The women’s suffrage movement in Britain had been fractured in 1903. This was when Emmeline Pankhurst led a breakaway group from the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies, arguing that it had become too content waiting for male approval, rather than actively demanding women’s rights. The militant Women’s Social and Political Union, run by the Pankhursts, had begun disrupting political meetings attended by prominent MPs. The suffragettes’ tactics reawakened public interest in the issue, but the Pankhursts were often seen as overly autocratic.
Robert Wainwright* wrote of a young actress named Muriel Matters (1877-1969) who grew up in South Australia. The art of elocution back then required its exponents to weave a tale onstage, often set to music or poetry. Muriel trained with Lionel Logue, a family friend who later helped the stuttering King George VI.
From an Australian state where women got the vote in 1894, Muriel arrived in London with little money, some letters of introduction and dreams to become a West End star. At 28 Muriel was an intellectual, reinforced by other intellectuals who imbued her with socialist ideals. Two people were important in encouraging Muriel’s radical thinking – a] British journalist WT Stead and b] Peter Prince Kropotkin, exiled Russian revolutionary, who persuaded her to use her oratory skills “for the greater good”.
Muriel’s new direction emerged when she joined the Women's Freedom League/WFL. She led a campaign to protect young female actresses and stagehands from exploitation at the hands of low-paying, predatory agents and production companies. Her enthusiasm, eloquence and magical voice had to be used for the cause. Muriel’s magnetism, the WFL committee agreed, would be wasted if she was just speaking in town halls to the converted.
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Robert Wainwright's 2017 book
In 1910 Muriel returned to Australia and lectured about feminism and socialism. With another Australian, Vida Goldstein, Muriel secured a resolution from the Australian Senate to the British prime minister, celebrating the enfranchisement of Australian women.
She returned to Britain and broadened her involvement from suffrage .. to impoverished families. For the next two years she lived in the grim slums of London’s Lambeth as a journalist, writing for a Christian newspaper. She continued making speeches and became involved in Ireland and Scotland’s industrial turmoil. She criticised sweat shops and advocated women's unions, equal divorce laws, equal pay and support for unmarried mothers.
So why was the remarkable Muriel Matters not hugely famous? Part of her problem in Australia was that white women in Australia already had the vote and had moved on. Plus we have to assume that the Australian press was largely conservative during Matters’ life here. Editors might have been offended by coverage of an unknown Australian woman’s attack on Mother Britain. We all know about the colonial cringe ☹
Even in Britain, Muriel Matters faced a few problems. Firstly she was from the colonies, not a real Brit. Secondly she was not one of the Pankhurst People. Thirdly she was against WW1, much to the horror of many suffragettes. Finally she married a divorced man who possibly left his wife for her. Scandal!
With WW1 in 1914, Muriel Matters became a prominent pacifist. This slim and vivacious woman with a mass of golden hair turned down marriage proposals from divorced Bostonian dentist Dr William Porter, then finally married him in London. Marriage did not divert her attention totally; she still organised a national conference of women in London to discuss peace and disarmament.
Muriel had to spend energy on early childhood education. In 1916 she attended a training course by Italian educationalist Dr Maria Montessori in Barcelona, and soon this new child free disciple opened an early British Montessori school.
At the behest of the prime minister, Ramsay MacDonald, Ms Matters unsuccessfully stood as a Labour candidate for Hastings in 1924. Nonetheless full suffrage for British women was finally granted in 1928. After retirement Muriel moved to Hastings, until her death in 1969, at 92.
*This excellent book is Miss Muriel Matters: The Australian Actress Who Became One of London’s Most Famous Suffragists by Robert Wainwright (ABC Books, 2017). Or see an ABC 2015 docudrama called Muriel Matters!
Robert Wainwright* wrote of a young actress named Muriel Matters (1877-1969) who grew up in South Australia. The art of elocution back then required its exponents to weave a tale onstage, often set to music or poetry. Muriel trained with Lionel Logue, a family friend who later helped the stuttering King George VI.
From an Australian state where women got the vote in 1894, Muriel arrived in London with little money, some letters of introduction and dreams to become a West End star. At 28 Muriel was an intellectual, reinforced by other intellectuals who imbued her with socialist ideals. Two people were important in encouraging Muriel’s radical thinking – a] British journalist WT Stead and b] Peter Prince Kropotkin, exiled Russian revolutionary, who persuaded her to use her oratory skills “for the greater good”.
Muriel’s new direction emerged when she joined the Women's Freedom League/WFL. She led a campaign to protect young female actresses and stagehands from exploitation at the hands of low-paying, predatory agents and production companies. Her enthusiasm, eloquence and magical voice had to be used for the cause. Muriel’s magnetism, the WFL committee agreed, would be wasted if she was just speaking in town halls to the converted.
Miss Muriel Matters: .... One of London’s Most Famous Suffragists
Note the "Votes for Women" airship in the background
Instead she needed to do mobile recruitment, talking in regional areas. In 1908, Muriel travelled on a horse-drawn caravan from town to town, speaking in halls and fields, standing on town memorials to speak to hundreds of listeners. Unfortunately she had to be flanked by police, given the attendant male violence.
