The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-02-12

OF the Peace street school Ia conjunction
with representatives Of the Grand Army.
There was goodiy attendance Of parents.
veterans, friends and citizens generally,
the address Of the day being delivered by
Commander Franklin B. Ham Of Arnold
Post, No. 4, G. A. r. He spoke eoquently,
effectively and from truly patriotic
standpoint as follows:
MIR. Principal Teachers, Pupils. Friends
and Comrades: Again we face each other
upon this. another anniversary OF the
Grand Army nag day. Permit me TO say
that I am pleased 10 be with you Your
exercises are 10 my mind a vast improve
rnent over those OF last year and the in
terest manifested by each and all of you
is not only beneficial but inspiring.
II understand the meaning of this
Gay II Is for some one or more of the COM
rades OF the Grand Army OF the Republic
TO say something both interesting and
instructive concerning the flag OF our
country. In your text books and In va
rious ways you have been told more or
less concerning our flag. and IL would
not be strange 81 you had already arrived
at the conclusion that our flag was one
of chance: the colors were selected be-
cause they were beautiful and harmonized
well; that the blue i'm the field was taken
from the English or Scotch fiag, repre-
senting that there was still union; that
the Is stripes were used TO represent the
l3 original colonies or states ana the
FIRST ~ stars represented the 13 original
states, and that a star has been added
for every state admitted into the United
States since: that the hve-pointed star
was there because IL was easier to make
than a six-ponted one.
Having been told these things from time
TO time. you, perhaps. have already made
up your minds that such things are facts,
and you have accepted them as such and
have had no further interest In the mat
ter Therefore YOU have made no further
inquiry or any research and are perfectly
contended 10 let the subject drop and
spend your time in what seems 10 you to
concern you moro. q
Realizing as / do that TO stand here
and say these things that are different
from what not only you but others have
been taught for a period of nearly l2S
wears, l must OF necessity expect that IT
will incite some sharp criticism.
/ only ask from you that before you
either reject or approve what am about
10 publish and declare to be- my honest
conclusion from the result of study. that
you search well for yourselves, whether
my statements are borne up by honest
reasoning and such few facts as my limit
ed time this afternoon will permit me To
Sive you.
IL ! succeed in interesting any or all
of you In the further study of the origin
Of our flag. in any one part, and II be
the caAsse OF melting you TO have deeper
feeling OF respect for the flag OF your
country. then, the object of the assign
-a~.I \. L.aN
met with the fulhlment of its purpose.
and shall be amply repaid and be the
better prepared TO Withstand all the at
tacks OF whatever criticism may arise.
SYMBOLS OF THE STRIPES.
I shall, at the outset. state that this,
our American flag, was not one OF chance,
accident or growth. but on the contrary
was one designed through inspiration,
having definite and distinct meaning in
every color, stripe. form and piece.
Tho flag is q flag OF symbols, and has
n beautiful and uplifting effect upon tho
mind or any one who will examine into
its meaning.
The blue, the color taken from the
heavens, symbolizes space; signifies tha,
the union of great truths and principles
- boundlesS In extent and protection, not
only over territory but also over the in
habtanty TO whom they apply. The cor
nerS CT the square represent nOrtn, cast
south and west, resembling somewhat
that symbolism recorded I'm the great
Book. Of four angels holding the four
corners OF the earth.
The white stripes symbolic six great
principles flowing out as rivers. The red
stripes, symbolizing blood or sacrifice,
show that II any one or all of these
streams become obstructed, it makes no
difference whose blood whose son. or
how many, from what class, station,
position or wealth Is required To keep
these channels clear and unobstructed.
In every case in history l have found
that when the color Of symbol ~
changed thu meaning is changed also.
The most impressive example OF this IS
found in the Book OF Apocalypse or
Revelations whore r. white horse. a red
horse. black horse and a pale horse
were used 20 symbolic different natter,
or events. and when the color changed
the event changed also.
The white horse represented power, the
red horse war or sacrifice, the black horse
famine. the pale horse death Thus
while there are four horses used as sym
bols. al representing different things or
events. changes were made only by the
change IN color
So while there are seven red .and six
white stripes. not 70 white or 13 rcd
Ftr1pes. the red stripes all represent the
same thing. namely. Rivers of blood or
facrifce. tho white stripes represent
rive-s Of princip,ef And while IL is the
general belief that the 70 stripes renre-
sent the I3 ORIGINAL colonies or states.
set - my mind II was not 90 Intended
by the designer.
But from the fact that here WIRE thir.
teen stripes and thirteen original states
~ was en- easy ma tter for one 90 snv that
those stff1es represented the thirteen
states. Nowhere Va symbolism have 7
bern able 90 md that different evrnbols
sre used 10 renrcsent the. ~ me thing a.
thew DO n vOu have the thirteen stars
ard seven rcd and six white striues (thr.e
distinct evnbois) renrcsenting the same
thirteen states. But 7 leave tho matter
for your di'frent search trusting that
time. study and Interest viii IN the IN.
fure enable YOU 20 arrive q the truth no
matter who may differ from You
WHAT THE STARS SIGNIFY.