Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-05-23
BELLA|Rf FLAG RAISING.
Old Glory Flung to the Breezes on the
Bottle Factory
In the Presence of an Immense
ThrOng = Patriotic Orders and
Bands Present = Speeches by
Rev. Father Wehrle and Rev. O.
w. HOlmes-Other Bellaire News
Notes and Personal Mention.

The flag raising at the Bellaire bot
| tie factory Saturday evening, mention
ed before in the Register, was the most
ceremonious affair of its kind ever held
o'clock the employees formed in line
headed by the Jr o. U. A. M. band, and
marched to the office of the factory
The first speech in order was that OF
Father Wehrle, pastor of the st. John Is
Catholic church. In beginning Father
Wehrle said that flag raising was in
tended to remind all good citizens of
the principles underlying the American
government. That the stars, while few
| in the beginning, are gradually increas-
ing in number. That even now they
form galaxy, and as the galaxy of the
milky way of the heavens throws a
soft light on the earth, when the other
luminaries of the skies have set, SO do
the stars of the United States flag cast
a mellow light in the world darkened
by ambition and oppression. He said
that the Catholic people rejoice in the
free institutions of America and while
a flag may not on every day be seen
floating above the houses of instruc-
ton, yet the first lesson Of the day after
the children have offered up their pray
er to their Creator, is the constitution
and laws of which our flag is the emb-
lem. He said that the occasion was
not only an encouragement for those
who have gone to the front to brave the
dangers of the battlefield, but that it
aroused the spirit of all who are yet re-
naming. In speaking directly to his
hearers, Father Wehrle said that while
many of them were certainly willing
and anxious to go forth in defense of
their country, circumstances might not
permit it, But while they labored in
the factory the pennies they earned and
bathed I'M hot drops of sweat will be
gladly contributed to purchase Amer
lean lead to mold that lead into Ameri-
can bullets and to send it red hot into
the rank and file Of the country's enc
mics He related an anecdote of an ex-
perience that he had while travelling in
officers contempt for American educa-
ton and customs. In conclusion he
said that whatever blood flows in our
veins, whether that of Irish, German,
French or the native born American,
whatever might be the various creeds
that they confessed, that they were all
Americans and would stand shoulder
to shoulder until and long after victory
should have perched itself upon our
standard.
Father Wehrle took his seat amid
great applause. The Rev. 0. w.
Holmes, pastor of the First Methodist
church. was the next and last speaker.
He spoke of the outburst of devotion
towards the flag, as it was a symbol Of
government Of unity and Of individu-
atty. He spoke Of the rights of the
people who live under the flag, both So
cial and religious, and the protection
of the American home He said that
in as much as the American flag repre-
sents the wisdom and spirit of the ia
th1rs. and the heroism Of the old broth
ers, the people, have no other alterna-
tive than to stand by the best institu-
ton on earth He said that there had
been no opportunity to enlist here, but
should danger threaten, for all qualified
to come as the words come. In con-
clusion Rev Mr.. Holmes said, Let the
| world know that we as nation mean
to stand by our institutions, until we
have fulfilled our own high destiny
among the nations of the earth
A crowd of about two thousand peo-
pie witnessed the ceremony. After
wards the employees paraded the streets
in a body