The copper era and Morenci leader., 1917-06-15

rIdts 1 Appropriate exercises were held on Thursday night at the tennis court on the East Side in honor of Flag Day, under the auspices of Clifton Lodge No. 1174, B. P. O. Elks. In spite of the heat a large crowd of citizens were present to listen to the program which was full of patriotic sentiments.
 At o'clock the Elks, large num- Der of whom were present from Mo- renci and Metcalf, met at the lodge rooms and formed in line, clad in their marching regalia, to the number of 100 Lied by the Boy Scouts, in charge of Scoutsmaster w. H. Neill, and carry ing American flags the march was made to the tennis court where the Iexercises of the evening were held. Adams orchestra furnished music for the occasion and the patriotic airs were received with loud bursts of enthusiasm.
 The tennis court was decorated in the national colors and hundreds of flags, large and small, were used in profusion, long streamers of flags being strung across the court over the heads of the audience. Benchs had been erected for the comfort of the crowd which greatly increased the pleasure of the program.
 The lodge officers conducted the exercises and the first speaker of the evening was P. Riley, who gave a history of the American flag which was most interesting. At the con- lclusion of his remarks a Liberty Bell composed of red, white and blue flowers was formed and drum sound Tod hn rrrifh rxrhi0h 1hnrfT proclaimed to the nation, this part of the program being most beautiful and impressive R. H. Pringle was the Inext speaker and his remarks were along ratriotic lines, special tribute being paid to the flag which is so dear to every American heart and for the honor and protection of which we are now engaged in the greatest struggle ID the history Ct the world
 Hon. Joseph Nealon, of Fl Paso, was ithe principal speaker of the evening and his address was pregnant with D. triotic sentiments throughout. 1t lis doubtful if Clifton audience has lever heard Old Glory more euloSized in a short space of time than t was during the remarks of Mr. Nealon. whose pat iotic utterances found r. s.ronsivc chord in the hearts : ieveryone within hearing.
 MT. Nealson stated at this time when the honor and integrity of tl.e American lttlUn were at stake It WAS just aud fl,ting that the emblem VI liberty for which our forefathers fought and died should receiTe more than pas,;;1e reverence. That 1t is cp to every individual in the natl1n to kelp protect the traditions for which it stands and keep its SLotless folds unblemiShed and to never give the heel or a tyrant cppreSSor an "i- Dortunity to drag the glorious banner ia the dust The very independence flor which the flag stands is now at stake and we cannot afford to talteI' or weaken iE the defense of the tr.':':r- age of liberty which has been handed down to us from the time lndepaD- ldence vas proclaimed. MT. Neaion touched Gpon the present crisis Fl which tte American flag will play an important rart and in conclusion raid a glowing tribute to the emblem of liberty.
 In this connection it might not be amiss to state that the order B. P. O. Elks was founded on the principles for which the American flag stands and that they are to be found in the front ranks in every patriotic undertaking Incidentally in the present campalgn flor the subscription to the $2.0OO,O0o, lOOO Liberty Loan Clifton Lodge No. I1174 this week subscribed for $1,OOO worth of the bonds, which we ven ture to say is as large an amount subscribed as has been taken by any fraternal society in Arizona.
 Social Session
 At the conclusion of the patriotic exercises at the tennis court the mem Ibers of Clifton Lodge 1174, and a few invited friends, adjourned to the lodge rooms where the lodge resolved ltseli Into a social session. More than one hundred members were present and while light refreshments were being served w B. Kelly presided as ltoastmaster. The evening enter tainment consisted of short talks both humorous and ill a serious strain by Hon. John Christy, w. k. Kelly MT. Stanton, Exalted Ruler E C. FitzgeraId Joe Nealon, Esq, of Fl Paso, and MT Wooley. interspersed with singing and dancing numbers by Messrs. Kohn, Sanders, Wooley, For rester and the Minstrel quartette.
 The social session lasted until after midnight and concluded with four round bout between two local MeXl can light weights which was the fastest "go" ever witnessed in these parts.
 MT. Joe Nealon, a prominent attor iuey of Fl Paso, who was invited tc deliver the patriotic address at the open air exercises, time and again aroused the immense crowd to vocif ercus applause, both at the plaza and in the lodge room, by his patriotic (utterances, and Clifton Lodge is to be congratulated on securing such a gift eG orator for the occasion.