The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-06-21
UNITED STATES WILL CELEBRATE
 SERBIAN HOLIDAY

Facts concerning European. nations .that were introduced to America by 1tMey World War am& that previously were as foreign to the average resi- aent, of the United States as the na- tt80ms themselves are gradually being absorbed into the national character, and one of the oldest celebrations of ono of stfre oldest countries of the Old Wor1d is soon to be observed with mtcm cerornorry in this country.
 KCssoV@ Bay--the most nemora- fbae> date dm the history of Serbias sae heroic 4ftt1e Balkan Kingdom that aguuea so prominently in the opening days of the great war amd that suf- rrerea so greatly i'm the wake Of tho colossal couf1ict-is. to be commence ' rated in, America on June 2S. To tSerbia, Kossov@ Day marks the tseqq1avaaent of the American Independ- I,ences Day. It is that and more in the hearts and memories of Serb patriots, For it nrears not alone political inde- bpemdence, bout sapnrdtua1 Independence fas wela, ama tto the devout natives of vnar-torm Serbia, sometimes called t'the ~tC1nderelIa of the NatdDns,~ spfr- smtual irdependence4is the more para mount slu7a1fty.
 This ancient observance or this
 
 aBoug fffh a. multiplicity of customs and rites asa heritage of the war, and has been conanaemorated in a snaM way for the two years following tfe aIna5suice. This year it is to be unorte generally and fulay regarded, ] the knowledge and import of its meaning having gaimed am impetus sthrsomgh the two past years that give to tlhfs years celebration a. wider and yramaer setting.
 | KosSovo Day, comparable In ! American history only to Indepena- emce Day, is re~ered i'm Serbian his tory because it is the anniversary of the day 5s31 years ago waaeu the Cross of sseribia was auraye@ against the tCrescemt of Tnnrasey om the field of Kossov'o. With the choice of accept ing power and glory in exchange for ypassage of the hosts of Sultan Murad through Serbian territory, Lazar, Header of the Serbians, fouted the eoffer, and, true to his trust as guard dam of the sGate, to the East and to Sthes Cross of God, he chose death with ihnnor rather than life with shame ! By nig@frau Of that memorable day, the entire Serbian army with stheir heroic leader lay dead upon the gbattHcfzead, and aithoug the Crescent kHldd 1T1uTmP1l@ the ~dS facf1ieved at so great a cost that Ser fbda7s sacrifice was not in vain Through a1a tho ages since, the memory of that conflict has been kept so green that the bulwarlS of Chris Itianity hasysa1rvived- For years Ser gbSa politically was dead. for half a. century the nation was in bondage under Turkish dominatio but spir- ituaaly Serbia's career lived on, and eventually the Turkish yoke was thrown off Serbia's military defeat was her spiritual and political vic tory.
 Asrits greatest significance as a me 1raorab9e date is primarily of relig- .ious nature, it is altogether fitting that the churches should be in the vanguard of those to pay tribute to 'Kossovo Day The Federal Councils of Churches of Christ in America, representing 31 denominations, has endorsed the movement to make Kos sovo Day the subject of sermons on June ey. Charles s. Macfariand, president of the Federal Council, has personally approved of the plan, and every pastor in the United States has been requested, to appeal to their con-
 xresafioDss on this date