The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-07-04

forty-fourth anniversary OF the birth or
American Independence. majority OF
wheelinSS churches devoted some por-
ton OF their Sunday service to the o.
ScrvanCe OF America First day in &C
cordancc with procin nations Issued by
Governor Il. r. Morgan and Mayor
Thomas r. Thuner.
One Of the most elaborate OF the'e
America First day services held ~
Wheeling was that Inst evening at the
FIRST Presbyterian church. where the
First Presbyterian and Wheeling Bap-
list temple congregations. in union
service. heard an able discourse by DR..
Samuel H. Gibson on the topic, our
Stainless Flag" The music was an In
sniring feature Of this service AMI
Prof Elmer q. Hoelzlc. director Of the
First Presbyterian church choir. direct
cd the singing OF patriotic songs witH
all Of the spirit that characterized his
career as a song leader during the train
ing days OF 1917 In the marine camp at
Paris island.
Following is Il synopsis ~ tho patri-
otto sermon delivered at th!S service by
pr. Gibson:
Our STAINLESS flag.
righteousness cXalteth nation. hut
sin Is rcproaCh to any people.
Proverbs 1884
I'VE are on the eve OF the one hundred
and forty-fourth anniversary or the
birth OF American independence. These
stars and stripes tell a wonderful story.
Men have suffered and died that this
nag Of our country might a ways Mont
over n free people and wave over land
that never caused another nation 70 SUI
for. More than one hundred and forty
years ago this nag was first unturled -
the world. 1t was banner OF a new
brotherhood among men, and spoke
message OF hope TO the downtrodG&1
people OF all the earth. II challenged
/ the mighticst scepter OF kings who
claimed Il divine right 70 rule. and an
nounced that the day Of the people had
arrived. The dream OF our patriot fore
fathers has been realized, and America
, has become the greatest free republic on
earth. Around the world our nag has
| carried It's lessons, and other nations
| one by one. have Joined the sistcrhood OF
! democracy. We are glad It iioats over
more than one hundred million ire"
! Americans. We are proud OF what II
| has meant to tho nations OF the world.
| The world knows what 1t did for the o..
/ pressed people OF Cuba. Porto Rica and
| for the duwntrodden millions OF the
| Philippines Tho world MISC knows that
! the stars and stripes have found th"i-
! way into the battle line OF Europe. no;
! for greed or gain, but for humanity
and the rights OF free people.
"Hut, much as We love this flag. our
! nntiun has allowed It to be stained.
While armInE itself against enemies
who seek with battlcShips and soldiers
! 10 drag this flag in the dust and attack
the principles for which II was unfurlcd
! by our for"fathers. We have let Other
enemies put pollutine hands upon II.
. Things har" been done that dishonor the
nag. ThnughtlesS citizens have been
, busy making money that they have paid
little OF no attention to the evil things
, that have stained the flag OF the free
and tn" brave" Human slavery WAS n
black stain on our flag for many years
and resulted in one Of the bloodiest wars
In modern history Only ny the she'd
ding Of the best blood IN America was
thu flag rl"anS"d "f It's dcNlrmcnt. An
other Stnin quite as black marr"d the
beauty OF our fair flag for generations
mean Incompetence. The licensed
American saloon slew moro noble sons
than were lost in the country'S battles.
1t ruined homes. destroyed family hap
pincSS, blightcd the lives Of innocent
children, crowded police courts. filled the
jails insane aSylums and lnhrmaricS
and at last patriots arose demanding
that this evil thing be cast out. and to-
day our flax floats over slonnlcSs M
, ton. The stain has been removed from
the flag. But our beloved flag IL hardly
stainless yet. There remains much for
US to do. Ignorance Is stain which
continues to mar the beauty Of our
banner ami the happiness and strength
OF the nation. The children Of our lanl
~
who cannot rcn1 and writ" present
grave danger. our turrflthcrS hunnrel
the IRE" Srh"rl and planted it In our
land. 1t Is Tx" SunShin" nn the n'lA
where grain Is sown. Every good thinS
IN our nation Will grow If our peoples
ARE taught Every boy and girl under
the flax. ever, man and woman. foreign
81 nat!N, I"rn. should m given the
privileges nt our FREQ American .-ch"oit
which must b" defended against the
forces which srek hcir olrrthr"w. L.;
Us guard jraluuSly tn" American h""iE
from all un-Amrrican and anti-ChriStlIn
influence and power.
Prejudice Stain.
"l'rrJudIC, T. another stain. without
IL" removal "t which our nation cannot
hr thr great. understanding hrnthcrho"l
Nh!rh So -" imuch desire. There must
h. u" hr'r"'l lr.iw"ru rirh and puur.
Nh,t" and hlp.i. ia. native and Ia.
foreign born. II W. separate into riAsS'.s
md let pr'iudir" "nbjttrr our hear,
Hs:...iist p'"Ilr w.,, !i>r under this ha2;.
v" are d"t"r'"d although orr rnrm"
n;.iiun may u'N"r land 81 our Nh,-rs.
l'atr"iis ma christian PATRIOTS mutt
love owe another. Men who employ llhur
"nd mcn who labor must UNDERSTAND an
RESPECT ""Ch "thr''S right. or this S':.tl
VII mover Ia rrunrrd. \ great. new.
W"r.G-v .,.r brotherhood 81 men is CONT
ing. rnI "" - America must be At on"
with "ur-rl' - before We ran h.. At one
with ~" "urld.
"Wr"ua:'l""rs cannot h." prt-in;~; on:
righteousness rNnltS people. Wicked
A'S' viz nnrt or nnt."n. |: will %Nol
"ur army nud ak "Ir navy. It will rnh
NJ ~ ;ru" h"nni ..N"rN here. Wrong Is
mi :hti rHrGiN, and only r.Eht Will
""nTr"r II r',.rr .. w,"k"dn"SE abroad
flo oar laNi. sin I'D %elLshncSs rule in
- y Ir'Pl,'s. live. Wicked men cor
r'I"t "u- 1T! s.. ami "vil living leads m"7
away rom true patrint!SN. RriAes s1t
sr"f' 'I'' di~Dnn"r"d NJ? n TGhl!:
ri--"- ANA iS,nr ana cheat'nI the no:
unHrnNr u hdS'nr$> There are crimes
~ GROWING Nnmh"rs ard every pstr'"'