And then there were eight. With Dietrich Bonhoeffer securing the eighth and final spot with a victory over Barnabas 68% to 32%, this is the list of the eight saintly souls remaining in Lent Madness: Constance, Vida Dutton Scudder, Albert Schweitzer, Julian of Norwich, Columba, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Sojourner Truth, and Absalom Jones. Quite a stellar list for the Elate Eight!
Veterans of Lent Madness know that this round is also known as the Saintly Kitsch round. After basic biographies, quotes and quirks, what else could there be? There are always some folks who take offense to this approach — we call them Kitsch Kranks and have written about this phenomenon in years past. This is not to belittle or demean our saintly heroes but to have some fun and gaze in wide wonder at the breadth of devotional practice. So kindly relax and enjoy the spirit of the Madness as we push ever onward to our goal. The Supreme Executive Committee addressed this very issue in yesterday's epic edition of Monday Madness.
Today in a matchup of two modern-ish saints, Constance meets Vida Dutton Scudder. To get to this point, Constance defeated Dominic and Helena while Vida got past F.D. Maurice and Clare (click the Bracket tab and scroll down to see previous battles and read the earlier write-ups). And we're reminded, as ever, that some saints lend themselves to kitsch more than others...
Constance
It is 1878 and yellow fever has hit your home in Memphis, Tennessee. The town has tagged your household with a "Yellow Jack" flag to announce to all visitors that the epidemic has descended upon your home and all who enter, enter at their own risk.
A traveling door-to-door salesman is feeling bold as brass and stops by with a box of Sappington's Anti-Fever pills to protect you from what is sure to be death. You wisely tell that joker to get off your front porch or you will breathe yellow fever all over him.
Next, the quack doctors arrive, with Hungarian leeches. Evidently, Hungarian leeches like yellow fever and will suck that evilness right out of your body.
If leeches gross you out (like me), then you can always have the quack doctor bleed you into your tin coffee cup to balance your humors. I am not sure about you, but bleeding of any sort, does not leave me feeling humorous, and there better not be anything in my coffee cup other than good ole joe.
If you are really, really smart, you will tell those quack doctors to get a life too. What you need is not a doctor; it is Constance and her Companions! Constance and her companions will bring care, comfort, warm compresses, broth, love, and prayer to your bedside. If you live, they leave a "Team Constance" shirt for you to wear during your recovery.
If you die, you can be buried with Constance and her Companions in Elmwood Cemetery in the shape of a cross. Inquiring readers wanted to know: What happened to the prostitute that helped Constance? Well this famous madam was known as Annie Cook. She was originally buried in unconsecrated ground due to her profession, but can now be found in Elmwood Cemetery as well. Annie's fans felt that she deserved to be buried on hallowed ground for her helping hands during the epidemic.
Now, imagine googling images of "yellow fever" for two hours. If you are as stressed out as I, you may need to arm yourself with a "Yellow Fever" cocktail before voting:
1 1/2 oz vodka
1/4 oz Galliano® herbal liqueur
1/4 oz lemon juice
2 oz pineapple juice
Now that you have armed yourself with liquid courage, remember as you vote, #ConstanceWouldGo
Vida Dutton Scudder
Vida Dutton Scudder lives on in her work.
There aren’t many images of Vida in the public arena. There aren’t depictions of her in stained glass windows in churches or college halls. There aren’t mugs or t-shirts emblazoned with her visage or heralding her name.
Vida is a quiet saint. Hers is not a household name or an easily recognizable face. Nonetheless, her drive is felt everywhere, even after more than 60 years following her death. Her legacy is ubiquitous and discreet. Her quiet influence and deep commitment shine through in all that she touched.
Rather, Vida is found in her books. In her writings. In her thoughts. In her dreams that she converted into action and activism. Her unabashed dedication is evident in her lifelong work of social conscience and deep spirituality. Her legacy is apparent in her work that lives on – the books, the movements, the organizations.
Vida was an Episcopalian who lived out her Christian beliefs as a social reformer, writer and editor, professor, lecturer, prominent lesbian author, groundbreaker in addressing social and women’s issues, untiring welfare activist, and peace proponent.
Her open-minded heart was non-stop: founder of the College Settlements Association; member of the Society of Christian Socialists; associated with the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross; advocate of the settlement movement and founder of Denison House in Boston, MA; active in organizing the Women’s Trade Union League; founder of the Episcopal Church Socialist League; a 1930s lecturer at the New School for Social Research in New York.
Add to all her social activity is the fact that she wrote more than three dozen books, essays and commentaries; 16 books were penned during her retirement years. The titles of her works speak to her zeal and spirituality: The Witness of Denial; Socialism and Spiritual Progress: A Speculation; Christian Simplicity; Saint Catherine of Siena as Seen in Her Letters; Socialism and Character; The Church and the Hour: Reflections of A Socialist Churchwoman.
So it appears that Vida didn’t have time to pose for photos or portraits or stained glass. Rather, peek into her books and writings and movements, and you see her heart, her face, her image, her likeness as an untiring child of God.
Vida Dutton Scudder lives on in her work.
[poll id="165"]
191 comments on “Constance vs. Vida Dutton Scudder”
I voted for Vida today because the sum total of her life's work impressed me more than Constance's admittedly impressive ministry during the yellow fever epidemic. However, I must say that Anna's post today was the BEST Saintly Kitsch I have ever seen on Lent Madness (not that I would be likely to see it anywhere else). Well done.
