The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-06-15

anu the SeHtle uOVe III Tue pldClu
time of peace; it is the forerunner
of enlightenment, the perpetuator of
our national precepts, the guardian
of the sanctity and privacy of our
American homes. 1t should stir our
hearts with the same fire and zeal
of patriotism as filled the hearts of
our fathers as they, ragged, foOtsore
land hungry, followed its folds dur
ing the revolution, defying tyranny
and oppression until they at last
planted it over our capitol to wave
triumphantly over a free and indie
pendent nation. And to those who
have entered the realm of Elkdom
the sight of this flag should cause
us to renew our solemn obligations;
it should cause us to be more zeal
Gus in the performance of our duty
and thrill us with pride to know that
we have been deemed worthy to be-
come brother in this great Amer
lean institution which stands for
the highest and noblest principles
symbolized by our American flag.
1t behooves us to look for mo-
ment at the birth Of our nation and
flag. The Puritan, an outcast of
England, landed on the rocky shores
of a New England, with Bible in
his hand and prayer upon his
lips and with determination as
strong and unyielding as the rocky
coast to which he ha moved, to
found a nation where every man was
free and where each citizen could
worship his God according to the
dictates of his conscience. While the
Cavalier, with price upon his
head, landed on the sunny shores OF
Virginia with a sword in his hand
and a song upon his lips, but with
a purpose and determination no less
strong than his sterner brother. And
from a union of these two the Amer
lean nation grew From this union
came our flag, symbolizing that
which was best in both and elimin
ating the undesirable. From the
sons of this union we choose our
brothers. This flag first floated over
the army of the original thirteen
colonies. Tt was christened on the
battlefields of the revolution by the
blood of the fairest flowers of man
hood that have ever grown in the
worlds garden of humanity.
1t is but right that we should
thus cherish this flag that is so dear
to us; this flag that was made, fon-
died and caressed by the tender
hands of our mothers, and washed
with their tears; this flag that
dropped over the graves Of our faith
ers, who gave their lives that we
might enjoy the freedom for which
they could only hope; this flag that
before whom the lion of England
cringed; this flag that subdued the
tiger of Mexico; this flag that made
the heart of Cuba glad by driving
the proud hosts of Spain back to
their castles across the Atlantic;
this flag that now stands ready to
again stretch its folds over Mexico
and restore order from chaos and
snatch the scepter from the hand of
tyranny.
Elkdpra has linked her destiny
with that of our nation, and SO long
as right is right, so long as there re-
mains one true American heart to
rally to the support of the flag, so
| long as America flies her flag of
brilliant red, pure white and true
blue, so long shall the order of Elk
dom last, making life's path more
pleasant for our fellow men, and so
long shall the stars and stripes float
proudly over the temple of Elkdom,
whose cornerstone is charity, whose
portals are carved from justice and
| through whose windows of Fidelity
flow the clear, pure sunshine of
brotherly love,
| thank you.
The exercises closed with the sing
ing of America" by the audience
and dismissal by the Exalted Ruler.
The program was splendidly carried
out and greatly enjoyed by the aud
fence. The Elks appreciate the
kindness Of those contributing to the
success of the OCCASION and to Mrs
F. W. Eaton, accompanies they also
extend thanks for her assistance.