The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-05-18
THE AMERICAN MECHANICS
Hoist the American Flag Over the
Public Schools.
The "Cockade" City Welcomes the
Juniors" Who Believe in Putting
Only Americans on Guard.
Dr.. Starr's Eloquent Ad.
dress. Large Crowd.
Special Dispatch to The virginisu.

peeH Ru'e uay Win Inc Junior order
United American Mechanics, the occa.
sion being the raising OF flags on eacb
OF tue public school buildings in
Petersburg and on the schoolhouse in
Ettriok, Chesterfield county, under
the auspices of the order. Promptly
at O'Clock this morning the hngs were
raised. aud at 2 O'Clock in the after
noon the event was sgunized by a
magnificent parade. The visiting coun-
ellis which took part in the dcmunstra-
ton were Rescue Council No. !, Rich.
moud Council No. 4, A. w. Gliun No.
Z, Enterprise No. 8. Il. L. Lee No. II,
Patrick Henry No. l3, Good Will
No. 20, Aurora No. rs, Hope No. %,
Jefferson No. 81. Grace No. 10, Henry
Clny No. 81, of Richmond. and Liberty
Council No. Is. Rocky Ridge No. 30,
Davis Council No ~, Manchester No.
20, New South No 8. Liberty Council,
Daughters of Liberty, of Manchester,
aud Pioneer Council No. 81, of Honrico
county. These Visiting councils were
accompanied by the Richmond and
Dauville railroad shops band The
councils from Norfolk and vicinity were
Norfolk Council No. u, Industry No.
10, Iidewatcr No. 30 and Portsmouth
No. 10. Clarumont Council, Of Clare.
mon., also took part in the parade.
The strength of the entire visiting con.
tingent was about 1890. The column
was headed by mounted police and the
famous Stonewsll Brigade Band of
thlrty-iive pieces.
There were in line between 800 and
2,UuO Juniors, each OF whom carried n
two foot American flag. The parade
wns Witnessed by an immense crowd,
which thronged the streets. The par.
ade was followed l'v irteroo,;n- avar.
cses ut the Academy OF Music, winch
was packed TO ovsrliowing. The exer
cises were opened with the doxology.
followed with prayer by Rov j w
Rosebro, ID ID, pastor ol Tabb Street
Presbyterian Church. The address of
Collier, Mayor OF tho city, response by
National Vice Councillor Tyler, OF
Richmond; presentation of flags by z
5 q Ivey; acceptance for Petersburg,
Hon w l. Mckae: for Ettrick, Capt
w II Whenv; singing Gall stnnding),
"My Country, 'Tis of uhee;" prayer,
by Rev II w Battle, b ID. pastor OF
the First Baptist Church; Grafton by
Rev w & Starr, ID ID, pastor of Wash.
in2ton Street NJ L Church. Subject:
"Our Bible and Our Flag"
DIR. Starr spoke in part as follows:
The Word Of God and the FIng OF
Our Country There Is golden
link between them. The people who
constitute the American republic are
the friends of TINT blessed book. pnd
the descendants OF those who wove the
stripes aud framed the stars of the
American flag arc ready to defend
either that banner or that book at any
cost OF blood or treasure.
The reverence for the Word Of God
has been most prominent part in the
continuous history OF American citizen.
ship from the earliest colonial down to
the present day. The grand old Epglish
Biblo, the book of the people, free TO
all. to be read by all. to be used by any
who are willing 10 handle il, this is the
will Of those Americans who shape
the prevailing tone OF thought
III this country. That blessed book
was brought across the sea by those
who came to this continent to escape
from the curse OF political and ecclesi
astical despotsm IN other lands, and it
Is the determination OF millions among
us who have inherited the patriotism
of noble American ancestry, to hand
that Bible down to coming generations
as tho best sword for Christian
soldier to use, and as the only kew
that will unlock the gate OF the king.
dom of God.
In speaking of the flag of our coun.
try DIR. Starr snid: "Iu this country
the asimilatiye power of the native
element IN our population has reached
its maximum,an in many of the States
1t 10 only too apparent, by the modifi.
cations of laws and social customs, and
the iorelgnlziDg OF municipal admins.
tratIon and city ordinances that the
other process has already begun. Our
native born citizens In come sections
have surrendered their time .honored
views OF public integrity to harmoDize
their convictions with class of opln-
ions which would dishonor our gov.
ernment as the representative of civil
and religions liberty. The flag of our
country is the first object lesson
Tor these aliens to study, and
there is need !for theSseducational
work of just such great Amer.
lean brotherhood as the one by
whose invitation We assemble to-day,
DO you know that two great States. one
III the East and one in the West-New
York and Oolorado-have been COM
pelled to enact laws to prevent the dis.
play of foreign flags upon buildings,
30 determined are these un American
masses to bring into prominence thess
foreign Interests, TO which they hslieva