Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-05-03
LOYALTY To FLAG
is TAUGHT CLASS
OF new CITIZENS
Interesting Patriotic Exercises uad
in Honor OF Applicants for
Naturalization.
AMERICAN IDEALS EXPLAINED
ForcCful Addresses Are Made nv TX
Scott and Rev. j. B. Cuiemans-
Credit Due EIks.

Duties and responsibilities which
must he assumed in accepting the high
privilege Of American citizenship. wAra
explained 10 the class of 75 foreigners
who are seeking naturalization ar tho
April term of circuit court. at inter
eSting patriotic exercises which wera
held last evening at O'Clock in the
circuit court room.
The program was given under the
auspices Of Rock Island lodge No
$50. r. 2. 0. EIks, which, following
the unusual success attending its in
itiai effort along this line at the Jan
uary term OF court. has undertaken the
important task of giving applicants
for final papers a glimpse into Ameri-
can history and customs. in order that
they may have a better conception of
the ideals and principles upon which
this government is founded. II is ne
cuIarly fitting the Elks should do this.
since they require American citizen
ship as requisite for membership.
The Elks are entitled to a great deal
of credit for the helpful and pleasing
event OF last evening. which was at
tended, not only by members of the
class, but also by the public gener-
ally. Quite number OF ladies were
in the audience that filled the court
room. Committee in charge of the af-
fair was composed Of Sam Rverson, c.
\. lSaacsOn. j. F. Murphy. George H.
Richmond and Edward Bakersfield. and
to them is especially due praise for the
completeness OF the arrangements.
The court room was beautifully dec
GRATED with American flags. Old Glory
hung from the walls and pictures of
President Wilson. Washington. Grant.
Lincoln. Logan. Mckinley and other il
lustrious Americans were displayed.
Judge ". T. Church presided and
made brief statement explaining the
purpose Of the gathering. Invocation
was pronounced by DR.. H. W. Reed of
the First Baptist church. A history
Of the flag as taught by the Elks was
read by Robert r. Reynolds and J. F.
Murphy gave a beautiful tribute to
Old Glory, which is also a part of the
ritualistiC service of the order
One OF the most interesting service
features Of the program was the music
which was given by the Syea male
quartet The men sang Illinois so
well they were forced TO responded TO
an encore. Among the national Sc
lections they gave were The Star Span
Gled Banner" Red. White and Blue"
and America" in which the audience
joined They also rendered a flag"
song effectively. During the singing
electric fans were turned on, causing
two large flags on the judges bench
to unfurl and wave gracefully, making
Z pretty picture.
What Naturalization Means.
Rev. ]. B. Culemans. Moline, rector of
Sacred Heart Catholic church, gave one
OF the important addresses Of the even
ing. He spoke in the Flemish Ian
gUage which was especially appropri
ATE, in view of the fact that the great
majority of the class come from Bel
GUM. His talk contained so many ex
cellent points that at the request Of
The Argus he kindly translated his re-
marks in English as follows:
You are about to become citizens
Of new country. Thus far you have
been only jewellers in the land. aliens,
residing here as it were, by mere suf-
feranCe. Naturalization admits YOU to
full citizenship 1t confers new rights
upon you, rights Of which you have
thus far been necessarily deprived. 1t
also imposes upon you new duties.
The two can never be separated, and
while you rejoice at the new privileges
that are yours from this day on, you
should never turn aside from the
Steiner aspects Of citizenship, and for
get the claims it has upon you.
What, then, are the rights con-
ferred upon you by naturalization? 1t
were impossible for me to go into
great detail on this subject this even
ing, but | may call your attention TO
one or two points. First OF all, you
acquire the right to be protected by
the government to which you swear
allegiance, at least until, by personal
illegal or traitorOus act of yours, you
put yourself beyond the pale OF its
protection. This government assumes
10 safeguard your personal rights, your
property rights, your religious and
civil rights, and 10 safeguard them
against all who would infringe them
In any way. Its laws are framed for
that purpose Its courts OF justice
are set up with this end in view. It's
ministers in foreign countries are
bound 10 consider this as one Of their
most important duties.
In the second place, by your nat
uralization YOU obtain the right to
vote, 10 take part in the government
a right that has always been highly
priced in every democratic country.
It is a right for which nations have