Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-06-19
LOCAL LODGE OF ELKS|
OBSERVE FLAG DAY.
Exercises in Battery Park with
Addresses by Dean Callahan
of Lawrence, Mass. and E. Nj.
Horton, Features of 142nd
Anniversary

Two hundred members of Burlington
Lodge, No. GIG, Benevolent and Protec-
tive Order of ETks, and upwards of 1000
people gathered IN Battery Park Sun
day and commemorated the 142nd ami
versary of the birth of the American
f1ag. The exercises were conducted by
the lodge in accordance with their ma
tional program each Flag day, and were
carried out under the direction of
Exalted Ruler F. L. Linsenmer.
Prior to the exercises. the members
Of the order, headed by Sherman's Mill
tary band, marched from their lodge
rooms on Bank street to the park. The
lodge had erected temporary platform
in front of the bandstand, which was
draped with red, white and blue bunting
and American flags. The band occupied
the bandstand directly behind the plat
form. on which we're seated the officers,
speakers and invited guests.
A brief announcement was made by
Exalted Ruler Linsenmeir, after the Gus
tomary ritualistic opening exercises had
been conducted by the officers. The an
nouncement was to the effect that the
celebration of Flag day was an annual
/ occurrence with the Elks and that in
honor of the great victory which the
American flag helped to win there would
be special features observed this year
Chaplain Clinton a. Barber offered
prayer, after which Dr. James D. Tan
ner read a history of the American flag
! from the start to the present day. The
, Elks' quartette, composed of Messrs.
Bell Hillary. Gotta and Mllington. then
sang MY Old Kentucky Home. Good
/ night"
The Elks' tribute to the American flag
was given by Ezra NJ. Horton Mr.
! Horton took for his subject THE What
of It He said in brief: The Ameri-
can flag has met many unequalled condi-
tons and withstood them. 1t has met
peril. national and world wide sin and
has conquered all. Never has it beer
defeated. The flag is of heroic origin
It was born in a strenuous time. 1t is
destined to win the world from all it:
great wrongs. It is the symbol of lib
erty. freedom. righteousness, honesty
benevolence and charity. Its foundation
was the rock of human liberty and the
foundation has never wavered. AL
honor to the flag that has withstood IA
years of modern times and still wave;
free from oppression 1t is the duty Of
every man, woman and child to live
honor. respect and fight, if necessary
to maintain the flag and what it stand!
for"
ADDRESS BY DEAN CALLAHAN
The address of the occasion was deliv
cred by Dean n. E. Callahan of Tarbo,
Military Academy, Lawrence. Mass
Dean Callahan is a member of the Law
renee Lodge of ElSs and is well-knowr
in Elkdom. He said in part
Forty years ago an organization wa!
born in benevolence, dedicated to char
ity. Justice. brotherly love and fidelity
One hundred and forty-two years agt
to-day a new flag waved in our land
That flag waves just proudly to-da.
and its foundations were upon the SAM
principles as those taken for a part o
the soul Of the order of Elks. II Is At
ting then that an organization which
embodies the same principles as does tn
American flag honor the birth of tina
flag.
THE red in the stripes Of the tial
signifies sacrifice. Not only on the bat
tlefields, but in the homes. in the bust
ness, in the social and in the pleasure
of life The coeor denotes antagonist
spirit towards tyranny and royal rule
The red stripes have been significant o
|
and in 1918 and 1919.
The white and the blue in Old Gor
stand for purity. Together with purit
goes the thought of the Supreme Being
The flag is opposed to anarchy, Boil
shevism, socialism and commercialsr
and is backed to the last ditch by tn
Elks of the country. The flag stand
for education for all. and yet there ar
some people who would strip down GU
educational system which is the hop
of the republic of the future. The fla
is going to protect our educational sys
tenn. Christian democracy is what
wanted in the country to-day.
In good citizenship is taught b. tn
flag and expounded by the Elks. Tha
is one of the great needs of the countr
to-day--better citizens A good oitize
loves his God, his flag, his country an
, his home
, The American flag, born of revolt
ton, baptized by blood nurtured by saI
, rifice and consecrated by love, long ma
it wave over the greatest republic in III
, world"
The singing of America" brought tn
| exercises TO a close.
WITT M, DTCIIECT NTECDn