Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-14

This is Flag Day-the 14Oth Anniversary
Of the banner which Betsy Ross, Philadel-
phia matron, gave TO America Through
out the city patriotic celebrations are be-
ing held, commemorative OF the occas sion
on June ID. 1871. wnen the Congress Of the
Colonies adopted the Stars and Stripes as
the emblem Of the thirteen States that
have grown to forty-eight
The Liberty Bell was tolled at noon by
Mayor Smith in the presence Of hundreds
OF Liberty Loan bond workers.
The American Flag House and Betsy
Ross Memorial Association held exer-
cises at the Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch
street, this afternoon. Addresses were made
by william A. Carr, president of the asso-
citation the Rev. T. Asher Hess, one Of the
youngest drummer boys Of the Civil War !;
DR.. John p. CARRIER. Superintendent Of
Schools; Judge John NJ. Patterson, Director
Of Supplies; Joseph Mclaughlin. Miss Anna
Jarvis, founder of Mothers Day, and Ser
geant Samuel Hatcher, Of the Marine Corps.
The invocation was pronounced by the
Rev. Louis c. Washburn, rector Of Old
Christ Church. Several hundred school chill
dren were present.
At the exercises tonight addresses will be
made by Charles H. Davis OF Keystone
Commandery, p. O. S. Of A.: Samuel G.
Wells, past State president of the p. o. S.
OI ~ anu COMMANDER horace V. MaCfaN-
den Of the Commandery General. p. o. S.
Of A The Rev. r. A. Hess will pronounce
the invocation and benediction.
Every public school in the city celebrated
the anniversary of the making Of the Stars
and Stripes Among the largest celebra- =
tions were those at the Commodore Barry
School Fifty.ninth and Race streets. where
1000 children Joined in singing patriotic
airs, and at the Campbell School play
ground. Eighth and Fitzwater, In which
many downtown children joined.
Philadelphia Boy Scouts of America will
celebrate this afternoon with a parade and
annual Flag Day exercises at Independence
Hall, which begin at 4:45 p. m. Flags will
be presented to fifty new troops Of scouts
by Philadelphia Chapter, D. A, r. The
presentation will be made by Mrs. Thomas
Potter Jr. The orator of the afternoon will
be Judge George Gray, OF Wilmington, Del.
Presentation Of flags to new scout troops
that have been organized since Flag Day
a year ago is now an established custom
among Philadelphia scouts When the color
bearer and his aids from new troops march
up to the stand where rest the new flags,
old scout troops form in a hollow square as
a guard OF honor.
Tonight the annual Boy Scout Court Of
Honor will be held in Common Pleas Court
No 8, when two eagle scout badges, twelve
life and star badges and 40 merit badges
will be presented. The eagle badge. one of
Scouts. will be awarded to Eugene s. Davis,
1903 North Twenty-third street. Of Troop
23 son Of Captain Harry Davis OF the
Athletics. and Mayer Feldenheimer, 2l2S
Tioga street, of Troop /. The principal
speaker will be George Wharton Pepper.
and the Judges of the court are Assistant
District Attorney Charles Edwin Fox, chair
man; Judge ]. Willis Martin. Samuel G,
Friedman Edgar B. Howard. DR., Charles
D, Hart and George Spencer Morris.
The flag that Mrs Elizabeth Griscom
Claypoole Ross. seamstress and widow made
at 239 Arch street, on the suggestion of
General George Washington, Is the oldest ma :
tional flag that flies today. 1t antedetes Eng
lands royal standard. established In 1901 /:
the flag OF Spain, adopted in 1885; the
French tri.color decIeed in 1874 the nag
of the Empire Of Germany, which repre-.
sents the sovereignty OF fourteen distinct
flags and States. established In 1870; the
Italian tri-color. dating from 1S4S: the re-
cent flags of the old empires of Japan and
China, and the colors OF all the South Amer
lean States, which have been modified gem
orally from the star Spangled Banner"