The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-05
PLANS NATIOsl1 WIDE
 CELEBRATION OF
 LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY

New York, Feb. 4.-School ana | community celebrations of Lincoln's Birthday, Feb. 12, will be held throughout the country under the auspices of the National Security League The league has organized this nationwide observance through it's 280 branches, scattered in all parts of the country, and the various state departments of education.
 Many states celebrate Lincoln's Birthday as Grand Army Flag Day. In some states the day is a school holiday, and in all states where the day is observed exercises are held in the schools under the auspices of the G. A. R., Women's Relief Corps, etc. | The Security Leagues idea is to give l a special prominence to these exer- cises this year and to organize cele- | brations where they would not other wise be held. The league has met | with a ready response in it's efforts | and has been enabled to promote Lin l colns birthday celebrations in three states where the day was never be- | fore observed, South Carolina, Missis- sippi and Texas. Cardinal Gibbons has approved the Security Leagues plan in a letter in | which he says: "The Cardinal is pleas 1 ed to approve the two key thoughts | and wish them the widest publicity during the week of Feb. 1O" The | l ''key-thoughts'' referred to by His Eminence will be the basis of all the | Security League celebrations. They are: "1-America is today, as in Lin coln's day, the land of equal oppor- tunity for all. The road from log cab in to White House is open to him who can tread it. "2-The Lincoln Pledge in Lin colns words-'We have highly resolv- ed that these dead shall not have died in vain; and that government of the people, for the people, by the people, shall not perish from the earth.'' '"These words, spoken by Lincoln in the trying times of the Civil War, can strengthen us now in our necess1- ties," says Miss Etta V. Leighton, Ci- vic Secretary of the Security League, who is conducting the Lincoln's Birthday celebration organization work.
 t Americans naturally celebrate Lin coln's Birthday, but it is usually a celebration which leaves only vague impression on the public mind. One great national need at the present time is to counteract the very bad inn pression Russia has received from those who declare America is not a democracy but land of special privi- leges. The National Security League , hopes through its celebrations, calling attention to Lincoln's life, to impress on the public mind that today, as i1s Lincoln's day, America is a land of equal opportunity for all.
 ''There is also need to hearten the people in the struggle that is before them. These days are as dark and trying as any in the Civil War. Lest the people disheartened, turn to in conclusive or premature peace, .there is need to bring to all our minds that message of the Man of the People Lincoln himself
 "The National Security League is. asking that in every church, school and assembly of the people, those present be given the opportunity to recite the Lincoln Pledge'-the last lines of the martyred Presidents speech at Gettysburg"
 Approval of the plan has been giv- CT by the heads of State Departments of Education in all parts of the coun- try. Superintendent of Schools J. B. iSwearingen, of South Carolina, writes, "It will be a pleasure to cooperate with you in your celebration and ar range for all the schoor superintend- ents in the state to receive the plans''
 TTT tendent of Public Education, of Mis- sissippi-'"The Mississippi State De- partment of Education acknowledges receipt of detailed plans for the cele- bration of Lincoln's Birthday We shall be glad to call the attention of school officials to the need of the proper observance of this day"
 W. F. Doughty, State Superintend- ent of Education. of Texas-''I beg to acknowledge receipt cf your splendid program for Lincoln Day celebrations The same appears to be thoroughly prepared for this occasion and worthy of the widest circulation" August Thomas, State Superintend- ent of Schools. of Maine-'"The State of Maine will be very glad to enter into a nationwide Lincoln Day com CelGUTdIlOH OH r CD. 1G. IL seems to me there never was a time more fitting for the celebration of Lincoln's famous annunciation of a government of the people, for the people, and by the people and that it shall not perish from the earth''
 Searle Light, State Superint of Schools, of Conneicut-''We expect to be able to cooperate with the Lea que as far as the schools under our immediate supervision are concern ed.'
 V. o. Gilbert, State Superintendent of Schools, of Kentucky-'I shall cer- tainly to-operate with you heartily in making the observance of Lincolns Birthday nationwide. We plan to emphasize it this year as a means of teaching patriotism and informing the people concerning the conditions we now face.'
 Dr. M R Hillegas, State Commis- sioner of Education. of Vermont-''T