The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-07-07

RlDAY, JULY 7, 1899.
Chris Christian civilization purchased at th'
the seal of Gods providence.
May we prove worthy heirs Of suci
heaven-born gifts, and, recognizing tina
righteousness exalteth a. nation. ma,
our collective citizenship develop THE
highest type of patriotism as we trace
with devout gratitude the presence OF
the God of nations in our American
history.
s'Our Flag"
Address by Rev. E. E. IlgenFritz.
1t is proper on this day, which com.
memerates our National Independence,
that some words be spoken concerning
our flag. Every nation has some emb.
lem which is the symbol of them, of all
that is good and great in their country,
the embodiment of all the principles
and institutions, which differentiates Il
from all the surrounding nations.
In ancient Athens it was the image of
their Goddess Menerva that ment Love
of Country. for she led their armies in
war, and under her protection their in
dustries fourished in times of peace.
We can imagine the far famed Spartan
mother standing with her son before
the enshrined image the Goddess Venus,
and praying that the training he had
received for war might render him in
different to hardships or sufferings.
while the glory of his city was threat
ened, and the honor of his Goddess in
danger.
One of the most interesting pages in
any large dictionary or encyclopedias is
that which illustrates the flags of all
nations. suggesting the motives and
principles which actuate the people and
sets forth the insignia of national
grandem and honor.
Seventy million of people in this
country today love, revere and recog-
nize the stars and stripes as the national
ensign. The little child plays with it
as toy, and the strong man forsakes
home and family and if needs be lays
down his life to protect it's honor
Its crimson points to the blood she'd
to unfurl it, its blue speaks the integer-
ty which has kept il; flying, and it's
white declares the spotless standard
Of private life and public virtue which
our republic seeks and demands
Red from the leaves of the Autum woods
On our frost kissed northern hills,
hed to show that patriotic blood
Is beating now in a lunging flood
In the hearts of American men.
White from the field Of stainless drift.
On our wide, white western plains,
White. to show that as pure as snow,
We believe that the Christ-light yet shall
glow,
In the sonls OF American men.
Blue, from the arch of the winter sky.
Ger our fatherland out-spread,
Blue, to show that as wide as heaven,
Shall Justice to all mankind be given,
OF the hands of American men.
Red, white and blue, and the light of stars
Through our holy colors shine;
Love, truth and justice, virtues three,
That shall bloom in the land OF liberty.
In the homes of American men"
1t is well for us to remember that our
flag had many predecessors, AS our
existance as nation had its origin in
the English colonies, so our national en-
sign had as its basis the flag of England.
The English flag was the one in use in
the American colonies from the time Of
the arrival of the 'sMayfower' until
ITS. 1t was red flag with blue
corner, upon which was the cross of
st. George, the patton Saint of England
and afterwards the united crosses of
st. George and st. Andrew, the patton
Saint of Scotland. During the stirring
times just preceding the Revolution,
the style OF American flag. was chaotic
as were the affairs of the country.
Some dozen or more different ones were
in use throughout the colonies.
Passing by the great variety of ban
ners we come to the Bunker Hill flag,
which was blue, with white
square in the left hand upper
quarter. In the square was a rectan-
gular red cross and in the upper white
corner was a green pine tree This was
carried by the brave men at Lexington
and Bunker Hill.
Then came the ''pine-t tree" flag sug-
gested by general ashington in letter
dated Oct. 1775, in which he said:
please fix upon some particular flag
and a signal by which our vessels may
know one another. What do YOU think
of flag with a white ground, a tree in
the middle The motto can Appeal to
Heaven"
This flag was used by the Orusia sent
out by Congress in the fall of l775. 1t
was also adopted by the Council of
Massachusetts in the spring of '76, to be
used in sea service
The ''rattle snake flag was also used
in the latter Colonial and Revolution
ary times. DIR. Franklin in 1774 pub
lished in his Gazette an engraving of a
curved rattle-snake which appear ed di-
vided into several parts, each of which
bore name. The head was called
their England, and the other parts we're
each given the names of one of tie
other colonies. The rattle snake" in
various combinations appeared upon
drum heads, metals and flags often
with the motto Don't tread on me. y
DR. Franklin discovered nearly dozen
characteristics in the rattle-snake which
he considered emblematic of the quail
ties of the American people. OF one he
says ''Tis curious and amazing to OBJ
serve how distinct and independent of
each other the rattles of his animal are,
and yet how firmly they are united so
as to be never separated, except by
breaking them in pieces.
On June IA, 1777, the following reso