The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-06-16
An Entirely Adequate Service,
and Exercises Found Inter
esting by the Large
Audience.
KENDALL'S FINE SPEECH
Good Music by Keokuk Concert
Band and Ceremonies OF Rlt-
ual of the Order Com
plete Program.

PlCVS = ASE o
The Flag day exercises OF the heo
kuk lodge Of Elks al the Grand theaLeF
Sunday afternoon were entirely aoe
auate to the dignity and importance
OF the anniversary OF the american
fig
The Grafton of n. z Kendall was
very eloquent and beautiful; the
music was superb in qualiy; L
ritualistic exercises were OF simple
dignity and charm; in every way lie
celebration of Flag day as one OF the
special days of the order OF hihs was
excellent
The tfleater was elaoorateiy decor
ated with flags and green's
The stage upon which the oano was
also stationed was draped with Pro-
fusion OF the national colors. IN ZIG
rear was an immense flag which COM
pletely covered the wall ana lorneu
a background for the entire stage
setting.
IN the center Of the stage directly
oyer the bandmen was draped a iarse
fIag while over the proscen1um arch,
and in the wings on either SIDE,
large number OF smaller flags were
used with artistic effect.
The coIors Were Everywhere.
The auditorium itself was banked
on all sides with the colors. The Or
ehestra pit was completely covered
the boxes were each draped in artistic
manner. and the front OF the balcony
was also overhung with the natlonai
emblem.
Exalted Ruler Louis A Rovane, az
presiding officer of the meeting, leo
the opening exercises in which nVe
officers of the lodge responded IN
stating the principles for which the
flag that was being honored stands
The chaplain, Henry Pechsteln, leu
in the opening prayer.
j. F. Elder read the history OF me
flag, which, on June IA, 1777 was OIL
ciaily declared by congress TO De the
national insignia This was the DAN
ner as 1t was designed by Betsy boss
The history then followed 1t through
its various additions and changes up
until the present time.
The Serious Services.
In the symbolic building of the Lib
erty bell, the base was placed upon
the altar by Walter Wiesemann and
consisted OF mass of red roses the
center consisted of white lilies and was
placed by n. A Hodges. On the top
was fixed a smaller section Of VIC
lets placed there by Harry Fleming,
the whole taking the form OF liberty
hell in tbs. national cOLOTE.
Eleven strokes Of clock were
BOUNDED I'm memory OF the absent
brothers. Thus was double tribute
paid to the national flag and the
brothers who by that symbol might
even be remembered.
Miss Nina Hodge recited. the Elk's
tribute TO the flag. Her interpreta-
ton OF the stirring tribute was sym
pathetic and vital She conveyed TO
the audience the word picture OF all
that has gone to make the stars ana
stripes, as only an artist could do.
At the conclusion of the address OF
Mr.Kendall the audience Joined with
the band in the singing Of America.
But a small number attended the
services because Of the excessive heat
Of the day. The main floor of the thea
ter showed many vacant seats.
The Grafton Of Kendall.
'fSince 1917, we have been almost
literally reborn into a new spirit OF
attachment to our country" said n. Z.
Kendall, the orator Of the day for the
Flks.
1--WE are today simply and wholly
Americans without hyphens and with
out adjectives", was a sentiment that
was applauded by the audience.
That he was born on st. Patrick's
day with a father who left Ireland
after brickbat argument with land.
lord, developed from one paragraph OF
Mr.. Kendall's speech, introducing an
eloquent panegyric on America and
the stars and stripes.
I'VE are the residuary legatees OF
those invincible pioneers who haz
arded all for free government" fol
lowed fine resume Of the revolution
and led to another fine picture of tn,
war between the states, leaving, -;
free republic without a master ant
without slave"
Then came another word etching o
the Spanish war, which unified thi
country as nothing else could do, IAN
once again prescribing Europea
scepter from the western hem
sphere"
Why We Went to War.
UNLESS justice be done to Other
IL would not be done to u.s." he said I
our entrance into the world W;
which he said was our own war whtt
We had to win to save ourselves, al
which was fought that the Sermon {
the Mount need not be revised"
when we take our eyes from Il
stars and plant our feet on the sol
ground, we know we fought to mai
America safe and to save America
citizens" was statement that W;
loudly applauded.