Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-09


solely through the consent of the ParliamentS
OF the several kingdoms represented. It's ANAL
gamation, therefore, stands for constitution
and law The union of jacks of the constituent
parts of the British Isles may therefore be taken
as the first emblem of democracy. representing
the will of the people. the insignia Of con-
stituted liberty.
THE British general marine flag or ensign
today is red with the union In the upper
left-hand corner, next the staff. The part of
flag adjacent to the staff is called the hoist
then comes the center" and the outer end
portion is called the fly" Flags divided
by two imaginary cross lines into four equal
parts called 'cantons" one of the lines dividing
the flag laterally, the other perpendicularly.
The jack IS situated in the upper hoist canton.
The British have also white and blue ensigns.
These designated for naval use only, the
white representing the regular English naval
establishment; the blue being flown by ships OF
the royal naval reserve. The British ensguS
are purely maritime flags. The shore flag for
private use is the jack, alone.
Dating back to 10 years or more before the
party of make-beeve Indians (the leaders OF
whom were in reality members of st. Andrews
Masonic Lodge of Boston, brewed the worlds
biggest pot of tea by dumping into Boston Har-
Dor the cargo of the herb from British mer-
chairman, or the shot was fired at Concord
that was heard around the world the American
Colonists began to hold public patriotic as
Semblages, in indignant protest against the
growing expressions of the mother country. At
such times, so-called liberty poles were raised
on village green's as rallying points Following
the Unborn instinct OF man, flags of many de-
vices symbolic of sentiments Of patriotism were
hoisted upon these poles, and in every COM
munity throughout the Colonies, associations
calling themselves Sons Of Liberty Sprang into
being. 1t was these aggregations of indomi-
table liberty loving yeomen that formed the
nuclei from which the Revolutionary forces were
recruited.
:. The various emblems that few from the tops
Of the liberty poles were finally carried into the
battles of the war and served IS mighty iuspira-
eions to spur on the patriots to deeds of valor
ON many a bloody field. One of these flags
showed green pine tree on q white field under
the legend AN Appeal to Heaven" This was
the emblem of Massachusetts,. Another the en-
sign of Capt John Manley, in command of the
New England armed privateer schooner, Lee,
bore on white field q blue anchor centrally
located, with the word Hope" inscribed above
and having blue union with IS white stars.
This is remarkable as being the first flag of the
Revolution to bear a design of stars, and it is
noteworthy that they were Of the significant
number IS. This was also the first flag hoisted
on an American vessel of war, and TO it was
struck the first British flag on the sea- November
%, TITS, when Capt Manley captured the Brit
ish ship Nancy, off Boston. and gained thereby
1000 stand of badly needed arms q quantity of
military stores and supplies and some brass
cannon which aided materially later ON in max
ing Boston too hot for Gen Gage and what
Gen. Putnam called hts HOLSTERS" in reference
to the red coats of the British uniform
"A MONG other designs on Colonial banners
were blue ensign having q white union
bearing st. Georges cross and q small pine
tree; also red British ensign with the words
Liberty and Union" across the red field. The
pine tree, typical of ruggednesS and Steadfast-
ness, was favorite symbol in the design of CO.
lonial flags, combined with notices expressive
OF varying patriotic sentiments, and the image
OF the rattleSnake was frequently used, to-
gether with the words Don't tread on me-"
Sometimes the snake was depicted severed In
ID parts with the motto Unite or Die"
The flag that waved above the riddled palm
etto logs of Fort Sullivan's ramparts on that
victorious day of June 20, 1776, when the forces
of Col. Moultre crushed the attacking British
fleet in Charleston Harbor and put shot
through good old Admiral Sir Peter Parker.s
white breeches. was blue flag bearing a white
crescent In the upper hoist canton and the
motto Liberty"
A flag, said to be the oldest In the English
Colonies, was one OF plum color, bearing the
device of a mailed arm and fist in silver issu-
ing from silver cloud, probably of smoke at
the side and brandishing q sword. Three balls
appear in the field, thought to represent cannon
shot, and on yellow or gold ribbon there is a
legend in Latin, Vince Aut Morire" meaning
Conquer or Die" This flag was said to have
been used at the battles Of Lexington and Con-
cord. brought to the fray by the Minutemen
Of Bedford, and it is perfectly safe bet that 1t
was well remembered by those present who had
the Kings side of the argument that was the
business of the day-at least. such of them as
may have fingered long enough to get a good
look at it. and had the good fortune to get
back to Boston alive.