The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-07-01


From tho Ferris Industrial School thero
now fioats a flag. The emblem OF free
dom was unfurled to the bseezs Saturday
afternoon with ceremonies Imposing and
which were attended, by the largest nam
bet Of ylsitors thateyer assembled az the
For the guests there had been erected
stand on tho spacious lawn i'd front OF
the building. Flags and bunting were
profuse. The school band made Its Ilret
appearance aud occupied seats on the
stand with the visitors. At 4.30 O'Clock
Alfred Gnwthrop. OF the executive com.
mlttee OF the echool called the meeting To
order and aItor EXPRESSING his rcgret at the
absence OF Judge Wales who was expected
to DO present and praslde over the oere.
monies incident TO the raising oil the flag.
no introduced C. W. Weldin. who opsned
the proceedings with prayer Mr. GSw-
throD then stated tho object of the meet.
Ing and introduced the Rev. Merritt
Huiburd. D. D.. as the orator of The day.
After giving rapid categorical history
OF the flag DR.. Hulburd Illustrated the
meaning by telling the stories of Horace
Greeley, Alexander II, Stephens and Abra.
ham Lincolu all Of whom he presented as
typical American boys. and as the kind OF
choose as the exemplars OF What they
would like to be and would strive for. Ths
flag, lie said, stood for Gods country and
the grandeet nation on the earth Occu
pylHk tuo thtt Coullutut W w uibCufbFtus
continent covering every zone and llied
with the fruits OF all clfmes, tho Am srlcan
nation possessed q land which God had
kept below the rim Of the ocean until the
people, people whose progenitors shouf
be called from all races. sifted out of the
people by the wiunowings OF Gods proyl'
uence and ln whose veins should run q
blood filtered of all taint of monarchial
oppression and tyranny, should come to
possess u. nation that stands ny right
In the forefront OF human progress
because VI Its respect for God aud the
people. l.
The flag stands for mans country, be.
cause every man who treads Its soil and
acknowledges allegiance to 1t is free. and
because under II no honest man can DO
compelled to wear ahackles or be robbed
OF his liberty, and because under 1t no po.
clifton, however high and honorable II may
be. - beyond the Reasonable ambition of
any man or boy who asplres to q noble
life and who has the courage to try and
the grit to work.
The audience to which he spoke was in
thorough sympathy with DR.. HuIburd's
speech and frequently interrupted him
with applause. At Its close Alfred CAV.
throp spokc briefly OF the history OF the
school and directed the com pletlon OF the
ceremonies. The buys OF the school
marched from the north side OF tho lawn
to the flag. pole and with admirable rili'
tary preclsioq formed In hollow eqJare
around It, inclosinR the band.
The weather which during the assem-.
bin. of the visitors had been threatening
suddenly cleared, and as the nag reached
the top of the flag staff anu the boys were
singing Beautiful, Beautiful Flag" the
sun burst through the clouds and Its light
streaming down over the colors, lighted
the whole scene into rare brililance. and
beauty-aq omen OF good for the school
under its new flag.
The band. which has been organised only
about three IN onths ami which played sew
eral selections very beautifully during the
afternoon, played the Star Spangled
Banner" the boys and visitors cheered the
flag and the ceremony was over. Refresh.
ments. lemonade and cake, were served
from tables spread on the lawn. aud Tor
half an hour while the vleitors who wished
to do SO inspected the buildings. the lawn
with its departing carriages. those walt.
Ing for passengers and the various groups
under the trees and about the buildings
held many pictures which would have de.
lighted the heart OF the photographer.