Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-27
GREAT INDEPENDENCE WEEK
PROGRAM TO START TOMORROW
''Patriots Pledge of Faith Day. With Celebration
Under Direction of d. A. r., to Launch
Observance eliminating July 5.

AS bells throughout the land re-
echo the peal Of the Liberty Bell that
proclaimed American independence to
the world $50 years ago, the Nation
tomorrow will greet American indie
pendence week with a re-pledge of
faith in the ideals of the Declaration
of Independence and renewed tribute
to its author, Thomas Jefferson.
One hundred and fifty years ago to-
morrow the Declaration was first pre-
scented to the Continental Congress as
penned by jefferson, the centennial of
whose death. falling on Independence
day, also is being commemorated dur
ing Independence week.
Observance in the National Capital
of the opening day of the week, desig.
mated as Patriots Pledge of Faith
Day. by the national commission es-
tablished by act of Congress and head
ed by President Coolidge, will center
in patriotic exercises to be held at Me-
mortal Continental Hall at 1890
o'clock tomorrow morning, under the
direction of the Daughters of the
American Revolution. The public is
invited to join with members of the
Cabinet, the Senate and House and
other prominent persons who have &C
copied invitations, IN attendance at
the exercises.
Beck to Give Grafton.
Former Solicitor General James NJ.
Beck will deliver the grafton at the
exercises, which will be broadcast
from station WCAP and will open
with patriotic selections by the Ma
rine Band. After reading of Scrip
lures and prayer by Mrs. Rhett Goode,
past chaplain general, the flag cere-
mony will be held, in which the colors
will be presented by a detail of Army
sergeants. The salute to the flag will
be led by Mrs. Herbert NJ. Lord, after
which The Star Spangled Banner"
will be sung by Mrs. Flora McGill
keefer.
The program has been timed so
that the strains of the National An
them will die away just as the ring
ing of bells in churches, schools, fire.
houses and other public buildings in
the Capital respond to the ringing
of the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia
by Mayor Kendrick. in commemora-
ton Of the independence peals of the
famous bell $50 years ago. Mayor
Kendrick will strike the Liberty Bell
at I'LL am, and the celebration COM
mission has asked that bells in every
city, town and hamlet Of the country
be rung on that minute of their local
time.
Chimes To Be Rung.
With the conclusion of Mr.. Beck's
address, the audience will recite the
american Creed" led by William
Tyler Page, its author. Mrs. Alfred
j. Brosseau, president general Of the
D. A. R., who will preside at the exer-
cises, has publicly requested that the
radio audience join in the recitation OF
the Patriots Pledge of Faith" and
the singing of America" which will
follow.
All churches, schools. fire houses,
boats, etc, having suitable bells are
requested to join in the bell ringing
commemoration. The chimes OF
Epiphany Church, Mount st. Adams
and Metropolitan Methodist Church
are to be rung.
The D. A. r. committee in charge
of seating arrangements for the exer-
cises is composed of Mrs. James NJ
Wiley, Mrs. c. c. Coombs. Mrs.
George Grimes, Mrs. Ralph Barnard
Mrs. J. NJ. Beavers, Mrs. Frank Nor
rison and Mrs. David Caldwell.
The Capitals big civic celebration
of the week will come on the evening
of Monday, July 5, which has been
designated by the national commits
sion as Sesquicehtennial Independence
day, in honor of the Nations 150th
birthday. Other days designated this
week are: Tuesday. Universal Edu-
cation day." in honor of the great
American system of free education;
Wednesday, Founders day in hon
or of the Nations founders; Thursday,
Greater America day." in honor of
the Louisiana purchase; Friday,
"Signers' day." in honor Of the sign
ers of the Declaration of Independ-
ence; Saturday, Monticello day." in
honor of the establishment of Month
cello as a memorial to Jefferson, and
Sunday, Jefferson Centennial day"
in honor of the Tooth anniversary of
Jeffersons death.
Big Celebration July 5.
The civic celebration on July will
include an elaborate pageant of lib
erty, 1.-The Story of America to be
presented on the Capitol steps at the
east front at 1880 o'clock, under the
auspices of the Community Center De-
partment and the direction Of the
committee on arrangements for the
local sesquicentennial celebration.
This will be followed by a fireworks
display IN the Monument grounds.
Government departments and bu-
reauS, patriotic bodies, civic, religious
and educational groups and art and
dramatic clubs all are giving support
in both personnel and enthusiasm to
insure that the pageant will be an
adequate celebration for the National
Capital of this momentous anniver-
sary in American history. Several
hundred persons will take part in the
pageant.
Following a meeting Of all chairmen
Of the pageant groups called by Miss
Bess Davis Schneider. personnel
chairman, to meet tomorrow after
noon at 4:3O o'clock, at the Franklin
Administration Building, and the final
meeting of the committee on arrange
ments at the same time and place on
Wednesday afternoon, the first re.
hearsal of the pageant will be held
on Wednesday evening at $50 O'Clock
on the east front of the Capitol. under
the direction of Miss Marie Moore
Forrest. Another rehearsal will be
neld at o'clock Thursday evening, and
all pageant groups are asked to re.
mort promptly for both. In case OF
rain on either evening, the rehearsal
will be held in the Capitol building.
Many to Take Part.
In the two scenes of the signing
of the Declaration" and washington
Resigning His Commission" members