Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-06-16
SPIRES OF THE SPIRIT
| Pledge ANeqiunce
BY DIR. FREDERICK BROWN HARRIS
chaplain Of the United States Senate

1OAu6 AulA sway hIlu HcI
vernal and Towering banners
are everywhere unfurled, 1t
Ia well that one Of her rare
days IL designated as Flag
Day. Just before this Spire
points upward, there will be
displayed q CONFEDERATION Of
banners, star.spangled, from
sea to shining sea, In en-
chanted islands, and the vast
northern stretches which are
united In the so stars. Multi
tudes of Americans, their
hearts beating high with ex-
ultant Joy. win proudly salute
the revered emblem Of their
costly heritage.
AS In this free land where
the people rule, across O con-
tinent the Stars and Stripes
flutter In the breeze, the
very sight Of 1t waving with
all Its glorious significance
brings to those who have
eyes to see and hearts to
feel . surge of gratitude for
the One who hath made and
preserved US q Nation. In
these torn and tortured times,
when violent revolutions are
blowing the earth, thanks be
to God that Dur flag is still
therel All the valiant ex-
ploits Of the yesterdays, and
the assurance and hope Of
today and the tomorrows,
warrant the ecstatic saluta-
ton to the flag from the
heart Of Angela Morgan
Let US CRY 1t aloud from the
steeple,
Let Us shout tuhere the
darkness 10 hurled
10, look to the light OF all
people,
, America - torch OF the
tcorldl
Now when reveling in the
dream which is America, one
says. II pledge allegiance
to the flag" that does not
mean the announcement Of
q cloSed-mind conformity to
the status quo. It voices q
loyalty that Is far removed
from what good old Samuel
johnson had in mind when
he suggested that patriotism
Is often the last resort Of q
scoundrel. He was but point.
ing TO the possibility of pass
ing off o counterfeit Of
genuine patriotism. He was
declaring that in the name Of
the real thing ignoble men
have prostituted the golden
qualities Of pure love Of
country. It is as II we should
say that religion Is the last
refuge Of q scoundrel-which
1t sometimes Is. But, never
theless. that hypocrisy does
not discount pure religion
and undefiled.
The brand Of alleged
patriotism which advertises
itself by loudly declaiming
MY country. may she al
ways be right" but always
MY country right or wrong"
stultifiee conscience and
degrades the flag. In our
generation we have seen the
dire results Of that sort Of
salute to national flags in
the sorry spectacle Of vast
populations engaged In the
game, follow the leader"
and thus betrayine the best
they knew as the blind led
the blind and fell together
into the ditch Of catastrophe,
with their nations In ruins
and their flags dishonored.
For patriots In all countries
1t has been written 30 that
he who runs may read that
there is q profoundly inn
portant distinction between
allegiance to the flag and
fealty to any false prophet
or group who may tempo
rarily ustr-p the seat Of
power.
When we pledge allegiance
to the flag. and do 1t with
full purpose Of heart, q part
Of our national creed must
ever be-: This country with
its institutions belongs to
the people who inhabit 1t.
Whenever they shall grow
weary Of existing Govern