The President of the United States stepped to the platform and suggested that they give a rising vote of thanks and three cheers for Supreme Commander Robert Gordon. When the cheering was over, the President said: "The conference is going to close for the evening and meet tomorrow when Supreme Commander Gordon will go over the plans for the future brotherhood of love. If you will have patience for a few moments, General Walter Kennelworth will make the closing address, but in the meantime I want to introduce to you America's greatest woman, one whom we hope that the good women of America will select to be the first woman to rule the United Kingdom of the World; one who made a supreme sacrifice and rendered her country the greatest aid in time of war. I present to you the wife of General Walter Kennelworth, and the aide of Supreme Commander Robert Gordon, the woman who saved the capitol at Washington—General Edna Kennelworth."
When the President had finished and the applause had died down, General Edna Kennelworth arose. "Mr. President, Supreme Commander Gordon, Brothers and Sisters of the United Kingdom of the World: To me belongs no honor and I seek no glory. We owe it all to the genius of our Supreme Commander, Robert Gordon. I thank our worthy President and all the nations of the world who have shown their honor and appreciation to General Walter Kennelworth, my husband, and myself. I am happy to know that the cause of women has triumphed and that our Supreme Commander has set an example for the world and has shown what the love of a good woman can do. I thank you."
The women were all on their feet and gave Edna the greatest applause any woman ever received. It was now growing late in the evening and General Walter Kennelworth stepped to the platform and said: "Brothers and Sisters of the United World, I will not detain you long with this personal address to our Supreme Commander Robert Gordon."
Turning to the Supreme Commander he said: "I will no longer address you as the Supreme Commander Robert Gordon, but as my friend and comrade. This is the happiest moment of my life and I now realize that justice, mercy and truth always will be rewarded. You have been unselfish and since the day that you wrote the famous letter that won Marie and the Garden of Love, you have kept your promise and been unselfish. Your first thought has been of your country in time of need. You have been loyal to your mother, true and faithful to Marie and now I want to read Marie's letter to you written the day she disappeared. I know that you know it by heart because you have read it a thousand times, but I want this conference of men and women from all the nations of the world to know that you are a man among men—that you are one in millions and that you have set an example for the world and that example will make better men. The letter reads:"
"'Dearest Robert:
"'According to your faith be I unto you. Love will always have faith, understand and wait. Time proves all things. You will get everything you want. I will come to you when I mean the most, and your need for love is the greatest.
Marie.'
"Your faith has been supreme. Your love has given you faith and you have tried to understand. More than five long years have passed and no word has been received from Marie. In your speech today, the thought uppermost in your mind was for her happiness and safety. This shows that time does prove all things. It has proven your love for Marie and your faith and confidence in a woman's promise. Marie was a wise prophet. She knew better than we knew when she said: 'You will get everything you want.' Robert Gordon, that prophecy has been fulfilled. You have accomplished your ambition and received everything that the world can give. All of your dreams but one have been realized. You have all the honors, all the gratitude that a world can give, yet I know that your heart is aching and after your duty is well done and the peace of the world is established, you will need Marie and her love more now than ever.
"What Marie Stanton had in her mind the night she wrote that letter and left the train on the way to St. Louis, I do not know, but I do know that she has rendered the greatest service of any woman to this country. Whether she dreamed or realized what she was doing, makes no difference. Had she proceeded on to St. Louis and married you, Robert Gordon, the great inspiration which has made you the greatest inventor of the world and the prince of peace, would have been lacking. The great desire for love and your longing for Marie has stimulated your ambitions, kept hope in your breast and endowed you with the power to subdue the enemies of the world and unite the world in the brotherhood of peace. This has all been brought about by the act of Marie Stanton. She deserves credit and above all, you deserve the greatest reward that can be given any man, and that is the love of a good woman.
"The last line of her letter read, 'I will come to you when I mean the most and your need for love is the greatest.' Robert Gordon, that last promise has sustained you thru all of these years. It has been the anchor that has kept your soul steadfast. You have trusted and never doubted. You have honored and respected the land that gave you birth. Your love and faithfulness to Marie Stanton has guided you to success and victory, because it was an unselfish love. The great God who gave His only begotten son to save the world that He loved has not been unmindful of you and your devotion to His wisdom. You have followed His example of love and mercy. You have kept the faith. You have preserved the life of your nation and the allwise God in His wisdom and mercy, has preserved for you the life of Marie Stanton. Robert Gordon, my friend and comrade, I now take pleasure in presenting to you Marie Stanton."