Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1895-12-12
We come to YOU bearing another gift the

We come to you bearing announcer gllI, Ihe
Stars and Stripes, your country's flag which
| is to insti into the hearts of these children
of Centre School, patriotism and love OF
country. Respected teacher, instil into the
hearts of these children that with the sacred
words of "Mother, Home and Heaven this
flag is the symbol of all that makes "a home
for u.s." We desire therefore to provide
every public school in our land with Holy
Bible and the American Flag, And the
object lesson therein set forth should be a
beacon light in every storm which threatens
to engulf us. For and in the name of Col.
umbia Council Jr. O. U. A. M, Of Thurmont.
l present you with the Holy Bible and the
American Flag; and as you 60 in and out of
this school under the influence of Gods
Word and beneath the folds of this banner,
you are assured that you are protected by
the greatest nation under the canopy Of hea
ven, and we sincerely hope that by virtu.
GUS education, your own endeayOrs, and the
blessings of God under this starry banner
you will live for the good of your native
land That the christian and moral princi-
cipes here inculcated will be amply
implanted in your hearts and will
bear abundant fruit; guided by the
unerring principles of right and truth incul.
Gated in the teaching of Gods Holy Word
and the symbolism of the American Flag
you should be ste.df,st in the pursuit of
truth, neither bending beneath the frowns Of
adversely nor yielding to the seductions Of
prosperity and initiating that noble army of
martyrs in their virtuous and amable con.
duct in their unfelgned piety to God, in their
inflexible fidelity to His trust that we may
welcome the grim tyrant Death sent as a
kind messenger to translate us from this inn
perfect to that all-perfect, glorious and celes-
tial world above, where the Supreme Archi-
tect of the universe forever presides in in.
finite majesty"
Miss Annie Geisbert, the principal received
the Bible and flag in the following ne at and
timely address:
I'm behalf of the trustees and pupils of Cen
tire School receive this flag of red, white
and blue This is the flag for which our ia
theirs died. This is the flag that has waved
DER the graves of that illnstrious band ofpa-
,riots who fought for liberty, freedom and
justice. This is the flag that we are proud
of, If necessary, would fight for again.
Is there In the land any flag like our red,
"IlllC anu Dluc WAY III H'S tlluI ldo DNSh
given us day proudly wave in glory over
our schooIhousc May we all honor its pres.
ence and SO we shall meyer regret that it has
tloatcd over our own schoolhouse. Every
color means liberty, every thread, every form
of stat and beam or stripe of light means lib
erty not lawlessness, not license, but organ
ized constitutional liberty through law. and
laws for liberty The greatest glory of our
flag lies not in its martial victories, though
they are numerous, but in the fact that its
stripes are broad enough to cover every inch
of our country. The flag is the emblem of
the supreme will of a nations power.
All hail, proud flag No ruthless hand shall
despol thee 1t should be the prayer of all
good and patriotic citizens that peace, happi.
ness and fraternal feelings may prevail thro''
out our Dor ders and that our whole country
may move forward with gigantic strides In
the pathway of prosperity and progress.
The Bible is the oldest surviving monument
oft the sprlngtime of the human intellect. 1t
reveals to us the character and intellect Of
our great Creator and final Judge. 1t opens
before MS the way Of salvation through a
Redeemcr, unveils to our view the invisible
world and shows us the final destiny of our
race. Gods world is fact, very much like
Gods Word varied, very rich. very beautiful.
all its merits The Bible like nature, has
something for every class Of minds LOOK
at the Bible in new light and straight way
you see some new charm. The Bible goes
equally to the cottage Of the poor man and
the palace of the king. 1t Is woven into
literature, and 1t colors the talk of the street.
The bark of the merchant cannot sail to sea
without it, No ship of war goes to the
conflict but the Bible is there.
For and in the name of the Trustees, Pu-
pills and Patrons Of Centre School, | thank
you for the Bible and Flag.
Music by the band followed when the
crowd repaired to the school house when an
interesting program was rendered. Mr.. W.
l. Shaifer of Thurmont made an excellent
and enthusiastic address taking for his theme
Virtue, Liberty and Patriotism, music by the
band, a stirring and able address to the chill
drcn by Prof. John Landers, Principal OF
Thurmont public school closed the formal
exercises There were probably five hun
dred people in attendance and more interest
evinced in the exercises than is usual.