Readings

Consecration of Prince Grenville Singh

Eastman Theater, Rochester, NY

31 May 2008, 11 am

A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah (42:1-9)

 

Here is my servant, whom I uphold,

my chosen, in whom my soul delights;

I have put my spirit upon him;

he will bring forth justice to the nations.

He will not cry or lift up his voice,

or make it heard in the street;

a bruised reed he will not break,

and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;

he will faithfully bring forth justice.

He will not grow faint or be crushed

until he has established justice in the earth;

and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

Thus says God, the LORD,

who created the heavens and stretched them out,

who spread out the earth and what comes from it,

who gives breath to the people upon it

and spirit to those who walk in it:

I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness,

I have taken you by the hand and kept you;

I have given you as a covenant to the people,

a light to the nations,

to open the eyes that are blind,

to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,

from the prison those who sit in darkness.

I am the LORD, that is my name;

my glory I give to no other,

nor my praise to idols.

See, the former things have come to pass,

and new things I now declare;

before they spring forth,

I tell you of them.

A Reading from Susan B. Anthony

Election Day, November 5, 1872

Dear Mrs. Stanton,

Well I have been and gone and done it!!—positively voted the Republican ticket—strait this morning at 7 O’clock—and swore my vote in at that—was registered on Friday . . . then on Sunday others, some 20 or thirty other women, tried to register, but all save two were refused . . . Amy Post was rejected and she will immediately bring action for that . . . and Honorable Henry R. Selden will be our Counsel—he has read up the law and all of our arguments and is satisfied that we have our right and ditto the Old Judge Selden—his elder brother.  So, we are in for a fine agitation in Rochester on the question—I hope the morning’s telegrams will tell of many women all over the country trying to vote—It is splendid that without any concert of action so many should have moved here so impromptu—

The Democratic paper is out against us strong and that scared the Dem’s on the registry board—How I wish you were here to write up the funny things said and done . . . When the Democrat said my vote should not go in the box—one Republican said to the other—What do you say Marsh?  I say put it in!—So do I said Jones—and “we’ll fight it out on this line if it takes all winter” . . . If only now—all the women suffrage women would work to this end of enforcing the existing constitution—supremacy of national law over state law—what strides we might make this winter—But I’m awful tired—for five days I have been on the constant run—but to splendid purpose—So all right—I hope you voted too.

Affectionately,

Susan B. Anthony

A Reading from Fredrick Douglass from My Bondage and My Freedom, pages 296-297

“Some people will have it that there is a natural, an inherent, and an invincible repugnance in the breast of the white race toward dark-colored people; and some very intelligent colored men think that their proscription is owing solely to the color which nature has given them.  They hold that they are rated according to their color, and that it is impossible for white people ever to look upon dark races of men [sic], or men belonging to the African race, with other than feelings of aversion.  My experience, both serious and mirthful, combats this conclusion.  Leaving out of sight, for a moment, grave facts, to this point, I will state one or two, which illustrate a very interesting feature of American character as well as American prejudice.  Riding from Boston to Albany, a few years ago, I found myself in a large car, well filled with passengers.  The seat next to me was about the only vacant one.  At every stopping place we took in new passengers, all of whom, on reaching the seat next to me, cast a disdainful glance upon it, and passed to another car, leaving me in the full enjoyment of a whole form.  For a time, I did not know but that my riding there was prejudicial to the interest of the railroad company.  A circumstance occurred, however, which gave me an elevated position at once.  Among the passengers on this train was Gov. George N. Briggs.  I was not acquainted with him, and had no idea that I was known to him.  Known to him, however, I was, for upon observing me, the governor left his place, and making his way toward me, respectfully asked the privilege of a seat by my side; and upon introducing himself, we entered into a conversation very pleasant and instructive to me.  The despised seat now became honored. 

His Excellency had removed all the prejudice against sitting by the side of a negro [sic]; and upon his leaving it, as he did, on reaching Pittsfield, there were at least one dozen applicants for the place.  The governor had, without changing my skin a single shade, made the place respectable which before was despicable.”

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke (24:44-49a)

Read in English and then in Spanish

Jesus himself stood among his disciples, and said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised.”

Cristo les dijo: Estas son aquellas palabras mías que os hablé cuando todavía estaba convosotros: ‘Es necesario que se cumpla todo lo que está escrito en la Ley de Moisés, en los Profetas y en los Salmos acercade mí.’  Y, entonces, abrió sus inteligencias para que comprendieran las Escrituras, y les dijo:  Así está escrito que el Cristo padeciera y resucitara de entre los muertos al tercer día y se predicara en su nombre la conversión para perdón de los pecados a todas las naciones, empezando desde Jerusalén.  Vosotros sois testigos de estas cosas.  Mirad, yo voy a enviar sobre vosotros la Promesa de mi Padre.