Thank you!
I like Vida A LOT - academic, activist, determined lady in a man's world, and all that. However, after living in Memphis for four years, that city's in my blood, so too now are Constance and her Companions! #ConstanceWouldGo
I found Vida inspiring. A truly amazing and prolific woman.
I've always thought the story of Constance and her companions would make an amazing movie. Where do we get a "Team Constance" tshirt?
I have great affection for both of these strong and brave women. Constance (and her companions) gave their lives to save others during the yellow fever epidemic. Vida fought for a just wage and safe working conditions for women and men. This is a tough choice, but my vote goes to Vida.
A tough choice. I voted for Vida, but I did like the leeches. I don't know about leeches, but equally gross maggot have been used in recent years for wound cleansing. More proof that God doesn't waste anything.
Vida addressed the problem of the leeches on the social body, sapping its God-intended vitality. GO VIDA!
Equally gross maggots have been used in recent years for wound cleansing. There must also be a use for leeches, Hungarian or Swedish. More proof that God doesn't waste anything.
I was all set to vote for Constance, but after reading the comments on Vida and how she dedicated her life to healing the endemic sicknesses in her society (which sadly are still epidemic) I had to go with the saintly socialist today.
Two equally remarkable women. I went with Vida because I like to read, and she was a prolific writer. That said, I loved the leeches. How was one to choose a Swedish or a Hungarian leech? Tough decision, like the one today. All honor to both.
Both women, not both nationalities of leeches.
Voting for Vida today, because of a long life of inspiring activism and as a role model for those still all too often excluded by the church.
I'm leading a short youth trip to Memphis next month. You better believe after all I've learned about Constance, we're visiting her resting place!
It's very hard to NOT cast my vote for a good socialist, democratic or otherwise, but I've got to stick with Constance. Facing down yellow fever took guts, and she was the forerunner of those who care for people with polio (which my mother had), and people with AIDS (which was where I played a small role in the 80s). Gimme my t-shirt!
I'm with you, Fiona! Vida for me.
This was extremely difficult. Both women were saints in their own way. While my heart was with Constance and her work during the Yellow Fever outbreak (it reminded me of our own flu pandemic), I couldn't completely turn my back on a fellow writer, author, and editor. My vote went to Vida.
Just a bit of a quibble: in light of the actions of those with means during Yellow Fever epidemics, wouldn't "Constancy Would Stay" be a more fitting tag? Just sayin'.
*Constance* I hate, I despise autocorrect! 🙁
I like Constancy, but hey, those of us with the name are used to all the play on its meanings. I remember a friend saying that "Constance's only constant is her inconstancy". That certainly is not the case with our St. Constance.
Constance demonstrated such bravery and compassion.
Viida may have helped feed an clothe poor women, but Constance had to preserve their lives, for that to happen. Constance it is.
I had a hard time but in the end Constance laid down her life for the ill. I agree with Oliver, she did take care of the sick people. I admire Vida and her writing and organizing but had to go with Constance. Besides the cocktail sounds good.
I love a good Socialist Episcopalian, but I have been enchanted with "Constance Would Go". I hope, like Constance, I would go. She has my vote.
I am a fan of any fan of Catherine of Siena.
Any fan of Catherine of Siena is a madinee idol of mine.
(I originally tried "I am a fan of any fan of Catherine of Siena" but was told I'd already said that -- not so, to the best of my fading recollection. I've vented my frustration by means of a horrible pun.)
In another hard choice, I have to go with the Martyr(s) of Memphis.
This was to date the toughest decision for me, because I have great respect and admiration for both. As I voted for Constance, I took great comfort in the words of the Supreme Executive Committee when they assured us all that the contestants in this year's bracket have already achieved their halos. I will do penance by reading one of Vida's books.
Constance for the kitch!
This was a truly difficult choice. Both of them are true venerable heroes of the Church.
Vida, being an unknown, the lesser of the two deserves the nod.
Although Constance has a strong impact, Vida gets my vote for her quiet ways, lack of stained glass and example to all of us that our quiet, behind the scenes striving toward sainthood is not forgotten.
Constance has a name that befits her; Constance would go - but more importantly, Constance stayed and ministered to the sick. She was heroic.
And I'm always happy to cast a vote for a nun or religious sister.
The Kitsch won me over to Constance when the prostitute Annie Cook was reburied in consecrated ground. Reminds me of the Christians in the Hague who buried Spinoza in their consecrated ground when this great philosopher, rationalist and liberal, was refused burial in the Jewish cemetery there on account of his "atheism." Spinoza's constant acts of charity--he gave away his personal fortune and most of his earnings as a lens grinder--made him a saint in the eyes of the people in the Hague whose lives he touched. Will Durant put it well in his History of Philosophy: "Nietzsche said that the last Christian died on the Gross. He had forgotten Spinoza." As for Vida, I will read her books with the same reverence as I read those of Spinoza!
Ok, I'm going to vote for Constance (way to go on a tough write-up!) but I'm going to read Scudder, and hope that honours both the saints and their hard-working celebrity bloggers.
This was one of the toughest for me because I voted for both of them in the first round. A self-sacrificing ministry to the sick versus social and welfare activism. Yellow fever may be more or less under control, but there will always be a need for social activism and welfare workers. (And of course there will also always be a need for people fighting other diseases.) Underdog vote goes to Scudder this time.