The herald., 1896-01-04
AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCH
Presented by Its Friends With a Ma.
ti0nal Flag
Stereopticon Entertainment and Patriotic
Speeches at the Presentation-Exercises
Yesterday Evening-The Program

There was a large attendance at the en-
tertainment given in the American Bap-
tist church yesterday evening. The occas-
ion was the presentation of national flag
by the friends of the church. The build
ing was handsomely decorated, with the
national colors draped on the walls and
caught up in graceful folds at equal inter-
walls where the stars and stripes floated pa
triotically.
The evenings program was opened with
a series of stereopticon views thrown upon
a large screen stretched at one side of the
pulpit platform. Most of the scenes rep.
resented were from foreign cities, the prin-
cipal ones being selected from the historic
places in London and Paris. The pictures
were all wildly beautiful and that feature
OF the entertainment was greatly enjoyed
by everyone present.
The Rev. W. w. Tinker, to whose un-
ceasing efforts is due The erection of the
handsome edi1ce at the corner of Summer
of ceremonies. At the conclusion of the
stereopticon entertainment the reverend
gentleman delivered an eloquent address
on the subject, Why Call Il American? He
spoke of The early history of he organiza-
tion, mentioning with pride that it's men,
bers had always been patriotic in their de-
vofion and devotional in their patrio ism.
ITO those who inquire why we denominare Q
ourselves American Baptisis," said he, ~
have always this answer. that we have a
right to that proud distinction. The idea
of calling This the American Baptist church
had lis origin in the fact that this is the
first building erected for religious worship
which ever had flagstaff on it's steeple.
For that reason it has been thought highly
proper that we call this the American Bap-
tis church,"
Mr.. Tinker concluded his address with
a strong appeal to the patriotism of his
followers, showing how, by serving their
country in the best sense, they were at the
same time serving God.
Capt. T. j. Cressey. an honored veteran
of the Union army, assisted by Capt: Gil
bert E. OvertOn, a retired officer OF the
United States army, then formally pre-
sented the church with a handsome United
States flag. The beautiful banner is nine
feet broad and eighteen feet in length. On
the field of blue are forty.five stars, the
forty-t1fth being added in anticipation of
the admission of Utah.
While the flag was spread out before the
the audience and held by the two old
soldiers, Captain Cressey delivered the
presentation speech. which was full OF the
of the Christian. Mr.. Tinker responded in
feeling manner.
Miss Edna Tinker then sang the Star
SpanRled Banner, while a series of art
pictures, entitled An Ode to the American
Flag, were displayed by the stereopticon.
Miss Tinker's rendition of the national
song, was splendid, and was received with
rounds of applause. While singing she
held in her hand beautiful silk flag,
which was presented to the young lady
with a graceful speech by Captain Cressey.
The audience was dismissed with the
benediction by the Rev. ]. Herman Gar
nett. associate pastor of the First Baptist
church.
One who took an active part in the pres.
entation of the flag, was Jonathan Going,
who is the eldest grandson of DIR. Jonathan
Going, who was mainly instrumental in or
ganizing the first American Baptist church
IN New York city sixty-four years ago.