The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-08-14
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Subject: Foes Of the Flag.

God We will set up our banners.
He said:
The flag of America is the symbol
Of her conception and of her pro-
gress. Its stars and stripes and
field of blue bear eloquent though
silent testimony TO the method of
her making, the character of her
sons and the influences that have
initiated for all that is best in her
national life. Whether we be de-
scended from the long line of the
forefathers who laid the foundations
of America deep and broad and
strong in the everlasting rock OF the
truth of the living God or are but
lately naturalized citizens Of the
land we love, the flutter OF the ma
tions ensign finds RESPONSIVE pulse
within our hearts. For the flag
typefes the soul of the people. the
hope of the nation, the sacrifice OF
the host who. living and dead, have
poured out upon the altar Of a true
devotion 10 this land of promise n
need of service, for the welfare OF
the country and the glory OF AL
mighty God.
No true patriot IS he who can
gaze upon the beauty OF "Old Glory"
without pride and a warming heart.
For every star has a history and tells
n mighty story; every ruddy stripe
IS dyed in the running fountain of
loyalty and willing sacrifice the
like of which history cannot sur
pass; every bar of white reveals the
purity of the limpid, true ideals that
run, though often hidden, at the core
and centre Of our nations life. Blue
as the arching heavens her star
strewn field is redolent with a hope
as vast as the profundity of zenithal
skies. Bathed in a nations suffer-
ings and dedicated to a nations lib
erty, the flag OF our country has
gained its power and will WELD q
future strength because ii was set
up in the name of God and will be
upheld by the efficiency Of His
mightiness. Ever remembering the
conservation for which IL stands, the
services Of which II speaks. the suf-
fering to which II bears mute tribute,
the hone eternal which its proud folds
counsel, we shall never stray afar or
trail its beauty in the dirt Of indi-
vidual impurity or Of national dis
honor.
But glorious as is the history OF
the flag and magnificent as is the
progress and achievement over
which 1t waves, It must be sedulously
guarded from subtle dangers If we
nre to preserve faultless for the well
-rare OF posterity the heritage which
we have received. No nation has
a greater. a more auspicious. more
logically magnificent future than
America The deeds of yesterday
bespeak larger capacities and oppor-
tunities as yet unused. The sun OF
our national greatness is just aris-
Ing, the glory Of our flag has but
begun. What the limits OF the fu-
ture may be no man may mark. We
are entering the sublime age Of hui
man history. And America stands in
the vanguard Of progression. OF our
coming eminence we may but dream.
No prophecy is to be ignored, for
no prophecy can tell the half Of the
glory God will reveal in and through
America IN the coming days If we
guard our hearts from evil. our
minds. from wilful error, and our
flag from shame.
The dangers TO our national great
ness and 10 the spotless integrity OF
our nag as the embodiment OF our
national life and aspiration are sub
tie dangers. They are not so much
overt as abstract, not so much ma
terial az intellectual and spiritual,
not go much objective as subjective,
not go much outward as internal.
No sane man would underestimate
the Nervousness of the material sin
which threatens our flag to-day, no
one has any delusions as 10 the size
and the determination OF the organ
~ 10 fnvpnc nvf1 ryh n
afflict this land. But, after all, the
forces for evil that are allied and
aggressive and overt, that are de-
termined 20 rule or ruin, TO gain
their ends by foul means or fair,
are not half so dangerous 10 the pub
lie welfare and TO the destiny Of
America, as the more subtle and alb
stract dangers that are resident In
the hearts and minds OF people who
want 70 maintain the glory OF the
flag, the integrity of the nation and
the glory Of Jehovah in our midst.
When all IS said and done there are
more people whose faces are set for
heaven than toward hell The great
host OF the people want the right;
they do love Cod, they long 20 see
the beauty OF His glory in the land
Of tho living. And the danger Is
that these good people, seeing the
eize 90 the enemy and taking the
measure OF his power. may too
often and too long accept evil con.
ditions as necessary simply because
they are ancient or fixed: t1sat they
shall be too careless and Indifferent
concerning the value OF a stern fight
for the right in the face OF in-
trenc-ed iniquity; that they shall be
rloyenly and inexact and dishonest In
their thinking; and needless Of the
elaine OF the spirit OF the living God
in tha individual and national life.
The flag OF America, as the ban
/ ners of the psalmist. is set up In the
name and 10 the glory OF Almighty
God. We may leave II of our coins
or pace II thereupon, IL matters
| littis but in our heart OF hearts I'm
I God We put our trust" Over against
that flag and opposed to the laws OF
! Deity we have in our midst to-day
/ organized and aggressive dangers