anne Macy At Rites Here- Ashes of Teacher of Helen Keller Placed in Chapel Cathedral. Photograph of Helen Keller with her secretary Polly Thomson.
- Accession #:
-
AG88-n-11
