Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-05-03
THE AMERICAN CREED.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY MAN Wins PRIZE For
The BEST One OFFERED.

The Congressional Record of April 18th,
1918. contains an interesting report of the
proceedings recently held in the office
building of the House of Representatives in
connection with the official announcement
by the Commissioner Of Education, on be-
half of the Government. of the award for
the best creed of an American citizen.
The proceedings, in part. were as follows:
Chairman Claxton. Ladies and GENTLE
men, some time ago there was begun q
movement for the formation of citizens
creed, which might embody in il the essence
OF our democratic ideals. Those who in
augurated that movement did me the
honor of asking me to serve as chairman
Of their advisory committee, and it is by
virtue of that fact that have the honor
of presiding this afternoon.
THE creeds have been written and sub
mitted, and one has been selected, and
after being selected understand it was
resubmitted to certain persons to pass on
every part of it. They have commended
it highly for its merit as to substance and
form. | am going to ask Mr.. Matthew
Page Andrews, representative of the Vigi-
lanteS and chairman of the committee of
award, to explain briefly the origin of the
idea.
"Mr. Andrews. Mr. Chairman. ladies, and
gentlemen. what have to say is a mes
sage from the V;gilantes. representing a
large body of American authors, editors,
and artists who have for the last two years
been giving their services freely to the
Government and to patriotic purposes of all
kinds
in March, 1917. the city Of Baltimore,
through Mayor James H. Preston. offered
prize Of $1,000 for the best creed. Com
mittees were then appointed to pass upon
the creeds submitted.
Several thousand creeds we're submitted
to the committee on manuscripts prior to
the closing of the contest on September ID,
1917. Fifty of these were turned over to
the committee on award, creed No. 1874
was selected as the best The envelope
containing the authors name was opened
in New York City. March 6, 1918.
ut was then disclosed that the author
of No. 1874 was William Tyler Page, Of
Friendship Heights. Md. His creed was
selected because 1t was not only brief and
simple but remarkably comprehensive Of
the best in American ideals. history. and
tradition. as expressed by the founders of
the Republic and its greatest statesmen
and writer's. This creed will be read for the
first time by DR.. Claxton. United States
Commissioner Of Education, to whom
now present it on behalf of the national
committee on award.
Chairman CIaxton. The creed is as fol-
lows;
THE AMERICAN CREED.
"Ibelieve in the United States of America.
as government Of the people. by the peo-
pie. for the people, whose just powers are
derived from the consent of the governed |
democracy in a Republic; sovereign |
Nation Of many sovereign states; per-
feet Union. one and inseparable. estab-
lished upon those principles of freedom.
equality. justice. and humanity, for which |
American patriots sacrificed their lives and |
fortunes.
II therefore believe it is my duty to |
my country to love it, to support its Con-
stitution, to obey it's laws. to respect its
flag. and to defend 1t against all enemies |
81 am asked to make this explanation.
that the first clause
II believe in the United States of America"
lis from the preamble to the Constitution
of the United States that the second |
clause y
"A government of the people, by the
pie. for the people
lis from the preamble to the Constitution Of
the United States Daniel Webster's speech
in the Senate of January 20. 1880. and |
Abraham Lncoln's Gettysburg speech.
Whose just powers are derived from the
consent of the governed
lis from the Declaration of independence.
"A democracy in a republic
lis from No. 10 of the Federalist. by Madi-
son. and Article X of the amendments to
the Constitution Of the United States.
"A sovereign Nation Of many sovereign |
States
from e pluribus unum, the great seal Of
the United States. and Article Nv of the
Constitution of the United States.
"A perfect Union
goes back to the preamble to the Consti
tuition.
"0ne and inseparable"-
"Websters speech in the Senate Of Janu-
airy 26. 1880.
Established upon those principles Of
freedom. equality. justice, and humanity
from the Declaration of Independence.
For which American patriots sacrificed
their lives and fortunes
from the preamble to the Constitution
and from the Declaration of independence.
Il therefore believe II is my duty to my
country to love it,
from Edward Everett Hale, The Man With
out Country.
ITO support its Constitution
"from the oath Of allegiance. section 1887
of the Revised Statutes of the United
States.
ITO obey its laws
from Washineton's Farewell Address and
from Article vi of the Constitution of the
United States.
TO respect its flag
the national anthem. the Star-Spangled
Banner; Army and Navy Regulations, War
Department circular on Flag Etiquette.
April Ia. 1917.
And to defend it against all enemies
from the oath Of allegiance. section 1857
of the Reviaad Ctatufea of the limited