The Newtown bee., 1902-07-11
TOWN TOPICS.
FLAG RAISING.

TOWN TOPICS
FLAG RAISING.
INTERESTING EXERCISES ON FRIDAY
AFTERNOON.
The flag raising on the afternoon of
the Fourth brought together an audi
ence of 300 people, the city friends at
hotels turning out in force. A plat
form had been erected at the liberty
pole on which sat Rev J. III. George,
chairman for the day, Rev Patrick
Fox, Rev o. w. Barker, Rev M. R.
French and Attorney Charles H.
Northrop and Robert II. Beers.
Rev Mr. George opened the ex-
ercises with few words referring to
the good work of Robert H. Beers in
starting the movement for securing
the flag and to the worthy efforts of
Miss S. B. Minor and Walter Finch in
raising the money. The hymn "The
Battle Cry of Freedom" was sung,
after which Rev M. R. French led in
prayer. The Declaration of Independ-
ence was read with good voice and in
an impressive manner by Attorney
Northrop. The hymn, '"The Star
Spangled Banner'' was sung, after
which Rev o. w. Barker was intro
duced who spoke as follows:
What is it all worth? just few
yards of cloth made up in special de-
sign. 1t is not worth much in value
of material, but who can estimate its
value reckoned in what it stands for?
Every nation has it's flag, and moth
ing is more dear to any nation than its
flag. AS there are great ocean depths
which are only stirred by some mighty
commotion, so there are great depths
of feeling in the human heart which
only occasions fraught with large des-
TIMES disturb. The flag speaks to that
which is deepest in the human heart.
All that is beautiful in home, all that
is noble in love Of country, all that is
bright in hopes of men, all that takes
man away from the animal and makes
him like God, is typitied in the flag.
Men must see that which they feel.
Deep emotions will not always lie hid
den. They must find expression in
something which appeals to the eye,
something which gives form to what
else is airy nothingness and name
When you touch a flag, you touch a
soul; when you touch a flag, you touch
heart that beats and pulsates and
thrills; when you touch a flag you
touch the great heart Of nation.
| Nothing, 1 say, is more precious tt
any nation than it's flag; and no flag
the wide earth around, is more honor
ed than our own loved banner of the
free. Whittier than the snowy back
ground of our banner is the purity OF
purpose in which this Nation wa
founded, deeper than the crimson O.
it's bars is the life-blood of our marty
heroes that has wet the soil of many q
battlefield, like the stars that shine ii
the heavens above us are the stars O
promise that dot it's field of blue
Who shall tell of the heroism and self
sacrifice that have been given for ou
flag? Six billions Of treasure wer'
spent to maintain it's honor; owe
800, 600 men surrendered their lives IL
defending it from shame. Oh, thos
dark days! Fertile plains were chang
ed into desert. Whole states wer
ravaged by desolating war. TIL
sword usurped the course of justice
Violence and oppression came forth
like wild beasts of prey from thei
llairs to devour. Men of strength be
came weaklings that tottered with tn
puniness of babes.
Who shall tell the story of our flag
Could 1 dip my pen in the glories
the setting sun I might declare II
Could I speak with the tongue Q
angels, 1 might set it forth. The 90!
pei of peace and good will to men
written on it's folds. Wherever it ha
gone, the earth has laughed out in he
gladness to hail the millennial day
l and if dear friends, the Philippine
are to be one of the great republics {
the earth, coming into glOries tia
they dreamed not Of before, or If til
Stars and Stripes are still to float owe
those shores, vouchsaing liberty an
equal rights to those who but yeSte
day knew only the oppression Of slave
it will be because the Spanish ensig
has been lowered and nObler STAN
ard has been fastened to the mast
those lands beyond the seas. Wher
ever our flag has gone, liberty, la,
- Justice and Christianity have follow'
]. in it's train. For such flag wi
p would not dare to die =? Said a m;
s. wounded in the battle of Frederick
H. H. burg: "Boys, I am shot, don't wait +
~ me; just open the folds of the old fla
let me see it once MORE" and whi
the film of death was on his eye,
caught it in his hand, pressed it to /
lips and, under the booming of cann
te and fire of musketry, the noble spil
of Captain Perry sought fairer, p'
- er sky. During the Civil War ma
soldiers, escaping from the stockpe
and wretched prisons of the Sout
after finding their way through alm'
impossible swamps amid incredil
hardships, when at last they came
sight of the flag they loved, their
naming strength was spent in
pressions of sincere gratitude tt
once again they could gaze upon
folds.
I am glad that we have flung {