The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-02-12
STRIPES AND STARS
AS FLAG SYMBOLS.
Observation-Disclosures at Peace
StSchool by Commander Franklin
B. Ham of Arnold Post, G. A. r.

I Washington had with him rouEn
sation she took a square piece of paper
! In this way and folded II thus. ana mus
and thus Then taking pair OF scls-
diagonal cut across the folded paper,
| thus, produced something ike this. A..
commitU.e was amused as weH as amazed
| at the simple easy and quick m thod or
making the star and said, Let the stars
upon the nag be ave pointed instead or
| six" as they were upon his sketch.
| This story IS generally given as the rea-
son why we have the five-pointed star
Thus YOU learn from this that some
times a small thing In itself produces
| everlasting fame. -,
for the small things you do. Tor no one
knows what they may produce In the
future for good or evil.
While see no reason 10 doubt or dis
credit that such is the true story, am
| compellg d TO say that she was only the
| instrument or person used 10 carry out
the design of the American flag, that was
4 10 be. There was higher and mightier
| power guiding her at this time. The de,
sign Of necessity called for hve-pointed
/ one.
| Anyone who has read the story of our
foretathers, or patriots. must have learn-
/ ed that on the 4th day OF July, lT6, a
4 little less than a year before the adoption
1 OF the American flag. there was most
noble and momentous instrument made
4 or drawn up. published and declared, the
i like OF which had never been known since
| the formation of nations or governments
called the Declaration OF lndependene,e &C.,
/ clause for separation. you Will see that
| II asserts self-evident truths, or what,
/ I'm fact, may properly be termed the foun-
dation upon which the government was
| founded. After these truths you Will hnd
| long list of grievances and accusations
\ against the sovereign power OF Grta
1 Britain. Then the various ways the coll
| onies endeavored to have their wrongs
| righted and abated and a desire 10 live
II H. glx IN th4a al
i Judge; next -four solemn declarations of
/ rights and actions taken; then the prom
lse TO the father, and lastly the pledge
! to each other.
This declaration has much. aye even
more 10 do with this government than
| any other act that was or ever will be
1 done by our government, for all acts of
1 law should be In conformity with IL.
Now ] purpose To show to you that the
| ve-pointed star on our American nag Is
but the symbol used. and was designed
| and intended TO be used TO keep ever be-
| fore the people these fve self-evioent
| truths OF that declaration. Let us read
| them:
First. That all men are created free
| and equal.
Second. That they an endowed by their
ator with certain unaienable rights
Third. That among them are life' lip-
erty and the pursuit OF happiness ,,,,..
governments are instituted among men.
deriving their just powers from the con-
Fifth. That whenever any form of gov
| ernment becomes destructive OF these
ends II Is the right OF the people TO alter
| eminent laying It's Foundation on such
| principles and organizing Its powers IN
| such form as TO them shall setm most
likely to ahect their safety and happi-
FIVE ETERNAL TRUTHS.
These five points OF the star all COM
| ing from the one centre represent that
the five self-evident eternal truths are
1 tf1er fa h a nd
that they are reminder of that which
| the representatives of each OF the colo
MES, or states did when they formed q
the father OF nations 10 ever keep and
| defend the government, Just as binding
upon us, and TO those who come after,
| as upon them.
In the closing paragraph of the DecIa-
ration OF Independence YOU VIII md four
result of all that had previously been
stated. which when put together made
tho solemn compact, the United States
In like way you will find four parts
The blue field, red stripes. white stripes
and the stars, which, when put together' d
Whether or not this is simply a coinci-
dence or part OF the design to repre-.
cent those four declarations, / am not
now prepared TO assert or clare leaving
IL TO your curiosity 10 search further and
form your own opinions thereon,
| This. then. being our flag, with all It's
significance and meaning Crom a sym
bolc standpoinp as handed 10 us who
are a remnant OF the Nations grand army
| flowed like rivers for the preservation
of our government and has. do YOU won
der that we prize and take part in this
| We can never forget the sacrifice or
| comrades laid away. We shall not cease
to require every citizen wne,her Ansri- hi-
and defend that flag as one not only seal
ed with the blood OF patriots OF the kevo-
SsSS Rgs daSs nso 81 the 10 @ OF the
IL is our duty TO ksep ever faithful the
pledge OF our forefathers. given at its
As the rainbow In tho sky ever reminds
us OF the covenant with Abraham. so we
may. when We look upon our nag. be re-
| minded OF the covenant made by the pa
iriots OF the Revolution for your benefit.
"a well as theirs.
FACTS ABOUT THE FLAG.
Then beg YOU hereafter TO look upon
Pleasing in the blending and the har-
Elegant in that # Is beyond comparison
NJ" Most beautiful IN its grand makeup
Amazing in It's combination.
\ Magnetic in It's influence.
Wonderful In It's symbolic significance
Most glorious In its inspiration when It's
scope and plan are understood.
Sacred because OF the source whence II
came.
A priceless treasure. being the remind
! or OF the covenant of the pcople, the stan
| dard given 20 them by the supreme Judge
| peal 10 him for free people governed
| hy their own laws. 10 be forever divorced
| from empires anc monsrchies whether
| limited or absolute.
| with all theso attributes that our Amer
! icau faE possrssCe count it all honor To
yourselves that you ars 30 highly favored
| tined az last to envelop the whole world
| with it, truths and PRINCIPLES, 80 that
| all under Ia shall become, As ~ were. ono
people one nation, governed by one chos-
| On by the people Tor the pfople--that gov
ernmtnt 20 whose duration there shall
| be no end