National Republican., 1883-07-05
The Oldest Inhabitants Celebrate the National
Anniversary in the 0ld-Time Way.
They Meet and Read the Declaration Of
independence.
Mr.. Brufs Essay on the Origin Of the National Coat
Of Arms
MIR. wincborger Nnrrntes tho History Of
the American Flag.

more interest U0an " ulbTbly lOShi OhS' IH'S |
was by the Oldest Inhabitants. This asso-
citation always holds public Observance OF
Washington's birthday and of the fourth of
July. Tho meeting yesterday was largely |
attended by tho members, twenty-threo be-
ing present. They assembled at IL o'clock in
their room at the Corcoran building with |
President Jenkins Thomas in the chair.
There was quite full attendance of the pub
lie, who had been invited. The roll call was
answered by Nessrs. Thomas Ball, Martin, |
Bagman Peter Bacon, Williams, Clarke, Par
ker, Callan, Ellis, Wineberger, Milburn,
Calvert, Tenney, Pettibone Wheeler, Hend-
ley, Douglass, Bruff, Jones, Mankin, and
Nash. After the roll call the election OF new
members was in order, and Mr. Jacob Neu-
myer was elected member
The committee appointed to prepare resolu-
tions and biographical notices of Andrew
Rothwell Josiah Essex, and Samuel Magee,
was given further time to prepare them.
An election of officers was then held. Mr..
Jenkins Thomas was reelected president,
Mr. Robert Ball treasurer, Mr.. n. Callan re-
cording secretary, Mr.. J. Goldsborough Bruff
corresponding secretary, and MIR. Seraphim
Mast marshal. The thirteen vice. presidents
were not chosen, their election being post
poned TO the next meeting.
A letter from Mr.. Louis F. Tasistro was
read, stating his inability to prepare the essay
he had expected to write.
The declaration of independence was earn
nestly and effectively read by Mr.. Robert
Bali.
Mr. J. G. B. Bruff was then introduced, and
read the following essay upon the origin
Of the
NATIONAL COAT OF ARMS:
Tho declaration of independence established
tho United States of America rs an independ-
ent power among the nations of the earth,
July A, 1776 but it was not until June 13,
1882, that the republic established its great
seal or national coat OF arms So unprece-
dented an omission in an affair of primal
importance to a state caused much embar-
rassment to our political agent at Paris
ON the presentation of an important inter-
national document, and he communicated
at once with our congressional committee on
foreign affairs protesting against the inadyer-
tence of our government in the matter. NO
vember 2S 1776, and on the fourth of July OF
that year, congress appointed as a committee
to obtain device for the great seal of the
republic, alias the national coat of arms, DR..
Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams.
Entirely ignorant of the subject Of heraldry,
and of the art considerations involved, they
heard of French artist in Philadelphia,
to whom they applied, and he sug-
gested that the arms might bethis-the shield
or escutcheon Of arms to contain sixth other
escutcheons each charged severally with the
of a nationality-as the rose for Eng
8 neur de lis fer France, the harp for
II, NC.-lnulCdUlNB Ol Jno pIlBih VI Jul
,puistion. Numerous other singular devices
we're proposed. The national flag was based
upon the seal or arms of the Navy depart
ment The seal of the board of admiralty,
which became the Navy department., adopted
May 4, 1850, was the escutcheon as upon the
breast of the bald eagle in the national
arms save that the stripes commenced with
red and so ended, for the reason that white
supper and lower stripe would not answer Sc
well for banner The origin of said escutch'
heon (or, as improperly called, the American
shicld) is this Thomas Barrett, esq, an en-
inent antiquary of England, in a letterto hi:
son IN America 1918, in which he states that
his friend, Sir George Prestwick, suggested
the idea to Mr.. Adams, our ambassador to the
court of st. james, who sent 1T to our con
gressional committee; and when the fina
action was decided it was incorporated in this
national arms and placed upon the breast OF tn
national bird, and it was Represented as tn
arms of the United States Il. o. the shield
with its blue chief and silver and red alter
nate vertical stripes) upon some OF the early
copper cents Il have several OF them). Noti
fication of bill TO alter the national hal
was given in the senate Dec. %, 1898, by MI
Bradley, and on the eighth Of January, 1874
passed and was approved, and became a lay
on the thirteenth Of the same month.
Mr.. j. A. Wineberger then delivered tn
following brief but interesting
HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN FLAG.
In giving the history of the American flal
we will have to go back and trace its histor
and origin to the union of the crowns of Ent
land and Scotland in 1903, and up to the tin
when Ireland in 1901, was added as memb'
of Great Britain From the former date
the latter the national flag of Great Britai
was red flag, bearing in its left upper corn,
the red cross of St. George united with Il
white cross of St. Andrew. This was emblem
attic of the new union of the Kingdoms
Scotland and England, and known in tho
L.. tha Tntn
flag that was flung to the breeze at HON
nailed to the mast heads of the vessels sailir
abroad, and planted wherever she had her d
minons of British sovereignty, and cons
uuently the colonial flag on this side of Il
water.
rockingham, in his "siege of Boston," it
said refers to this when he wrote: In II
there are frequent notices of union flags
the newspapers, but have not met with al
description of the devices on them"
The Literary World, of October, 1852, has
statement that the colony of New York us
the same kind of flag. In March, l715,
union flag with red field was hoisted at Ne
York upon the liberty pole, bearing tine
scription George Rex, and the liberties
America"
same shape rs the present United States fla
and the portion which displays tho stripes
our flag was red in the English, while th
portion which is blue in ours and bears t
stars was blue ground Win ST. Georg
cross of red resting upon st. Andrews cr'
OF white in the English.
On account of the revolution separating
two countries of England and America,
British flag could no longer be used, as 1t
came the enemy's flag, and therefore
qoestion arose what should be substituted
its stead. rB.E 4 syu
The Connecticut soldiers had flags c
blazoned with their state arms and mo
upon it, and Gen. Putnam on July ls, IL
bore red flag with a Latin phrase upon
eide and an appeal to Heaven on the ott
Several other colonies adopted different
vices.
But from tho best information extant i
said that the first use of new union flag
this country was probably at Cambria
Mass. Washington writing TO Col. Reed
Cambridge Jan 4, 1776, says; ION that d
which gave being to the new army, we hois
the union flag In compliment to the uni
colonies" An English captain writing II
Boston Jan. IL, 1875, says: 81 can see
rebels camp very plain, whose colors Ii
while ago were entirely red, but on
receipt of the kings speech (Which I
burned) they have hoisted the union
which is here supposed to intimate the un
of the provinces"
The annual Register, published in Lon
for the year 1776, contains several item
colonial news-the arrival of the XII
speech, and the burning Of 1t in the cam