The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-06-19
From Mondays Daily.

From Mondays Daily.
National Flag day was observed
last night when the Congregational,
Christian, Methodist and Baptist
churches united in a service at the
church. II. c. Ho-
falling of Mapleton, who was to have
given a patriotic address, was I'M
able to get here because of the bad
roads, and Rev. w. r. Keesey Of
the Centenary Methodist church
spoke in his place A stirring ad-
dress was also given by John ID.
Deets OF this city.
Rev. c. w. Comstock Of the
Christian church opened the service
with the reading of the thirty.third
Psalm and prayer Miss Lucille
Fisher gave a very beautiful violin
solo and the quartet composed OF
Miss Mildred Parmelee. Mrs. Evan
Hughes. F. d. Sleight and Evan
Hughes. sang.
Rev. Edward Constant presided
over the meeting and in his remarks
spoke of the first American flag
which was made by Betsy Ross In
Philadelphia. Rev. Mr.. Keesey was
introduced and spoke few NOM
ents on The Church and the Flag.
Patriotism and Religion.
Patriotism and religion" he said,
ARE inseparable. This fact Is true
in all nations, but is especially true
in Christian nations Patriotism has
been defined as love OF country
d the duty a man owes his coun-
try This is true, but patriotism
has too often been confined to pro
vincial affairs, and people have used
the motto My country. right or
wrong too much. The greatest
men of the world have been those
who have been the first to see the
sins of their country and have set
about righting them"
Mr.. Keesey mentioned as exam.
pies of this sort OF patriots, Savon-
arola, Oliver Cromwell, Garibaldi,
Washington and Lincoln. These
men," he declared, were all moved
by religious instincts and swayed by
patriotic impulses. These truths
need to be emphasized lest We for
get. lest we, forget the nag, and II
is on such days as Flag day. Memoir
ial day and the Fourth Of July that
we should especially keep in mind
our duty to our country. And we
should on Tuesday OF this week re-
member that. our duty calls us to
vote and vote right
Following Mr.. Keesey's address d.
NJ. Jones sang Star Spangled Ban
ner" with the audience standing.
then everyone sang the chorus with
him.
Address by John Deets.
Mr.. Deets gave the closing ad
dress, speaking on The Signifi-
canoe of the Flag" He said: 81
believe in the United States. in the
flag, and in the people, and | am a
firm believer in our mission here.
! believe, too, that the growing
tendency toward disrespect for the
flag by anarohistic foreigners and
children should be stopped. The
flag Is the emblem Of our civiliza-
ton and of our nation, and no dis
respect toward 1t should be toler-
ated. / like the attitude of the peo-
pie who forty or fifty years ago
never failed to show the greatest
regard for the country's colors.
81 believe, too, in the divine mis-
sion of the United States. Its his
tory makes me believe that God
kept this country sealed until just
the right time. You remember that
all efforts previous TO the one by
Columbus failed. But at that time
the conditions in the world were
such that the need for a new coun-
try was felt. Feudalism was dis
appearing In Europe, the time Of
single religious belief was passing
out and the printing press was max.
ing its first appearance. But when
this country was opened up people
from all parts of the world came
here and amalgamated into one peo-
pie. The church was In all the
movements of progress. This coun-
try has now grown so that II is al
ways daylight on American soil.
Great Social Problems.
But with the coming Of people
from all countries to the United
States has arisen the need OF solv-
ing great social, economic and poll
tical problems. Politically we must
be pure. Every man should go to
the polls to vote. He who does
not vote neglects his duty, and
should be perpetually disfranchised."
Right there Mr.. Deets expressed the
hope that women would be franchis-
ed before a long period OF time.
Mr.. Deets also said that the great.
est respect and honor Is due the
women who are in homes. bringing
up future American citizens.
THE man In ordinary life who
does his duty and does II well Is the
best patriot we can want and is
deserving OF the greatest respect he
can be given. A man who does
his own work we'll Is the highest
type OF patriot And this nag
stands for the very best there Is In
American life -