Womens’ Sunday was the first monster meeting to be organised by the Women's Social and Political Union. Specially chartered trains transported suffragettes from across Britain to march in processions through central London, rallying in Hyde Park. Platforms were erected for 80 speakers to address the crowds; 300,000-500,000 saw the delegates dressed in the suffragette tricolour and carrying embroidered banners.
How appropriate that another Australian, artist Dora Meeson, was an active member of the British Artists' Suffrage League. Dora designed and painted the banner used in the 1908 parade. It depicted a young woman personifying Australia, imploring a mature woman representing Britain.
Parliament became the focus of suffragist protest and the WFL were looking for a high-profile statement. They created a series of protests outside Parliament, to divert attention from the protesters inside; Muriel would be their non-violent champion and leader.
In Oct 1908 Muriel brought a chain into the House of Commons under her dress. Just as the MPs started debating a finance bill, Muriel locked herself to the iron grille in the ladies' gallery, used to obscure the women’s view of parliamentary debates. After her speech about women's rights and still attached to the grille, Muriel was charged with disorderly conduct and gaoled in Holloway.
In Feb 1909 Muriel Matters was hoisted into a wicker basket beneath an airship. The basket was loaded up with WFL leaflets, to be dropped over King Edward VII as his golden carriage moved down The Mall. But the wind conditions and the primitive balloon-motor ensured she never made it to Westminster. Nevertheless her exploit created headlines in newspapers everywhere.
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Instead she needed to do mobile recruitment, talking in regional areas. In 1908, Muriel travelled on a horse-drawn caravan from town to town, speaking in halls and fields, standing on town memorials to speak to hundreds of listeners. Unfortunately she had to be flanked by police, given the attendant male violence.
Womens’ Sunday was the first monster meeting to be organised by the Women's Social and Political Union. Specially chartered trains transported suffragettes from across Britain to march in processions through central London, rallying in Hyde Park. Platforms were erected for 80 speakers to address the crowds; 300,000-500,000 saw the delegates dressed in the suffragette tricolour and carrying embroidered banners.
How appropriate that another Australian, artist Dora Meeson, was an active member of the British Artists' Suffrage League. Dora designed and painted the banner used in the 1908 parade. It depicted a young woman personifying Australia, imploring a mature woman representing Britain.
Parliament became the focus of suffragist protest and the WFL were looking for a high-profile statement. They created a series of protests outside Parliament, to divert attention from the protesters inside; Muriel would be their non-violent champion and leader.
In Oct 1908 Muriel brought a chain into the House of Commons under her dress. Just as the MPs started debating a finance bill, Muriel locked herself to the iron grille in the ladies' gallery, used to obscure the women’s view of parliamentary debates. After her speech about women's rights and still attached to the grille, Muriel was charged with disorderly conduct and gaoled in Holloway.
In Feb 1909 Muriel Matters was hoisted into a wicker basket beneath an airship. The basket was loaded up with WFL leaflets, to be dropped over King Edward VII as his golden carriage moved down The Mall. But the wind conditions and the primitive balloon-motor ensured she never made it to Westminster. Nevertheless her exploit created headlines in newspapers everywhere.
Muriel travelled on the WFL's horse-drawn caravan
Hundreds of people gathered in each town to listen
In 1910 Muriel returned to Australia and lectured about feminism and socialism. With another Australian, Vida Goldstein, Muriel secured a resolution from the Australian Senate to the British prime minister, celebrating the enfranchisement of Australian women.
She returned to Britain and broadened her involvement from suffrage .. to impoverished families. For the next two years she lived in the grim slums of London’s Lambeth as a journalist, writing for a Christian newspaper. She continued making speeches and became involved in Ireland and Scotland’s industrial turmoil. She criticised sweat shops and advocated women's unions, equal divorce laws, equal pay and support for unmarried mothers.
So why was the remarkable Muriel Matters not hugely famous? Part of her problem in Australia was that white women in Australia already had the vote and had moved on. Plus we have to assume that the Australian press was largely conservative during Matters’ life here. Editors might have been offended by coverage of an unknown Australian woman’s attack on Mother Britain. We all know about the colonial cringe ☹
Even in Britain, Muriel Matters faced a few problems. Firstly she was from the colonies, not a real Brit. Secondly she was not one of the Pankhurst People. Thirdly she was against WW1, much to the horror of many suffragettes. Finally she married a divorced man who possibly left his wife for her. Scandal!
With WW1 in 1914, Muriel Matters became a prominent pacifist. This slim and vivacious woman with a mass of golden hair turned down marriage proposals from divorced Bostonian dentist Dr William Porter, then finally married him in London. Marriage did not divert her attention totally; she still organised a national conference of women in London to discuss peace and disarmament.
Muriel had to spend energy on early childhood education. In 1916 she attended a training course by Italian educationalist Dr Maria Montessori in Barcelona, and soon this new child free disciple opened an early British Montessori school.
At the behest of the prime minister, Ramsay MacDonald, Ms Matters unsuccessfully stood as a Labour candidate for Hastings in 1924. Nonetheless full suffrage for British women was finally granted in 1928. After retirement Muriel moved to Hastings, until her death in 1969, at 92.
*This excellent book is Miss Muriel Matters: The Australian Actress Who Became One of London’s Most Famous Suffragists by Robert Wainwright (ABC Books, 2017). Or see an ABC 2015 docudrama called Muriel Matters!