University of Virginia Library

The Memorial Service

Anyone who failed to attend the memorial
service for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Sunday in Cabell Hall, regardless of his
sentiments toward Dr. King and his movement,
missed a truly uplifting and refreshing
experience. Everything about the service
was carried out in the best possible of
taste, and its overall effect on those who
went was very warming indeed.

As you entered the auditorium you were
handed a program on which you soon
noticed, perhaps to your surprise, the names
of the President of the University and of
the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences
among those who were to speak. Then you
noticed a rather attractive arrangement of
the stage in which were included two tall
candelabra on either side of the podium,
which stood behind an array of white
flowers. Behind the podium were the piano
and bleachers for the glee club, who were
seated, in their tuxedos, on either side of
the stage.

The service began with the invocation by
the Rev. Henry B. Mitchell, rector of
Trinity Episcopal Church, which was followed
by "Reflections" by Mr. Shannon,
Mr. Harris, and James F. Gay, former
member of Student Council. (Their statements
were printed in yesterday's Cavalier
Daily). Then the Glee Club performed
Randall Thompson's "The Testament of
Freedom (IV)" in a truly meaningful fashion.
This was followed by a eulogy by Mrs.
Willie Lee Rose of the history department.

The "highlight" of the program was
without doubt the rendition of Thomas A.
Dorsey's "Precious Lord, Take My Hand"
by Mrs. Clarice Harris. Mrs. Harris sang
in a soprano voice which has since been
described as almost operatic, but more importantly,
the deep feeling she displayer not
overly emotional, though-made her solo
truly beautiful. The service then ended with
the benediction by Rabbi Raymond Krinsky.

We must make several observations as
we reflect on the service in retrospect. Its
effect was marred (as is pointed out in two
of the letters to the right) by those who
handed out "literature" in the lobby afterwards.
This action seemed entirely out of
taste in view of the nature of the event.
Of more significance, though, we could not
help but wonder, as we listened to the President
and the Dean, whether-if they were
indeed serving as spokesmen for the University-the
high ideals of which they spoke
were anything more than "words wasted on
the desert air." We are not convinced that
the University, in its hiring practices and its
admission of students and recruiting of
athletes, subscribes to those principles in
terms of which Messrs. Shannon and Harris
spoke. If our skepticism is legitimate, we
hope that they (and all other officials of
the University) will address themselves to
these problems in the frame of mind which
they displayed at the service. We could
not help but notice, also, the relative lack;
of undergraduates at the service, even though
the crowd was large enough to require the
upper balcony. Again, however, for those
who did not attend, the loss was theirs.

At any rate, it was very refreshing and
gratifying to see so many black faces among
the white in Cabell Hall, even those who
chose to sit in the back. The service was
a fitting tribute to Dr. King, and an even
better tribute to the University which held
it. Our congratulations to all those responsible
for it.