Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-05-10
UN|TlRIANS CONSeCRATE FLAG
Military and Militant Orders at
Church Service Last Night.
Impressive Addresses by PrOf. Charles
Il. Putney and the Rev. G. J. sta
ples-Banner the Gift Of Mrs.
W. r. Hendee.

The Unitarian Church Monday con-
secrated a flag, given by Mrs. w. r. Hen
dee with a service marked by two elo-
quent and impressive addresses by Prof.
Charles Il. Putney and the pastor. and
an attendance which more than filled the
edifice. upstairs and down. Best of all.
the members of several organizations.
headed by the gray-haired veterans Of
Stannard Post of the G.. A. r.. were pres
ent. each in a body: Camp William
Wells. Sons of Veterans: Burlington Com
mandery. knights Templar: Canton
Lafayette, Patriarchs Militant: Cham
plain company. Uniform Rank. knight
of Pythias; Burlington Lodge of Elks;
Stannard Woman's Relief Corps. James
A. Garfield Circle, Ladies of the G. A. r.;
Green Mountain Chapter, d. A. r.:
Daughters of 1872 and the church Sunday
school. The head of each body had charge
of his or her organization.
! They marched up the center aisle,
George Sparhawk carrying the flag.
escorted by Ebert Kimball and Lorenzo
Howe. all of the Sunday school. There
the Rev. G.. J. Staples received it. with
these words: I'm behalf of this society
I gladly receive the gift of this flag and
promise to hold 1t as an emblem of the
sovereignty of democratic State over
the citizens of this free commonwealth
The congregation stood while the minister
repeated the words. and there was a hush
which made everybody present forget his
fellows for a moment
Then came the bugle call. breaking
through the previous quiet, after which
the congregation repeated the vow of
allegiance to the flag: Il pledge allegi-
ance to my flag. and the Republic for
which 1t stands: one nation. indivisible,
with liberty and Justice for all
The reading, by the Rev. /. c. Smart.
consisted of the closing paragraphs OF
Lincoln's second inaugural and the 122nd
Psalm. which, said the reader, set forth
three ties a man bore to his country. that
of nativity that of friendship and home
and that of faith.
Professor Putney addressed large part
Of his remarks to the young people pres
t ent. He expressed the hope that they
would realize that they who gave their
l.. lives would live in the memory of the
: people, Just as the veterans of 81, most
: of whom lay where they fell in the Soutt
t and not i'm the graveyards, where somt
>, lof their comrades were remembered eacl
,. Memorial day The G.. A. r. saw a sig
v nificance in the Memorial day ceremon,
: in the cemeteries which young people
d could not.
4 The Rev. c. j. Staples said the spr'
}. and the flag stood alike for idealism. tn
4 one OF devotion to God. the other of de
q votion to country. The old church ha'
h seen similar ceremonies to that of tn
4 evening in 1872, 1851 and the Spanish War
l. The church and flag represented the in
[. visible things of God and the invisibl
Is nation.
Miss Marion Keller sang a soprano sole
l. Lovely Appear" the choir Kiplng'
); "Recessional" and the congregation i
unison, THE Star Spangled Banner,
of 40 Popuhlc'
. America" The service closed with tn
l. benediction by DR.. Smart.
!" FIRST SERMON BY NEW PASTOR.
If Tho Rev. Dr. John a. Hamilton. for
v. merIy of Pittsfleld. Mass. but who wa
r assigned to the pastorate Of the Metho
dist Episcopal Church of this city at tn
recent Troy conference OF the church
=. was greeted by an unusually large cor
gregation Sunday morning, When
conducted his first service In Burlington
The new minister Is a man of striking ar
ID pearance. of about medium height an
=. rather spare His countenanoe indicate
a remarkable intellectual ability and fore
ID of character, an impression which
o. strengthened by his eloquent discourse
he Although at frst glance he might u
A. thought to be austere, this is relieved D
a the cordially and kindness of his gree
It. ing. Mrs. Hamilton Is yet in Pitishel'
IN DIR. Hamilton has one son. who Is
W graduate student at Harvard College an
expects to attend the reserve ohicer
training camp at Pittsburgh.
Unseen Forces was the subject of ID
Hamilton's first sermon. He first d.
ac tailed the effect of various natural force
which cannot be seen, and then told
the many things which can be seen
c. the minds eye. when the physical sigi
r. regards only an ordinary object. II
r effect Of thought conscience faith. an
OF love was also emphasized by DIR. Hami
al ton.
u, God is the greatest of these unsce
lis forces concluded the speaker. who to
is Of the love and tenderness of the Gre
RS Father as we'll as His power. We shou
no all grow to know Him better day by da
IT. until He becomes the greatest force