Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-01
A GRAND OCCASION
South Norfolk School Presented
With Bible and Flag.
Hu.'c mud oratory Galore cn,h of
Mr.. fred NTH o,nerr hank.sty-
ing "b.crvances Two couples
Joanca tn The Hands OF wea.oca.

Inc largest turnout by the Junior Or
der Of United American Mechanics ever
witnessed III this section was seen nj
the South Norfolk graded schools YES
tefday afternoon, when Thomas Jeffer-
son council, No. 100, of this place
raised handsome American flag over
the school building and presented the
school with the Holy Bible Ten coun,
CHS were largely represented, and the
me ol march on Liberty street extend
eu nearly three blocks. The Councils
We're: Washington Memorial. No. Q
brambleton; Industry, No %, Norfolk:
Norloik, No. "A, Norfolk: Ideal, No. II
NofIoik; Peabody, No. log. Portsmouth,:
NEWPORT News, No. G5. Newport News;
EAST End. No. lis, Newport News; \.
w. Glenn. No. GO, Richmond; Tide
water, NO. So Berkeley; Thomas Jeffer-
son. No. 100, Berkeley
The visiting Councils were met at the
chestnut street ferry by n delegation
from Thomas Jefferson Council and the
Lainnerts Point band of music and cs-
corted to Pythan Castle where the line
Oh march was formed. headed by the
band and followed by several carriages
containing the speakers and several
guests, among whom was Mr.. Floyd ~
Hudgins, State Councillor, of New
port News. The parade was along
Berkley avenue. Main, Liberty and
PoindeSter streets to the school build
ing.
Mr.. Robert w. Ell. Burroughs was
master Of ceremonies. In a brief adj
lying principles of the order and its
purpose on this occasion. He intro
duced Rev. w. y. SlaymalSer who in
Hoked Divine blessings upon the oc-
casion.
Rev. j. G. Burroughs, D. D., was
then introduced, and in brief but APP
propriate remarks presented the school
with n beautiful Bible.
N&af came the presentation of the
Nag by Mr. c. w. Rockefeller.
The response was made by Capt ].
t. West. superintendent of Norfolk
county schools. whose remarks were
brief but interesting.
OLD GLORY UNFULLED.
AS Captain West concluded. the
handsome American flag was drawn
to the top of the staff by little Miss
Mamie Mercer and Master Arthur
Nash, both members OF Miss Rena
Wrights class in the school, while the
Star Spnnglcd Banner was superbly
rendered by the band, the whole school
Joining In singing America" when
the flag reached the ton of the STAFF
At this juncture the heighth of enthu-
siasm was reached.
recitation. THE American Flag"
by little Mss Matte Jones, q member
of the school. followed.
THE GRAFTON.
Then came the s:eech Of the occa-
sion by Hon. Charles n. Bland, of
Portsmouth, after which there was
music by the band. The benedictou
was pronounced by Rev. S. S. Robin
son, of the South Norfolk Baptist
Church.
MIR. Bland said in part:
what means this assemblagc! What
has drawn hther this throng of ladies.
gentlemen ana children? What means
the great interest manifested in The
ceremonies of the hour? Is it merely
to satisfy idle curiosity-to see and be
seen, TO associate more freely with your
friends, 10 renew old acquaintance and
to make new ones? No! I think not.
Your bright, smiling faces and the zeal
with which you have entered into the
spirit OF the occasion leads me to be-
lieve that You are here for Il purpose
more sacred, more loyal. more elevating
to the heart, mind and nature than any
of those enumerated by me.
You are here to prove your love of
country. your devotion to the prnci-
pies underlying a government of the
people, of which you are a part You
stands out prominently to the world
as the insignia of virtue, liberty and
patriotism, and to see it unfurlnd to
the winds over q building which has
been dedicated to the great cause of
education. in which, speaking generally,
the hopes of this great Republic lie.
There virtue and all the attributes of
q perfect man are taught. the mind
trained. noble Impulses lnstilled, which
n
from cold matter OF fact world highest
encomuims and alteration.
but of what value can all of these
things be when unaccompanicd by the
love of that liberty now enjoyed by you
rs American citizens-that liberty that
begets patriotism, such patriotism
which to-day burns on the altar of
every American home; that patriotism
and loyalty which quickens the pulse
and sends the blood coursing through
the veins with a pride no tongue can
express. Liberty and patriotism, then,
arise from the virtue OF American man
hood and conjoined makes this the per-
feet country and perfect people.
And rs one people. one country, one
flag we gather on this day 10 lift to the
breeze over fathers flag the flag of their
country and of yours. 1t floats there
this hour above a building, one of the
many distributed over this broad land.
which means in the most forcible man.
ncr possible the perpetuation of this
republic, n continuance OF freedom of
speech. a free country, free and en-
liGhtened people. And as it was sent
to the upmost portion of the staff. from
which 1t now so proudly floats. fer
vent prayer was breathed that God
would continue to crown it with honor.
protect it from treason and send ii
down to our children with all the
blessings of civilization, liberty and re-
lgion, and may 1t be as beneficent in