The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-04-24

young North Carolinian made the
speech presenting to the two fair rep
resentatives of the Union and Hemen- |
way Schools the flags and Bibles. He
commenced his speech with a little
pleasantly, saying that he was a
Junior because he hated to be a senior; |
that several days ago he had asked a
married man how he liked matrimon-
ial life and the man had replied that
he Liked it so we'll that he a often
wished that he had been born married;
and so, had providence decreed that
he should have been born elsewhere
than in Goldsboro and he could have
selected the place he would have
chosen Wilmington. He then continued
and discussed eloquently the grand
principles of the order-Principle, Vir-
tue and L~iberty-and ended up his able
effort with this declaration that
brought forth ~thunderous applause:
1.-The Junior order of United Ameri-
can Mechanics presents the Bibles
and flags to the school children to help
teach them to love God and the Star
lSpangled Banner"
On behalf of the Hemenway School
the gifts were accepted in a most
lcharming manner by Miss Carrie
duffy, who is a graduate of the High
School. h said:
1T is my pleasant privilege, on be-
half Of the Hemenway School. to ac-
Icept these appropriate gifts, evidences
Iof the interest hat the United Order
lof American Mechanics feel, and the
pride they take in Our public schools.
They are both suggestive. One, the
bible, points the way to God and is the
foundation of our faith and Christian
l~endeavor; the other, the flag, the en-
Iblem of our country, the devotion to
and love of which inspires ~self-sacri-
lficing and heroic deeds.
1.-The Mechanic is a constructor. a
maker, a builder, whose skilled hand
and fruitful brain from the shapeless
mass creates forms of symmetrical
ibeauty. Under his clever touch the
crude stones of the quarry are chisell-
ed into shapes n laid one upon an
lother, unit the grand edifice is reared
THAT withstands the ages and COM
Imands the admiration OF men. Under
his skillful hand and directing brain
the ore of iron mine and the tree of
the forest, after various TRANSFORMED
Itions, eliminates in the mighty battle
ship which rides the ocean like a mon
arch of the deep and whose laundering
guns batter down the strongest forti-
~tfications. The skill of the mechanic!
What a sweeping range of accomplish
Iment; embracing the myraids of
achievements from the rearing Of the
Icentury-beaten pyramids of antiquity
Ito the drilling Of an eye in a cambria
needle.
perhaps we do not fully realize the
part the mechanic has taken in the
progress of the world and in raising
ibis fellow men to a higher plane of
civilization, for it is he who executes
lWhat unframed genius cOnceives n
lmakes possible and practicable what
would otherwise remain mere fancies
lof the brain.
This is the practical mechanic-the
builder with material things, who con-
Iverts the crude into forms of beauty,
lof grandeur and of usefulness.
But there are, in another sense,
lother builders-character builders. The
parents and the teachers, who give the
first lessons at the hearth-StOne and
i'm the school, room, and this, perhaps,
may ave inspired the singularly ap-
lpropriate coupling of the Bible and the
flag for this presentation-one teach
ling the Importance and value of a
lmoral, Christian character, the other
THAT patriotism is illustrated by devo-
ltion to the flag of ones country, should
be inculcated as the greatest Of civic
Virtues.
These are the lessons your thought
lful gifts teach For which Hemenway
lSchool will always have a deep and
heartfelt appreciation, and for which,
gentlemen, [ thank you.
1t is a great pleasure, sir, to have
with US tonight, you, the State Coun-
lcillor of the Junior Order of United
american Mechanics and also such a
l6iStin o11iShn1 con Of tho Ola NnrfN
Estate as DR.. Winston, one who has
been such a friend of the public
schools of the state and has given a
fresh impetus to the cause of educa-
ton. I am sure that when he raises
tomorrow morning this beautiful flag
over the HenmenWay School that it
will, for all time to come, inspire the
teachers and pupils of that school to
Ibe worthy of the American flag that
NOW commands the respect and ad-
lmiration of the whole civilized world,
land we can truthfully say with the
Immortal Drake that When freedom
from her mountain height unfurled her
standard to the air. she tore the azure
Irobe of night and set the stars Of glory
There.
She mingled with its gorgeous dyes
1.-THE milky balbric of the skies, and
stripped it's pure celestial white with
tstreakings Of the morning light.
Then from his mansion in the sun,
sshe called her eagle bearer down, and
igave into his mighty hand the. symbol
Iof her chosen land"
Miss Edith Butler accepted the Bible
land flag for the Union School, and
Though very young in years, acquitted
Herself we'll. She said:
LAS a pupil of the Union School, il
is my pleasure to receive from the
Junior Order of United American Me.
Ichanics these appropriate gifts-the
Holy Bible and American flag.
Il express to you, gentlemen, Of this
order. the hanks of 900 boys and girls
20 teachers mo the entire communitS
w appreciate the significance OF
this occasion and the purposes of your
order in making these presents to us
The Holy Bible teaches us to be
lieve in a Divine Being-God, the Faith.
Ter and Creator of all. There can be NJ
more appropriate lesson with which tt
begin work of the day than readins
from the pages of this blessed book.