The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-02-23


Mechanics taking tho lead with flag
raising out at Edeinston's Lauo In tho
morning, exercises at tho Christian
church in tho afternoon and an ontor.
tainment OIL tho South Side In tho even.
ing. An old time feature Of the obser.
Z vance OF tho day was tho show OF flags
and bunting by private individuals rs
well as on tho public buildings. but yes.
terday very little OF this feature was
evident. On tho government building,
Of course, the stars and stripes tloated
atthe top Of tho nag stan. whilc on the
city's portion OF the public building tho
flag was hoisted andt bunting decora.
tions wcro proluso and tasteful. About
the only flags shown by others were
those on tho whariboat flag stall and at
McLaughlin's on Water street. The
postotiice. city and county offices, pub.
lie library and other Institutions OBJ.
served tho day by suspension Of busi-
ness.
Tho principal feature in tho morning
was the flag presentation out ut tho
Edgington Lane school house, in which
the United Council, American Nc!
chanice, took leading par. in prosont.
ing the flag 10 tho school. The council
to tho numbes OF about fifty wont out
on tho 9 o'clock motor. The delega.
tons from the Elm Grove Mechanics,
from the schools ut Beech Glen, Park
View and Elm Grove and other places
arrived at about the same time as tho
Wheeling delegation and the exercises
were at once started. Rev. Mr.. Greer,
OF Elm Grove, opened the proceedings
with prayer, which WAS followed by
the singing OF America" by the entire
assemblage. In his usually neat and
eloquent manner, Professor +. II. Crago,
commander.in.che.fo OF the Department
OF Yves. Virginia, G. \. E., then pre-.
sented tho school with the beautiful
flag. The flag was accepted with graft
tude by the school. Then Mr.. C. E.
Morris, OF the Mechanics, made an clio.
quent address, dwelling on tho impor.
tanoe of celebration OF the day. The
flag was then raised. all present joining
in singing that greatest OF national
songs, "The Star spangled Banner"
At . o'clock in the afternoon the
American Mechanics in body attended
the services at the FRS. Christian
church, on South Market street, at
which Rev. ". II. Hayden. the pastor.
delivered an Grafton suitable to the
occasion.
Mr.. Hayden's address was ,eloquen.ly
delivered and listened to with great at
tention. In the course OF his remarks
he alluded to the need OF reform at the
present day. First comes municipal
reform; the authorities should take
hold OF their duties with earnestness
and should be pledged to wipe out the
liquor traffic and the vile evil OF prosti-
tuition. Referring to the question OF capi-
tai and labor. he said it is not n question
OF financial legislation or ottaritf reform,
but OF political reform. To-day, also,
We have enemies OF religion, liberty
and free school education, and these
institutions, precious to Americans,
must be guarded with vigilance.
Now we touch the key note OF the
formation and success OF this great life.
That the greatest men OF any age were
s,her than Christian. l deny. and again
that any man, no matter how great
without Christianity. was what he could
have been possessing Christianity, l
deny.
IS character like that OF Washington
would not have been possible without
the Christian religion. Gladstone has
said Of him, He is the purest figure in
history Lord Brougham declared,
Washington was the greatest man OF
this or OF any age. The veneration in
which his name is held will BIO n test OF
the progress the human race has made
Phillips. tho Irish orator, exclaimed:
'Scipio was continent, Cesar was merci.
ful, Hannibal was patient; but it was
reserved for Washington to blond in
one glow OF associated beauty the pride
OF every model aud tho perfection OF
every master
Looking ior the secret oil life which
30 universally commended itself to man
kind we have not Jar TO 90. From be-
ginning to end the power OF the gospel
OF Christ is illustrated here. Born OF
dovout Christian parents, and trained
in the principles Of the Christian faith.
The religious act OF his parents. when
but icw weeks old, was confirmed by
himself in his mature years OF candor
and influence"
"Johh Allen Gano, a Baptia. chaplain,
was holding meetings, and papiizing
many OF tho great chicitain's soldiers,
he also submitted and to him was ad.
ministered baptism in the Potomac
river. M outward manifestation OF 70.
generated and conscCiated heart to tho
religion OF Christ. All his career is
marked by sublime trust In divine
Providence and n steaifast adherence to
divine standard. We have rules OF
cpnduct in his own handwriting, adopt.
ed by him in early life. among which
arc such precepts as these: Honor aud
obey your parents. whatever may DO
:!Icir condition. Labor to keep alive
in tho heart that spark OF celestial fire
called Conscionce;' When you speak of
God and His attributes, lot 1t DO So
riously and with reverence Among
hs early studies was Matthew IIale's
.Contempla.Ious.' Lot those who wish
to know the moral foundation OF his
character, said Irving, 'con,uit its
pages. It's admirable inaxims sank
deep in the mind OF George and were
excmpliiied in his conduct through liic'
When lieutenant colonel and command.
o. OF tho Virginia forces, no wrote to
the governor OF tho state complaining OF
the delay in appointing chaplain for
his command: 'Ihe law no wrote.
provides for chaplain to our rcgi-
ment; common dccency demands it.
ilattcr myself you will appoint sober,
ncrious man for tho duty. In tho ab.
scnce OF the chaplain he himself nc.ed