Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-06-15
ELKS FLAG DAY
EVENT SUCCESS
Ceremony Last Night at City
Hall Park Most impressive
Martin Is Speaker.

Impressive, indeed, were the Flag
Day Exercises held under the aus
pieces of the Perth kmboy Lodge 784,
Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks, at the city hall park last night,
at which time Thomas F. Martin,
secretary of state of New Jersey, was
the main speaker.
The complete program started
with a short parade from Elks rooms
on Madison avenu TO the park, in
which the drum corp of the Third
Battalion Naval Militia. Boy Scouts
and members of the local lodge par
ticipated. At the park the Elks took
their places on the platform, while
the Boy Scouts formed a circle about
the front of the stand.
The first number of the program,
which was one of the best ever pre-
scented in an event of its kind here,
were the Introductory exercises by
Exalted Ruler A. F. Greiner and the
officers of the local lodge. who told
those present in a few words from
each the purpose of the gathering
and what the American Flag meant
to everyone attending.
This was followed by the prayer by
Rev. Wilbert Westcott, a selection by
the Third Battalion Naval Militia
band, and the history of the Ameri-
can Flag. which was read by Past
Exalted Ruler Emil Stremlau.
A feature of the evenings affair
was the altar service conducted by
Esquire Harry Ford and officers,
which consisted of four of the men,
bers erecting a Liberty Bell of
flowers in the center of the platform.
Each member of the quartet carried
his section to the table and with the
red base covered with roses, the CEN
ter of white lilies, the dome of vio-
lets, and a cross piece of gold stars,
formed a beautiful flower-covered
bell. AS each member added his Sec
ton to the construction of the bell,
the significance of that part was told
by the n presenting it.. This SER
vice was followed by Aud Lang
Syne," sang by the officers.
The Elks tribute to the flag was
then given by Charles Simmer, past
exalted ruler, who told the signifi-
canoe of the flag, the meaning of
each colored section, and the flag
from the Elks point of view. In his
stirring address the past exalted
ruler told of the origin of the flag,
its being the first to represent a peo-
pie, rather than a monarch, and its
long conflict and heroic struggle en-
countered until it expanded and gave
TO this country a new life of Liberty.
Following Mr.. Simmen's address,
Miss Elsie Schrimpf recited "Old
Flag" after which the Third Bat
talon Naval Militia band rendered a
selection.
Secretary Martin, was the next
speaker of the affair, and in a very
inspiring talk told those present the
objects of the meeting and the Elks
purpose of holding the exercises.
In the beginning of his remarks,
the secretary of state told of the l.
500 Elks lodges who were fostering
Flag Day exercises in all parts of
the country last night, saying that
the main purpose was to gather the
people to hear the things to be said
about the flag in order that the cit
izenship of everyone attending might
be elevated to the stand from which
highest Of respect and honor
would be given to "Old Glory"
In further remarks he flayed the
American citizen or the body of
American people who belong to a
class or who are in sympathy with
class who use the American flag
n carrying out their non-American
,nds, and who by their false doc
and teaching tend to destroy
his great country of ours.
THE American flag is for true
Americans only" he said, and its
lse in anything that is not wholly
American is only intended by those
icoundrels bearing it to destroy the
principals of our government"
He then told of the love of the
lag by those who died for it in
and said that they died
With the idea and thought in mind
hat their supreme sacrifice was the
compensation paid for the stopping
the war and the prevention of an
The speaker then talked on the
1elp and support to be given to the
younger generation, as prescribed by
President H~rding, and added that
first lesson in the lives Of Amer
cans in regard to their love and re-
spect for the flag should be given in
youth.
Mr.. Martin concluded by saying
he wished those present would
the meeting with the hope that
story told him by an old IN
1ianian was rue, and that they keep
Il in their hearts and memories for
ever. The story he said was that of
the creation OF the World by God,
In which he took seven days to ere
ate the trees, water and land, and
on the seventh day he rested. TT
was on this day" the speaker said,
that God came to the balcony of
the Heavens and looking down smil-
ed, and where this smile lighted, is
our country"
The next number OF the
the presentation of ~$2,246.26 by
Past Exalted Ruler Harold E. Pick
ersgill to the local Boy Scouts as the
result Of the recent campaign con-
Quoted by the local order of Elks.
In presenting the money the Re-
corder told the boys that to raise
the money was like taking candy
from a child" and that If more was
needed the Elks would only be too
glad to come forth and lend another
helping hand.
The past exalted ruler then in a
few added words told of the work of
the Elks organization at the present
time. He said that IN former years
the Elks were recognized as a body
who were organized for a good time,
but now they have become an organ
ization Of serious responsibility, and
he pointed out the work done for
the crippled children and the Boy
Scouts of late.
He then reversed his words to the
drive for the support of the Boy
Scout movement, and said that he
had three reasons for taking a place
on the committee appointed TO do
this work. First, to show hal the