Smyrna times., 1920-12-22

SnOl6S OF America,
America, the Beautiful
o, beautiful for Pilgrim feet,
Whose stern, impassioned stress
thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America Americal
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self control,
Thy liberty in law.
The men of 1919 and 1920 founded
better than they knew. From these
little beginnings has grown might
tide, the tide of liberty, which in the
three centuries that have elapsed, has
engulfed not only America, but all the
world. Liberty came tc those shores
in the form fthe charter for the
first assembly, and in the persons of
the Pilgrims; it returne dto the old |
world in the shape of great army, |
which did so much to overthrow the
last strongholds of medieval despot-
ism. The colonial fathers were "stei-
ping-stones" to greater things than
even they could foresee, or dare to
hope.
Our orderly progress for three hun
dred years, has been based on grad
ual broadening of the principle, that
the majority shall rule, with due res
pect to the primary rights of the in
dividual. That is still American faith.
1t is on trial today. But the more it
is tested, the more it's fundamental
soundness will be brought home to US.
This is a good time to recall Amerl-
can history, and ideals, and to turn
back to those incidents which figured
in the early days, of a now maturea
American spirit, and consciousness.
The Sulgrave Institution, which
maintains Sulgrave Manor, the ances-
tral English home of the Washington
family, was the first to suggest a SER
les of celebrations, in this year of his
: toric events connected with the begin
, rings of free institutions in this coun-
ry. With this end in view, the coop
Grafton of religious, patriotic and 9TH
or societies was invited; the result be-
ing the signatures of several hundred
leading men and women, heads of va
rious organizations numbering many
millions. Seventy cities are celebrat.
ing this work, and in New York eight
thousand school children took part iE
: the pageants.
At meeting in London April 1918
a programme was outlined and ap-
proved by British and American Off
cial committees in joint session.
This programme called for prepar ;.
tory work in the nature of special lee.
e lures, lantern slides, posters by cele
brated artists, and special instruction
in churches, schools and colleges.
Meetings were to be held from Jul,
to September in Boston and Cam
u bridge, and in Amsterdam, Leyden anc
the Hague. In September, Southamp
9 ton and Plymouth, where and Ameri
can delegation was invited to be pre-
y ent.
le In Virginia the celebration was t
'e center around Richmond, and Norfolk
= in October. November 18th, "Armis
~ tice Dayy", celebration throughout tn
~ English-speaking world, in honor {
g the "Mayfower" Compact,-one of ii
foundation-stones of free America
:" Institutions. Thanksgiving Day, ar
~ the Sunday following, univers
church services.
* 1t is to be hoped that this year
iie education must have left it's impre
on native and alien alike, as to VIII
y ''free institutions" have done throug
cn out the English-speaking world,
- contrasted with the. practices of t
re Bolhsevist, the anarchist, and the rac
en H cal Socialist.
iie 20 beautiful for patriotic dream
he That sees beyond the years,
90 Thy alabaster cities CLEAN
ia' Undimmed by human tears.
p. America, Americal God shed His grace
i thee,
io' And crown thy good with brotherho
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