Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1895-11-14
GRACEHAM ITEMS.


GRACEHAM ITEMS.
The Flag Presentati which we had pre-.
yiousy announced came to successful and
final realization on Saturday afternoon last
It was an event for our public school in which
many felt an interest outside of the pupils
and teacher, yet to some it may have had no
significance whatever. We JOIN with the
school with hearty thanks to the Jr. o. U.
A. M. of Thurmont for the honor and pleas
ure conferred by this their gift of the Stars
and Stripes so magnl6cently bestowed, and
hope that their object in bestowing this grand
gift to the public schools Of our district, be
the bearer with US of much fruit IN good
citizenship and love for country of which
the flag is psrt Of the crown, and of its
preservation they, as an organization, take
special interest and pride to teach, and uplift,
and rightly so.
The flag staff is 50 feet in height.
At about the hour announced under the
marshal, Mr.. D. A. Firor of the Thurmont
Council and led by the Graceham band, the
school marched from the school building to
the east end of town where they were met by
the council IN body together with goodly
number of brothers from Crcagerstown Conn
Gil, bearing the flag, and then together
marched west through the town and to the
school building where the flag IA splendid
one) was presented by Mr.. Chas E. Cassell
of THE CLARION, in the following very inter-
esting and appropriate address;
"Respected Trustees, Teacher and Pupils of
Graceharn Public SCHOOL,
come to you to day, representing an or
ganization whose laudable object 1t is to care
for those who are i'll, but, far beyond and a
bQve all, it's proudest privilege is that OF be.
ing recognized as Patriotic Order.
Its tenets are broad and its creed is liberal
it knows neither sectarianism nor partisanism
but stands, first, for the Holy Bible, that TO-
estimable gift from God to man 10 be the rule
and guide of his faith; second, 1t stands for
pure and undefiled Americanism, and third,
for the Public School, that foundation stone
and staunch prop of popular government,
come to you bearing gift from that or
ganizaton-Columba Council, No. %, Jr. y.
U. A. Nit IS your country's Flag, the EN-
blem of free people, who would and who
WILL through the liberalizlng influences OF
education, be freer.
My mission to you is that of one who should
proclaim aloud, a sentiment, feryid and true;
itsthat ofone, who, were he more gifted, would
readily and grandly rise to eloquence of both
thought and word; it is mission of deliver
ance and of bright promise to you, pupils OF
Graceham Public School. who are growing
into an intelligent citizenship in free America
How" say you ''are we to interpret these
ardent words of promise?'-"What is there
OF such vast import, of such deep significance
to us, in the simple little ceremony In which
we are about TO engage?"
Yet, do not halt, or tear to retcrate the
Observation-Disclosures and PROMISE rather
should Igve voice to a feeling ofprofound re.
greet, that not gifted with an eloquent tongue
that might In some slight measure portray
the beautiful aptness-how assuredly meet
and fit it is that our bright Symbol of Lib
erty, that starry banner, should mark the bat
tie ground, where blighting Ignorance is re,
cciying sturdy death.blows from the sword
Of the Spirit of Enlightenment, of Progress,
and of human Emancipation, that spirit that
lives incarnate in the Public School.
How wholly out Of touch with freedom ig-
norance is!
How truly enslaved, how bound and fetter-
ed is that life, shut out and debarred by igno
rance unyieldlng chains, from the sublime in
fluences of all that is pure. and good, bcauti-
full, enrolling and true, in the blessed lteTa'
ture Of religion: in the broadening moral es.
say; in scientific treatise in poesy, and in
history
This starry emblem would be but badge
of our degradation and sign of reproach a
mOng men, were it once confessed, that as a
people, we had ceased to grow in intellectual
stature, or that we no longer aspired to that
broad and liberal citizenship that is founded
upon and nurturcd by an intelligent inquiry
into and conception of those problems that
haye sufficed to build up the vigorous nation
al life that history accords to free America
that respondent system Of government cot
the people by the people for the people,
often tried, but left for America to amaze,
with her strength and perfect autonomy, old
and intellectual Europe, that continent of
empires that system of ours, set up by our
fathers a beacon to light the world to freedom
Surely then, if the people shall govern they
shall be intelligent that they govern with wis
dom. They shall be led to read and think for
themselves They shall study and train, that
they may become leaders of men.
~ 10 w YOU, tuCu, VIC plIlildIJ sClOluIo VI
today the students of tomorrow and the COM
ing uncrowned kings aud princesses Of this
great regal Nation it is to you must be COM
mended the interests of the future and hence
we put it upon you to pass those youthful
days-when first and strongest impressions
are made-days, the memories of which will
come back to you-all- hallowed and rresis
tibe for good-those days in which your
intelligence is being qulcEened into life
that will throb deeper and yet deeper as you
appreciate more and more the truth of the
adage that knowledge is power'-it is this
formative and receptive period in your life
that we ask you to lve,day by day, under the
waving folds Of your country's Flag. We
offer it, to the end that an exalted patriotism
may be interwoyen with the warp and wool
ofyour lives as you advance in knowledge.
We ask it, that in after years oar reward
may come, rs it surely will. in the knowledge
that love for your country's Flag and all that
is symbolized therein, has grown in fervency
and in strength as you have advanced 10 stat.
ure and in intellect.
Teacher and Pupils; for and in the name
Of Columbia Council No. SO, Jr. O. U. A. M,
present you with this Flag"
1t was then receiyed by Miss Edna q. Ba.
ker our teacher in few words of thanks in
behalf of the school, The flag was then
swung up to the breeze and a ren,arch made
to the Moravian church where the following
interesting and appropriate exercises were
conducted, opening with prayer by Rev.
Oerter, song, "America;" recitation, MY
Country" by Miss Kittie Martin; vocal solo.
"Old Glory" by Miss Blanche Hammett Of
Thurmont; recitation, Hail to the Flag" by
Master Claude Dean. recitation WOur Flapn