The times., 1898-06-13
THE AMERICAN FLAG.
Subject of N Patriotic Sermon by
DIR. bristol.


The American flag was the theme of an
eloquent discourse delivered last evening
by Rev Dr. Frank NJ Bristol before
large congregation at the Metropolitan
Methodist Episcopal Church. 1t was a
brief history of the flag, what 1t stands
fer and its mission among the ma
tons of the earth. Comparing it with the
emblems of other nations, he said that
while ii does not bear the cross of the
crucifAion, as many others, brighter than
all else is its star, the emblem of the
birth of Christ and the birth of that hu-
manitarianism and brotherhood which
Christ came TO teach mankind, ION earth
peace, good will to men
DR.. Bristol took his text from Numbers
IT,. 2: Every man of the children of
Israel shall pitch his own standard with
the ensign of their fathers house." and
said that originally the standard was but
rallying point for tribe or family. The
standard came to represent the interests.
the history, the powers and finally the
very character of that tribe or family.
"As we study these emblems.' DR.. Bris-
tol said. whether they be the tribal
standards of the Jews or the heraldic
banners of individual knights of the age
of chivalry, or such national standards
as the eagles of some union jack OF Eng
land or the Stars and Stripes OF the
United States, we find that they repre-
sent great ideas. moral forces which are
working in the mind and heart of society,
and belonging in some way 10 the eyolu-
ton of the civilization of God.
LAS there was time when every man.
every knight had his own flag and a
| time when every tribe had its own stand
| ard, so there was a time in our Amer
| lean history when every coloHy had It's
| own emblem, and felt an empire in itself.
And one of The problems following in
dependence was the federation or union
! of these individual States into a national
republic one and indivisible. When the
union was effected he question OF ma
| tional standard which had become i'm
| portant during the Revolu ion, had to be
settled and we owe ii to the wisdom OF
| such men as Franklin and others. signers
| of the DeclaratiO Of independence. and
! later to Washington that we have one OF
| the most beautiful national fiage that
kisses the heavens and greets the thank
| ful. hopeful eyes of men. We all know,
however. that Il woman's s taste had some
| thing TO do with perfecting the beauty
| of our emblem. for ii is well Known tha;
! 1t was the suggestion of Mrs Ross. OF
| Philadelphia, that the points Of the star
were increased from three to five.
Our flag is the emblem Of all that is no
bic and best, most Christian and humane
in Anglo-Saxon civilization. Not that W.
| have achieved all for which our fiaG
stands but what we have not wrough
cut we have inherited. From many a bat
| tlefield and martyr stake: from many {
bdiscovery and invention, but above al
from the Bible and Cross have come th'
| influences which have shaped our nation
al character and inspired our nationa
! greatness. Beneath its folds is realized
| the truest and most sincere equality eve
known TO human society-equality befor'
| the law. which is the only equality posi-
| BILE or desirable. That is the only equal
/ ity bad men have opposed. the only equal
| ity good men have sought for and trieS
| to secure, and in no other country ha!
| this equality been so fully and sincerel!
realized.
Our flag is the emblem of a great, pow
| erful and pacific nationalism. 1t stand
| for a peace which is the power of uniol
and love of freedom and for a peace which
| rests on that significant quality of poweri
| 1t represents nationalism as distinguishe'
from sectionalism, which would sacrific
| the great to the small, the Union to tn
| State, the State to the city and the cit,
| to the mob. Our flag is the emblem o
| humanity. Upon its folds no beast o
| reptile or bird of prey has been delin
| Gated. No dragon, lion, eagle or serpen
| can illustrate our humanitarian Ameri
canism.'