New Britain herald., 1917-04-23
PATRIOTIC SERVICE
 AT M. E. CHURCH
Prominent Men Speak at Presenta.
 tion of Flag

l uUu Ul Tld8
 A patriotic flag service, commemo-
 rating tho gift of an American flag to
 Trinity Methodist church by the Con- necticut Division. Sons of Veterans
 Auxiliary, was held in that church last evening. On April II. at a state
 meeting of the Auxiliary in Hartford, l the flag was presented and it was here
 that the Rev. Warren F. Cook, pastor l of the church, received it. Mrs. Min ] nie Oldershaw, president of the auxil- iary. Mayor George A. Quigley and
 ex-Senator George M. I.anders were l among the speakers at the exercises. Mrs Oldershaw's address follows: Rev. MT. Cook, pastor of the church, wished me'to speak on the presentation of a flag to the church by the Connecticut Division, Sons of Veterans Auxiliary. The Sons of Veterans. SI N. A.. is an organization that has been in existence for a num- Der of years but the auxiliary is new organization in Connecticut
 About three and one-half years ago an Auxiliary was instituted in New Britain and shortly after that there were four others instituted throughout the state.- making five in all. That made enough auxiliaries to form a division in Connecticut The division was organized in New Britain last June and I was elected president. The late sister Emma J. Smith, who was elected patriotic instructor. start ed a flag fund so as to make 1t pos sible for the Connecticut division to present flag to some church. school Or public institution at the annual encampment.
 "At a meeting held prior to the encampment it was decided that the flag should be presented to the Trin- ity Methodist church of New Britain. is 50 highly appreciated by the church and hope that 1t will be used here for years to come and inspire
 Pastor Cook Accepts.
 Rev. Warren F. Cook made speech of acceptanceA fin which he said that the friends of the auxiliary were gratifed to be the first to receive the flag from the association. It stands for the finest principle that has ever existed throughout the relationship of man. It was the nag of Washington, and the stars and stripes have stood from the very beginning down to the present day always for freedom and liberty. He stated that the church had always stood by the nation and President Lincoln singled out the Methodist denomination for his own In years gone by the Methodist church S1
 the front than any of the others and the reason for this was the number of common people within the fold. If the president were to call for volun- teers today he could rest assured that ready to support the country. state and city.
 War Sacred Duty.
 Mayor George A. Quigley was the next speaker and he said that he con- sidered it very fitting that patriotic services should be held in a church because the country is fulfilling a sa- cred duty by going to war. It was simply a case of democracy against autocracy and 1t was only right that this nation should uphold the rights of humans. Humanity was the req son TOT the declaration Of state of war; said the mayor.
 There was time, said the mayor, when some thought that a certain portion of the local citizens were not loyal to the country. Last Thursdays demonstration dispelled such an idea as there was hardly a race that was not represented at Central Park. Rep- resentatives of all the races of Europe were on hand to pay tribute to the flag and show their loyalty to the na- ton.
 Wilson. like Lincoln. has been un- justly criticized. said the mayor, and he has endured slurs and protests from all over the nation against watchful waiting and many others too numerous to mention. In his last message declaring state of war any that could read between the lines would see that the message was that of a tired human being that could en- dure the insults no longer. In regard to citizenship he said that when aliens | become citizens of this country they l share everything we have including all rights with the exception of be-