Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1912-03-29

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- - ~ Christ symbol, so widely
displayed on Easter day.
is an emblem which
holds a more prominent
-1 place in American her
aldry than is generally
s&zA known. 1t has been
identified with our his
tory as a nation from
the beginning, and forms
three of the prime elements in the
flags of the United States navy. A
red cross in satire is typical of a
guardian; blue satire crors means
danger; while a blue Latin Cross sig
ntfies the service, devotional OF church
dag. The last mentioned flag came
unto being Immediately after peace
was declared between north end
south; and ever since 1855 1t has
been accorded precedence even over
the national banner. on, certain occa-
sions- 1t is the only pennant which
at special periods can and doeb float
above the Stars and Stripes.
The flag is triangular In shape and
white in color, upon which is blazoned
In blue Latin cross Just before d.
ship of war the Christ emblem is
thrown to the breeze. It's white back
sground Is symbolic of purity; the blue,
or azure. signifies virtue and godli-
ness, and the cross is emblernatic of
the Savior OF mankind.
Chaplain Evans OF the United States
steamship Minnesota writes as fol-
lows: The flag (service) flies proudly
above the national ensign during di.
vine service, and proclaims to all in
sight that the only true patriotism is
that which has God as It's author and
which can be sealed with tho stamp
of approval by the incarnate Gad--His
Son. To the chaplain whose heart is
In his work, Sunday Ia his great cay
There Is always a celebration OF
Holy Communion at 7 a. m By .he
courtesy of the admiral this ia held
sn his after cabin, to which all off,
GERS and enlisted men have ready ac-
cess, Communicates of all Christian
bodies are invited to attend, and there
DIS always good attendance. At
1880 a. m. the bugle sounds church
call the church pennant is flown
from the mast, and the ships bell Is
tolied. Then the official divine serv-
: ice is held. OF necessity the altar
is a portable one, the pews consist
ing of the mess-benches, with chairs
In front for the officers. The service
never lasts longer than fifty minutes,
and consists of prayer. song, and
short, plain talk. Sunday afternoon
there is Bible class. and every eve
ming there is prayer meeting. At
$3.50 on the Sabbath the band gives a
sacred concert for one hour, always
closing with Onward Christian Sol
diers' and 'Adeste FideIes.'"
From the foregoing extract from
Chaplain Evans letter It will be seen
that the standard bearing the Cross of
Christ is granted official recognition
and pre-eminence by the federal gov.
eminent at stated intervals. This
may seem a trifie Inconsistent when
II is remembered that our Declaration
Of Independence and the Constitution
OF the United States do not recognize
any religion. Yet it does not appear
80 strange when the evolution of our
continent and republic is taken into
consideration; and We are confronted
with evidence of how numerous were
the Christ tokens in the various flags
which fioated over land and sea ere
the Stars and Stripes became the su.
preme emblem OF the western world.
Even the alphabet of the navy de-
partment in which a peculiar her
aldic emblem form charge upon a
single flag. the letter M is a white
satire cross in blue field; a golden
/, Latin cross is the letter r." while a
red satire cross is the letter 'sy
This further indicates how the Christ
symbol. the cross, has woven itself
into the hsraldic and patriotic es-
sence of the history OF the nation.
The cross of Jesus was indeed early