Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-08-06
Sen. Matthias at St. Anthony
Delivers Address to Hundreds
Who Assemble to Witness
Flag Raising.

Flag Raising.
On Saturday afternoon last the annual
picnic of St. Anthony's parish was held
in the grove adjoining the church, and in
the evening large flag 8Xl2 feet was
hoisted to the top of a large stall near
the church. The address for the occasion
was made by Senator John P. I. Matthias,
of Thurmont. Music for the evening was
furnished by the ID tour Band. Senator
Matthias address is given here in full:
1t gives me much pleasure to be with
you tonight my friends, and | want first
to thank the good father for his kind in
vitation to attend the picnic and meet
you all here.
On an occasion Of this kind it seems
fitting to me to speak FOR few minutes,
on our flag, its origin, significance, and
the responsibility we as American citi-
zens owe to it, Perhaps few Of you real
ize it's age, it is growth rather than
creation Its history can be traced back
to the 18th century. or nearly 500 years
prior to the first flag day, June ID. TIT.
During the first crusade in 1875 Pope
Urban ii assigned to all of the Christian
nations as standards, crosses varying in
color and designs emblematic of the
warcfare in which they were engaged. TO
the Scotch troops was assigned the white
satire, known as the white cross of st.
Andrew, on a blue field. The British
used yellow cross, but century and
quarter later they adopted red cross on
white field, known as the red cross of st.
George
The flag was known as Kings colors,
the Union colors, and later as the Union
Jack, and was the one under which the
British made all their permanent settle
ments in America At the outbreak of
the Revolution the American colonies
had no flag common to all of them. The
colonsts desired to adopt "a comm m flag;
but they had not yet declared independ-
ence and were not at first seeking indie
pendence They took the British flag as
they knew it, and made it IL alternate
red and white stripes. The stars are the
only distinctive feature of the American
fig. The charming story which credits
Betsy Ross with making the first flag of
stars aid stripes is still accepted by his
torians.
The official adoption of our first flag
was in I777 On June the l4th, of that
year the Continental Congress passed an
act providing that the flag of 1.-THE l3
United States be - stars, white on Il
blue field, representing new consteiia-
ton" The IL stars were arranged in
circle to symbolic the perpetuity of the
Union of the States.
am sure that every school boy and
girl realizes the flag Is something more
than a strip of bunting or silk. 1t repre-,
sents an idea, nay more, an ideal, it rs
the visible sign and token of our country,
and in loving and honoring it. we but see
the ideal embodied in its shining folds.
Love of country is confined to no race or
age. From the dawn of history we read
of heroic deeds, unselfish devotion, and
noble self sacrifice inspired by patriotic
ferver.
Leonadas and his immortal three hun
dred at the pass of Theemopaelae, gave
their lives tG deliver Greece from the
Persians. could multiply examples i'll
definitely recorded in ancient and modern
history of high resolves and heroic execuy
tions, to save land from oppression, or
deliver her from the thralldom of tyran-
n.y. but the time would fail me, and |
fear your patience would be exhausted.
There is one, however, which has a
peculiar significance to the sons of Mary
land, and in this year which marks the
Tooth anniversary of the battle of North
Point, and the composition of Keys
ballad, it seems emminently fitting to
raise the Star-Spangled Banner to renew,
if need be, our state and rational pride
and our own devotion to all it symbol yes.
Let US teach our children to love the
flag, as we'll as to honor it, and we will
teach them inherent patriotism Do not
have flag tucked away, simply to bring
out on the 4th of July, Washington's
birthday and other such occasions. Keep
one hung in the child's own room. And
when he is disobedient don't send him to
a dark room to repent. Bid him stand
before the flag of his country and be
ashamed not to be an integral part Of it.
Ask him is he willing to face it and yet
not be an honor to it.
That is what our flag SHOULD mean. If
it has stood for wars in the past, it need
not. and, pray will not, do so in the
future. Let it be an emblem of peace.
Symbols of glory and sacrifice, our old
flags are valueless to us today. But as
indicative of the inspired courage and
valor which have made possible the pro-
gress and achievement our nation has
accomplished, they are beyond valuation.
What it stands for. Just think what
our flag means to US. 1t isn't the actual
stripes of bunting, nor fields of blue. It's
what they stand for What they have
stood for all these years. Think of Fran
els Scott Key, standing upon the deck of