The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-06-17
SERMON ON THE FLAG.
Delivered by Rev. H. G. McDermott
in Simpson M. E. Church.

At the simpson MclnOulSt fplStopHi !
church last evening, the pastor. Rev.
II. &. McDermott. preached a mastery
sermon on the flag of our country. The
pulpit was adorned with the national
colors. and the church was filled with
people. Special music was rendered by
the choir. under the direction of Prof.
W. W. Jones. Rev. McDermott took
his text from Numbers, liz: Every
man shall pitch by his own standard.
with the ensign of their fathers
house
As an Introduction the speaker de-
scribcd the orderly arrangement of
camp and march on the journey of the
Israclites from Egypt to Canaan: also
the banners they bore. which spoke Of
defiance to enemies and of protection
to the weak and helpless. Under these
flags they marched through the will
drrness to the ultimat" conquest and
possession of the land of promise.
For nearly one and a quarter cen
tlrics our own nation has marched out
oi the wilderness of weakness and con-
tests aud through the fires of civil
war up to the promised land Of pros
1'nrity. glory and strength. under the
Stars aud stripes. We love the flag
for what it is, and what it means. 1t
is the most beautiful of all the national
rmbems. Men Of every race and ma =
tionality find something in ii to praise.
This widespread Nencration is due to
the fact that the Fundamental! princi-
pie represented by tn. flag is human
equality.
God created all men free and equal.
J. has been the Divine purpose through
the centuries to secure the recognition
OF that fact in the governments of ma
tions. 1t was ciShty-cight years after
the adoption OF the flag before the
great idea il represents was mad" a
part of the Constitution.
Continuing he said: Il wan, to pay
Il tribute to the Grand Army of the
E"public 1t is the everlasting glory
"f the volunteer soldiers of the North.
that led by such men as Grant. Meade,
sherman, Sheridan, Hancock and
Thomas and others. they made a fact
that which had been only a purpose in
the divine mind for centuries"
The speaker traced at some length
the origin and development of the
principle "f human equality through
Hebrew and AnGlo-SaXon annals and
I'll" splendid centuries of English his
tory. out of the l,oublols times OF
tn" latter our American nation was
born. Men had Il larger vision Of lib
.rty than could find expression in
Europe and they turned With longing
eyes to America. An eloquent por-
trayal Of the struggles with the slave
"ligarchy and the trumphs Of liberty
through union arms was given.
The nae also stands for expansion
and growth. When adopted it had
thirteen stars. now ii has forty-five.
Then ii waved over three millions of
people. NOW it waves over scventy-siX
millions. Expansion is the normal law
OF a healthy life. 1t is the law govern
ing the life of healthy trees ana plants
ana minds. 1t is also the law govern
ng Il vigorous. progressive national
.ifc.
We expanded when we purchased the
Louisiana territory and carved out
twelve great states from it and added
twelve stars to our national constel-
lation; also when we added three stars
from the Florida and California terri
tory. and so we might go ON. The idea
represented by our flag is capable OF
Indefinite expansion
our nag floats over no room for AN
anarchist to come here and to tear
Gown what our fathers built up
through more ,han a century of Sacri-
flee and tuil-unlesS ii be room for his
grave.
If We are true to God--lf we settle
our great social industrial and pnlitl-
cal problems i'm the light of the Golden
Iule and the principle of human equal
ity--our flag will fly aioft over the laud
of the free until the fires of the last
Judgment.