The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-23
STORY or THE FLAG.
Rev. Dr. Sims's Address Before the
sons uf the Revolution.

sons Of the Revolution.
A large audience gathered at Plymouth
Church last night to enjoy the patriotic ex
ercises given under the auspices of the Sons
of the Revolution The church was prettily
decorated for the occasion. ]. c. Tarking
ton. president of the Indiana department
of the Sons of the Revolution, presided.
There was prayer by Rev. c. n. Sims, and
the choir from st. Pauls Church sang The
Star~spangled Banner" and the Red,
White and Blue" At the close of the serv-
ice the choir sang america" The address
of the evening was by Rev. {. N. Sims, who
said in part:
The flag is not only a symbol of nation
dlity. but Ii gathers into itself and becomes
the embodiment of the history and growth
of the Nation. The first flag which fioated
over the British colonies was the union
jack of Great Britain. For one hundred
and fifty years. between the first New Eng
land settlements and the war for the revo-
luton, we made the British banner our
own; and a glorious banner it was and is.
bearing on it's field the union of the ensignS
of England and Scotland, and in later times
THE cross of st. George symbolzes
chiValrous heroism for the relief of the
helpless. When st. George, the crusader,
was on his way to Jerusalem TO fight for
the possession of the holy sepulchre he
found the city of Beyroot besieged by q
dragon that had eaten up the fiocks of the
field and was demanding each day two chill
dren from among the Inhabitants OF the
city for his food His breath was pesti-
lence and his presence deSolation. When
the Kings daughter became one of the in
tended victims, St. George fought with 1t
and destroyed the dragon, and his cross
became the British emblem thereafter.
THE pine ree,.the stars and stripes, the
rattlesnake flag, the crescent were the sew
eral banners that appeared in dtrerent
parts of the country during the revolution,
until the final design of the flag was f1xed
in 1777. There is an old story that the COM
mittee appointed TO select banner con-
sidered many emblems. The pine tree was
suggested but objection was made that.
while it might be green all the year. storms
might overturn it and time destroy 1t. The
crescent was suggested, but objections
made to it that it waxed and waned, while
s. fitting symbol of the new nation should
suggest only unfading and increasing glory.
The suggestion of a pyramid of granite was
objected to, that while 1t might endure, 1t
extended no hospitality of shade or shelter,
and at the last the committee chose Tor It's
emblems the blue of the night sky, llluml-
white suggested by the Milky Way and its
red by the dawning rays of the rising sun,
So all these symbols were from the heavens.
and it was hoped that the nation over
Which it foated might endure while time
should last. 1t was in harmony with this
legend that Drake wrote:
e when Freedom from her mountain height
=, unfurled her standard to t the air.
She tore the azure robes of Night
And set the stars of glory there.
Sne mingled Win us gorgeous uytS
The milky, baldric of the skies,
And striped its pure celestial white
With streakngs of the morning light.
!" Flag of the free hearts hope and home,
BY angel hands TO valor given;
Thy stars have lit the welkin dome,
And all thy hues were born In Heaven
''As history is made and the Nations life
Develops the flag becomes more glorious,
for it embodies all that history and all that
development Looking up to it we may see
n ia g.
ligious liberty; the symbol or a government
by the people. All the dignity of man
hoods rights cluster about it, all the no
bility of government Eliminates Its
stripes and flashes from its stars.
1T fioated at the masthead of the Kear
sarge when the Alabama went down under
her guns. 1t was just above Commodore
Farragut when he was tied to the mast
that. he might direct the engagement in
Mobile bay In four great wars it has SYM
bolized victory and progress. Wherever 1t
floats the American is at home and secure
beneath it. Our Nation should make the
18th of June, the anniversary of its adop-
ton, a national holiday. 1t should float
over every schoolhouse and public building
in the land.
"A writer in one of our recent magazines
has suggested that the young men who
previous year should lead the Fourth of
July procession in their neighborhood;
should occupy prominent positions during
the patriotic address, and should in turn
salute the flag under which they have at
tanned citizenship and enjoy protection.
The flag will mean more as we are true to
the principles which 1T represents and are
more familiar with the history which has
made it great Let us love the flag, and
freedom and Justice Let us be intelligent
ner shall become an inspiration and
glory"