A FLAME OF WHITE AND CRIMSON
By Elizabeth Farrell Zumstein '25
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A flame of White and
Crimson weaves mem'ry's
shadow spell,
And a thousand hearts' devotion to the school we love so well.
Thy name means honor, loyalty and beauty.
Ever be
Thy strength, our strength and pride for aye.
Old Monmouth, Hail to thee!
A message from the composer...
What is this "flame of white and
crimson" which "weaves mem'ry's shadow spell"? Perhaps those who have
seen the words of the song printed before they have heard Monmouth
College sing it have tried to picture it--to construct in their mind's
eye white and red flame, with the buildings of Monmouth College
appearing ethereally among the wafted smoke, in somewhat the fashion
that fair young ladies appear in the smoke rings of certain cigar
advertisements. But he who has heard us sing it together--as one--he
knows that this flame is the truth and loyalty of our hearts, blended
together, purified of all else, for these few moments, at least--and
that the shadow spell brings back, too, the devotion of those thousand
hearts that loved Monmouth well.
It is a pity that we cannot all of us,
know the perspective which adds so much of joy to college life; that we
cannot know now what we will realize in half-a-score years, that we are
storing up for those who follow us here, a wealth of tradition and
memory, if we will, which will be more lasting even, than the stone
blocks which bear the numbers of classes that are gone, that we cannot
know the beauty of things that have been, which does not bind us so that
we cannot progress further, but reminds us that we, too, have precious
gifts to leave.
"Thy name means honor, loyalty and beauty"--it is for us to make that
meaning real; and only when we have made it real can it be too--"They
strength, our strength and pride for aye." It is right that we should be
proud of our strength as Monmouth College men and women. Humbly--and
very proudly--we sing, "Old Monmouth, Hail to Thee!"
MONMOUTH
(Anonymous)
This poem, published in the 1899 Ravelings yearbook, provided the
inspiration for the lyrics of the College Song:
A thousand hearts to-day hold high
The treasure of thy love.
How proudly glows the oriflamme*
Of red and white above!
A thousand hearts! and can ye raise
A nobler shrine to her,
Or lift up voices of the Past
With gratitude astir?
For thro' the years, beneath the stress
Of pain--when seasons bring
Exulting hope, we know in tears
Thy heart-throb answering.
Old Monmouth! Old, yet ever young,
The glad, strong days that fill
The cup of Life, in retrospect
Grow dim--we love thee still!
His sanctuary crowns they strength
And beauty. Ever be
Thy strength our strength and pride for aye.
Old Monmouth, hail to thee!
*A banner, symbol or ideal inspiring devotion or courage
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