Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-11-14
Weekly Sermon
THE SYMBOL AND THE REALITY.

UTE SyM6Oe AND HE heAllIY Y.
A few weeks ago In a New England
mill city l witnessed a spectacle calcu-
lated to stir the heart OF any genuine
American. Thirty-three thousand men,
women and children, each carrying an
American nag. marched through miles OF
streets that were lined with a%pplauding
spectators. AZ the solid p%halanxes OF bus
mess and professional men, mill workers.
church societies, fraternal orders and
school children passed along not a single
emblem or device was displayed, save one
-Old Glory. 1t was absolutely impossi-
BILE to distinguish the identity of any of
the marching companies by any outward
sign. Greed. craft and color; political
party and social connection were abso-
lutely ignored in spontaneous tribute to
the flag. / question whether our country
has seen a demonstration quite like 1t.
The march concluded at the common.
where, IN a large open space a temporary
flagstaff had been erected. About this the
citizens gathered till five or six acres, at
least, were packed with an earnest, but
orderly throng. When. to the music OF
combined bands. the waving OF a veritable
sea OF flags and cheers from tens of thou
sands of threats an immense banner was
hauled aloft the scene was one that 1
shall long remember.
What was it, 1 asked myself. that stirred
the emotion Of these marching, cheering
thousands? The flag is but a strip Of COL
ored bunting. You can buy one for q few
cents. AS a textile fabric it is of no more
value than other material sold in the
shops. There is not sufficient beauty in
the mere arrangement Of red, white and
blue to stir the heart to more rapid beat
Ing. What 10 the magic in this piece of
cloth?
A flag is q symbol and a symbol is i'm
pressive by reason Of that for which it
stands. The nag is loved and honoreo be-
cause 1t represents the ideals Of a people.
A century and q half of struggle. sacrifice
and suffering have gone into that ban
ner. The sorrows Of Bunker Hill and
Valley Forge and Gettysburg are all
there. On q hundred fields, on all the
seven seas. In camp and court 1t has won
Its way. Because 1t summed up the
achievement and hope of the nation the
people carried 1t and raised 1t on high
with tumultuous acclaim.
Another nag had been born recently
through he streets of hat city. The ma
terial in 1t may have been as good as
That In Old Glory. 1t caught the breeze
and waved as proudly. But there was no
acclaim from the mass of citizens for that
nag. Its color was red and it was en-
blazoned with mottos subversive of all
that most Americans hold dear. 1t meant
anarchy and contempt for law and denial
OF God. BY way of protest against the
flag of red the flag with the white and
blue in it was carried.
We do we'll in our land today to honor
the national emblem. / would nave every
citizen taught to stand uncovered while
the flag passes by. l would have each
pupil in our public schools daily salute
the colors. pledging allegiance to the
principles 1t represent. The nag is not q
meaningless fetch to be kept in the draw
nN axyA M Tho 0,,A< ~F Y,1,, h.,k -
living memorial of our fathers bravery
and a present day challenge to patriotism.
To see that its honor be u%ntarnished and
It's high promises to all the world be full
Allied is the high duty of every good
American. - The Parson.