New Britain herald., 1916-06-15

JAMES G. CONNOLLY.
 white and blue arranged in a manner ] appealing to all. The beautiful ser 1 vice conducted by the officers of the l lodge, when a large liberty bell is ! placed on the altar was also inspiring |, At S:30 o'clock Exalted Ruler Wells l c. Foster announced to the members | in the social rooms the opening of the | exercises and two abreast the Elks l marched upstairs to the hall. Led by l Commander F. V. Streeter of the | Post, the veterans followed, and the l same enthusiasm that evinces itself ] when any tribute is to be paid the { American flag was written on the ! faces of the young fellows"
 | The opening number on the pro- | gram was an organ march tEntre de l Cortage,' by Professor William H. 1 Bishop, followed by the singing of l ''The Star Spangled Banner by the entire assemblage. Exalted Ruler Foster then explained the aims of
 EIkdom in holding flag day exercises
 and the other officers each recited the
 significance of his station in the Ellls
 ritual to the American flag The
 Concordia quartet of Hartford ren
 dered, "The Trumpeter' in a pleasing manner
 To Past Exalted Ruler William G. Muller was entrusted the reading of me record of the flag and in a splend-
 Id manner he responded Clear and distinct were his words, each syllable
 reaching the hearts of his listeners. The next number was a selection by the quartet, 'In Liberty's Name, folloWed by the altar service by the
 othcers of the lodge. H. P. Stedman
 sang, Our Flag is There" accom- panied by the quartet.
 Atty. ConnolH's Speech.
 The Impressive Elks' tribute to the | nag, was delivered by Past Exalted Ruler A. J. Hart and his efforts of | last evening far surpassed .nv ,bo+ he has contributed in this line for sev-
 eral years. Following the selection l of Our Native Land," by the ouarte+
 Exalter Ruler Foster presented Attor' | ney James G. Connolly of Pawtucl1et
 R. T., esteemed featuring Knight of lodge 920, who delivered the princina1 address of the evening.
 MT. Connolly, in opening remarked 1- ate that the great order of Elks so universally and so generally celebrates | Flag day, and it was likewise fitting | and proper that the order should join l hands with the Grand Army veteran 5 | in commemorating the birth of the national emblem. He went on to give a short history of the adoption of the l flag and the changes in it before the nf ho ioir Ri, | stripes and the decision to have star | for each state.
 Yet the mind does not dwell on the l nag, the speaker pointed out, mot | on the inexpensive piece of bunting
 nor on the priceless piece of silk. but l rather on the nation itself The flag
 represents the nation. When we gaze 1 upon the Italian flag we see a united ] Italy; when we behold the German
 emblem we see imperial Germany; | when the French triCoor is unfurled
 We see France; when the green and gold of Erin rolls out to the breeze we see a nation which has waged a
 ceaseless fight for liberty; when we | see the crosses of St. George and St 1 Andrew, We see the great monarchy 1 of England. And when We sec the ! Stars and Stripes, we see America | America, the foe of despotism and l oppression, the friend of hope and
 progress, the land of liberty and op- portunity. The flag is the symbol of 1 our national life. It Is the sign of | our hopes and fears, our smiles and tears, our endeavors and aspirations, 1 our association and reward. It means 1 what Lexington and Concord, Bunker | Hill and Valley Forge, Saratoga and 1 orktown meant. It is the flag of
 Barry and Jones, of Peary and Me 1 Donough, of Farragut and Dewey. It
 means Bull Run and Gettysburg, The 1 Wilderness and Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain and Appomatox. No rug
 ged bear of Russia, no busy bee of ! Napoleon. no lilies of the leader of l 1NaVarre, no lordly lion nor ruling