The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-06-22

the stars increased to one for each
state"
The Orpheus club now rendered it's
first song, Comrades in Arms" un-
der the direction of ID. NJ. Jones, and
with piano accompaniment by Miss
Ethel Skuse. This was followed by an
other and exceptionally beautiful por-
ton of the ritual, wherein the vases of
flowers of the three national colors
were placed on the altar, the red
roses by Esteem Leading knight Al
lison, the white. lilies by Esteemed
Loyal knight Bowen and the Blue
violets by Esteemed Lecturing Knight
McCleery. Over the altar the form of
star was suspended and suddenly
blazed into light. Tiler Lundberg tolled
the eleven strokes, signifying that
absent brothers were remembered.
After this came the singing of "Auld
Lang Syne" by members of the lodge.
John E. Regain gave the "Elks' Tribute
to the Flag" recounting the glorious
memories of the good that had been
accomplished under that flag in the
past and declaring that the flag was
destined to end the unholy strife of
the present time and usher in
thousand years of peace. Mr. Regain
spoke with fervor and eloquence. 1t
was beautiful tribute and well done.
Address of John &. Eegan.
Mr. Regain spoke as follows:
Brothers and Friends: In the sense
that it has met unequal conditions and
withStood them. that it has challenged
unnumbered perils and conquered them,
that it has encountered uncommon hard
til 10 A ,nx-,
can flag may be said to be of the most
heroic origin. The conflict in which it
was born, and from which it rose to its
present eminence, added more of luster
more of good y human kind than all
OF the tournaments. than all of the cru
sades, than all of the wars of the past
At first an auGacious piece of bunting.
sign, it thrived and expanded until it
gave to the world new country, a new
form of government. new model or
citizenship. To the language of flags it
contributed a new word, that Of Lib
erty" 1t gave a new definition of home,
a new ideal of the fireside a truer con-
ception of the brotherhood of man.
Choosing. as it's primal task the subju-
cation of a vast wilderness, it became
the chief geographer of the armament.
the chief pilot of the seas the chief
trailmaker of the forest, the valley and
1t must have been foreordained that
this flag should lead all others in the
flight Of the centuries, for ii was the
flag of George Washington and Thomas
Jefferson; of John. Adams. Benjamin
of Betsy Ross, whose Quaker hands first
fashioned it INTO robe of glory. In
spired by souls like. these, kindled at
shrines like these, the spirit of IS be
years. and the flag through which it
spoke became the flag of Bunker Hill
and Lundy's Lane; Of Buena Vista and
Chapultepec: the flag that cast it's pro-
tecting shadow where rolls the Oregon;
that's blossomed and famed in the SHOWS
of Alaska. and anchored watchtire
flag that romped with freedom in the
bays Of Manila and Santiago. and was
planted in righteous defense upon the
walls of China; the same flag that CASH
es rock ribbed mountains and causes the
oceans to mingle their waters; the first
flag that was born to represent a people
rather than a monarch or a savage; the
flag that has never known a surrender;
world from wrong. to Danish unholy
strife, and to usher in the thousand
years of peace.
1t is the Greatest Flag.
OF all the flags of history, this Amer
lean flag, is the greatest, the most bene-
ticiert, the most beautiful. Sporting in
the breeze, It is a mosaic of rbhoned
sa is in into sotes a Ss5 o
festal delight. 1t is an honest flag, n
benevolent flag, righteous flag. Hail
to this flag!
Do you think of it as a comman ding
Influence in the world about you? 1t is
the safeguard of states and nations and
races. Do you think of it as an agency
in the active affairs of life? 1t is the
captain of all the industries, the ruler
of every n art Do you think of it as
factor in the realm of science? It's dis
coveries and inventions and creations
are innumerabe. Do you think of it as
history? 1t is torch of learning.
lamp of experience, colossal tome of
achievement. Do you think of it as
a bounty of nature? 1t has sown bless
ings broadcast. it is a teeming harvest
field, a garden of opulence, a vineyard
rich in purple clusters.
Do you think OF it from the standpoint
of art? 1t has dotted the, land with
statues. Do you think of it as music?
1t has in it the assertiveness of the
robin. the plaintiveness of the dove. the
madrigal of all the larks. Do you think
the fireside? 1t enfolds the laughter of
children, the breath Of love, the cour-
age of manhood, the hope and faith of
age. Do you think of it in a more sa-
precapt and a benediction. 1t CLEANS
from housetop and hilltop from school
house and workshop, from tower and
steeple, from mairmast and miZzen, GD-
ing every worthy cause, lighting the way
of progress across a mighty continent
and spanning the world with a girdle of
civilization.
Hail to this flag! Hail to this flag
Of flags! Sometimes 1t is called the
Stars and Strips Sometimes, Red.
White and Blue Sometimes it is call
ed the Star Spangled Banner" Some
times, and most affectionately, ''Old
Glory" HonoriEg its every name, re-
jocing in it's record, believing in its
mission. we do well to observe this ma
and venerate this regal banner. to keep
alive its vestal fires. and to perpetuate
its power and glory: we do well to
yield unto 1T the tribute of flowers and
song and story. Flags and music and
flowers are the federated anthem of the
red of the flag will quicken into life
with the breath and blush of returning
June. Plant lilies. and the white of the
nag will reappear with the constancy
or the sunshine and the dew. Plant vio-
lets, and the blue of the flag will come
brance. Hail.. all hail to this fog of
Liberty! the flag of the brave fathers
and loving mothers of the republic, AS
1T was their flag, so it is your flag, and
mine It is the flag of every American,
state. May 1T ever be the flag of that
les Our Country
Ehe Orpheus club next sang "On
the Ramparts," Miss Skuse again play
ing the accompaniment. This was fol-
lowed with the principal address of
the evening by c.. o. Daley on the
subject: "The American People,
Peace-loving People" Mr.. Daley said
in mart.