Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-06-18
ELKS OBSERVE FLAG DAY
Patriotic Exercises Held at Bat
terry Park, Following a Parade.
stirring Address by william +. Byrnc.
Past Exalted Ruler, of Albany
Lodge, PlcdginE Loyalty
of the Order.

The essence Of large number of Fourth
of July celebrations was crowded into the
patriotic exercises Of Flag day as conducted
by Burlington Lodge, No. 916 at Battery
park Sunday afternoon. The program
as carried out in the historic park revived
wildly the lessons of the flag which are
rather apt to be lost sight of in our pres
ent remoteness from wars, and during a
commercial age. The events of Flag day
consisted of large parade OF military
and civic bodies. patriotic music the ritual
of the Elks, and deeply inspiring address
by william T. Byrne OF Albany, n. Y The
weather was ideal for a parade and speech
program, and there was a great crowd Of
spectators OF the parade and In attendance
AT the park.
The parade formed at $50 o'clock on St.
Paul street and moved up Main street to
Chun'h, thence to Pearl and then to the
park. In the line were the End cavalry
band. mounted. a detachment of cavalry
troops from the post, Company NJ, 7. N.
g., Stannnrd Post G.. A. r., Sons of Vet
Grams, Sherman's band Burlington Lodge
Of Elks, Fourth Degree Knights Of COL
umDus. dill team of Alpha Camp. Modern
Woodnien OF America, and Burlington
Councii of United Commercial Travellers.
The exercises AT Battt-y Park were
from a Platform Quilt Cor the occasion.
On st were se9ted representatives or the
bodies mentioned in the parade, represen-
tativesof the patriotic societies, the mayor
and board Of aldermen, Exalted Ruler
Thomas G.. Quincy of Burlington Lodge
of Elks and other officers Of the order.
Music was furnished at intervals during
the program by Sherman's band.
Exalted Ruler Quincy presided over
the exercises. He explained in opening
that the Elks had set aside one day each
year for the exercises of flag day and
that it was peculiarly a day most be-
fitting the Elks which was a strictly
American order and stood for the things
that the flag represented. Mr.. Gurney's
remarks We're followed by the regular
flag ritual. He first called on
the Esteemed Leading Knight. the
Esteemed Loyal Knight, and the Esteem
ed Lecturing knight to reCite the prin-
cples of the order. This was followed
by invocation by the chaplain, c. A.
Barber. a history of the flag by Thomas
Magner and the recital of the Elks'
tribute to the flag by Lawrence Barley.
The speaker of the day was William
r Byrne, past exalted ruler of the
Albany. n. Y, lodge of Elks. Mr.. Byrne
gave one of the most spirited patriotic
addresses ever heard In the city.
Mr.. Byrne first referred to the action
taken at the 43rd annual session of the
grand lodge of Eks In Philadelphia In
July, 1907, which provided for the annual
observance of June "A as Flag day by all
lodges, and declared that the order would
feel remiss in its duty to our country and
our country's honor did II not publicly
pledge its support and evidence it's love of
nation by once In each year meeting In
solemn assembly to voice its fealty to our
country's flag. Patriotism is sentiment
a conviction, and a comprehension of our
duty to our country and a determination
to perform all our obligations toward her.
Love of country, reverence and a faith
in its future greatness, an obedience to
its laws and respect and veneration for
its fagthat Is patriotism.
Mr.. Byrne then declared that nowhere
in the country is American citizenship
more jealousy guarded and more zeal
ously promoted than within the Elks' cir
Gle; each lodge is a nursery of patriotism.
encouraging inspiration to higher citizen
ship and nohler devotion TO the land we
love. To preserve and safeguard our in
stitutions in all the vigor and prestige we
to-day command, each and every Elk
must recognize those civic virtues which
strengthen. develop and aggrandze true
and upright citizenship.
The speaker then enumerated some of
the things for which the flag stands and
declared that when the last member of
the Grand Army of the Republic has join
cd his noble comrades on the eternal
camping ground" beyond, the spirit with
which they defended Old Glory in the days
gone by will have been taken up with fer
vor and devotion by the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks, now 100000
otrong.