The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-01
AMERICAS FLAG AND
:7i' WHAT IT SYMB0LlZES.
The Reverend James McAllister
Says Stars and Stripes Should
3. Be the Church's Banner.

AuC NEtCICAu OdAhSo
Says Stars and Stripes Should
Z. Be the Church's Banner.
Is rhe Reverend James McAllister. pastor
OF Central Christian Church. took LOT M, ms
morning theme yesterday, oa .p F.a sSau set
mp an ensign for the nations. Inc sefn'o"
Was, In part, as follows: =,
r. Nations have tEelr Tags; emplemS s,ap ~
Kreat principles that have been wrousn.
out in their Governments, and for wn ,nrl
they have fought. Ours Is the star star
spangled banner. the emblem OF fraterMts::
union was FIRST fashioned into an ensign Q.
q free people. 1t had a star for every State
and State for every star. all ses IN a. q
piece of bunting. symnonzing a T Ths.eo time
came however. when sectional ol.ee s ~
was engendered. Because OF slavery M .t.e
South and radical abolition principles m eu ~,
North, our virgin soil was drencned III
blood but to-day We are one with the s!a.s
epangled banner. the emblem OF uhi'eo
and happy people. floating over us. .,,.,..,
SsSOur nag does not belong to any pohuS,a.
party alone. 1t cannot be appropriateo w
the Republicans monopolized by the Dem1,
Gratis. nor withheld from the Populists. IN
these last days II has proven i's n a9 on the
eve Of this first Independence Day OF s.e
new. century this sentiment never meane
moreno North, no South, no Eas an OF s,s '
- .sOur nag should be the banner OF eVess
church. While We do not believe IN tne
union OF church and state, the iaee ,sae
ciples Of liberty by men who believed IN IN
God, that religion and freedom wrouens
side by side IN building the bulwarks OF IN. .ne
TONS makes the church of Christ an
ardent leader In cementing into the closest
union the ties Of patriotism and religion
eacriisce and suffering. From the beginning
our Government was secured at sacrlnce.
American independence was bought az H.. q
price ans hesois IN Tpeadiness to
sacrifice and suffer in the brave attempt
20 wrect from the tyrannical hand OF Great
dspena DEPEND zee The Stirring scenes Of Concord.
Lexington, Bunker Hill and the retreat
from Valley. Forge: when the brave Con- Con
feet in the snow. are incidents Of this
mighty battle for human freedom that
should stir the heart Of every American to-
power the free institutions that have been
secured to him at such great cost.
Eternal vigilance is the price OF good
adnty Of every citizen who holds dear the
public welfare and the purity OF its morals
20 Keep a sleepless watch over the nations
pressing demand for citizenship that is
broader and deeper than mere party spirit
q citizenship that will not degrade itself to
Tue. lSVGl OK d mess OF pOltdSe lIlAI uIay NC
bought or sold to the highest bidder. We
need officials at Washington and in our city
halls whose main purpose will not be the
spells OF ONCE. but an honest administration
: Of public affairs. and. above all, we need a
cofnmon citizenship that is fired with the
moral heroism to protect our American
q most cities the. battle-ground upon which
e being waged the fierce conflict between
the demagogue and the patriot.
The white In our flag Is the emblem OF
purity. In n country like clirR the things
an0ut which we hear the most are not the
things which endure the longest or do the
pastures covered with fiocks. mountain
RANGES. rolling hills. rich valleys. large
bodies Of water upon which ships carry the
which manufacture and trade are carried on,
the acquisition Of new territory, the hoard
Ing OF large sums Of gold in the vaults at
Warrington: and the opening up Of new
real wealth OF the nation.
The brightest Jewel In a nations crown d
ne p ss e. ts People
acter OF men that has no substitute and will
always pass for its face value. It is the
s1ain channel through which passes the
heart fhrobs Of the nations life.
The lessons from history. especially IN
: the downfall Of Greece and Rome, warn us
saxainst the folly Of putting our trust in
money, rather than In men. An honest poor
man Is OF infinitely more value to this ma
fion Than II dishonest millionaire.
The domestic. the social and the political
life Of the Individual must be kept pure. else
tbe- main stream Of our national life win
Income polluted. : -. -
ssisl3lus Il the emblem Of loyalty. 1t implies
1eAdiness for service. At the battle of Traf-
.algar. Lord Nelson fell, mortally wounded.
Els last words. England expects every man
to do his duty" have been enshrined in the
5 heart Of every true Englishman as the SYM
zbol Of loyalty to the Union Jack The high.
est tribute that we can pay to the men OF
the past who carried our flag to glorious VIC
tory Is t0meet with unfalter1ng step the duty
that calls as to action In the present. To
be loyal In time of need is to be brave; to
! be brave in an hour OF dancer Is to be true
and to be true to yourself, your country
: and your God produces the noblest type OF
the loyal citizen.
seThe stars are a symbol Of national unity
Each star in the bright constellation Is q
! fnlQllment OF the sentiment that in union
Z there q strength. and wherever the starry
banner waves It Is known as the emblem
I Of liberty and the hope Of mankind"