THE BUILDER AUGUST 1916

THE STORY OF "OLD GLORY" -- THE OLDEST FLAG

BY BRO. JNO. W. BARRY, IOWA
PART II

JUST what suggested to Washington either the Cambridge flag or the
stars and stripes can never be known because he never referred to
the matter in any way. Yet several theories are advanced, each
claimed, to be the one. In No. 18-A, the flag of the Philadelphia
Light Horse Troop is shown. Preble says:--(14)

"This is the first known instance of the use of stripes to
represent the colonies." Abraham Markoe was captain of the
Philadelphia Light Horse Troop. King Christian VII of Denmark, of
which country Markoe was a citizen, forbade his subjects taking
sides against England under pain of confiscation of all their
property. Captain Markoe decided to resign and in doing so
presented this flag, which the .. Troop used June 23, 1775, in
escorting both Washington and Philip Schuyler as far as New York on
their way to take command of the army at Cambridge. Whether this
flag suggested the stripes to either Washington or Schuyler must be
forever unknown. But because it is thought to have done so, the
flag is carefully preserved between glass plates--the treasure of
this famous troop whose organization is still as young and vigorous
as when founded in 1774. The Light Horse has participated in nearly
every presidential inauguration from Washington to Wilson and in
other national functions--often under the banner given them by
their first captain.

Another theory assigns Washington's arms (Fig. 19, Color Plate) as
the real origin of both the stars and stripes. However, Washington
never in any connection referred to his arms as even remotely
connected with the flag and did not use it until very late in life,
and then for the most part only as a book mark. Still another
theory is that the flag of Rhode Island was the real inspiration.
However, this theory is seldom referred to because of other
suggestions of an earlier date.

Finally there is a theory that John Adams took the idea of the
stars from the constellation Lyra, which in the hands of Orpheus
meant harmony-- hence the wording of the resolution "representing
a new constellation"-- but John Adams never said so--and other
record, there is none.

Preble after citing the Philadelphia Light Horse flag as suggesting
the stripes, says (15) that the first known suggestion of stars
appeared in the Massachusetts Spy for March 10, 1774, and was
written for the anniversary of the Boston Massacre.

"A ray of bright glory now beams from afar, 
The American ensign now sparkles a star 
Which shortly shall flame wide through the skies."


But here again theory alone is the only basis for belief. Whether
the flag of the English East India Company was known to Washington
is as much a theory as any of the others, the presumption being in
its favor only because it was an old and well known flag and almost
the exact counterpart of the one Washington did raise at Cambridge
"to the joy of the British" at Boston. But why look beyond
Washington for eliminating the King's Colors and substituting the
stars of an independent nation ? Washington raised the Cambridge
flag--it was his idea, no matter from what source suggested. Later,
in Philadelphia with independence in sight, he knew the flag would
have to be changed and had his drawing of it. He asked George Ross
who could do it, and was taken to the widow of his nephew, John
Ross, a fellow patriot. The idea was Washington's as much as were
the plans for the battle of Trenton or Princeton or Yorktown.

It is a striking coincidence that Columbus discovered America while
looking for India and then the flag of the United states 300 years
after should find its prototype in the flag of India.

PEACE--PEACE AND THERE WAS NO PEACE

Peace was declared in 1783, but there was no peace in reality until
after the war of 1812. Not only were English troops maintained on
American soil, but England refused to send a minister to the U.S.
and John Adams, our minister to England, received unjust snubs at
every turn as his only recognition and returned to the U.S. in
utter disgust. Following England's lead, most of the nations also
refused trade arrangements with us. Finally our condition became so
bad that our surplus products rotted where they grew. Conditions
became much worse than during the war, for owing to the policies
pursued toward us by foreign countries, our manufacturers, small as
they were, were utterly destroyed. The states not only declined to
live up to the Confederation, but were at such enmity with each
other as to actually resort to the use of arms, and blood-shed was
but narrowly averted. A reign of anarchy worse than the French
Revolution that followed, was everywhere predicted. Could the
states be saved from themselves? Lord Sheffield, predicting dire
anarchy, suggested that "in case of the renewal of hostilities, a
few stout frigates cruising on the Coast would be all sufficient--
that it would be wise to send a consul to EACH state. (16)

Josiah Tucker, Dean of Gloucester, wrote:--"As to the grandeur of
America and its being a rising empire under one head, whether
republican or monarchial, that is one of the idlest and most
visionary thoughts ever conceived by writers of romance--They are
a disunited people to the end of time, suspicious and distrustful
of each other, they will be divided and subdivided into
commonwealths and principalities." (17)

That such foreign comment was more than justified may be judged
from a letter Washington wrote from Mt. Vernon to Knox, Dec. 26,
1786, thus:--"I feel my dear General Knox, infinitely more than I
can express to you, for the disorders that have arisen in these
states. "Good God! Who besides a Tory could have foreseen or a
Briton predicted them ?" (18)

Before the so-called peace, every effort was made to show how much
better the English soldiers fared, and after peace, the English
parliament spent over $30,000,000 to reimburse American Tories who
had left the United states and no opportunity was lost to contrast
this munificence with the almost nothing Congress was able to do
for the Revolutionary soldiers and sailors. Was the flag they
carried to victory world renowned to go down in the strife
miscalled peace, as "Rebel Stripes" ? Truly the warfare of peace
was more deadly than the cannon shot and shell. But the wiser
council prevailed, and finally the Constitution was adopted and the
stars and stripes came triumphant even through that strife called
peace. Instead of the prophesied division, two new stars and two
new stripes were added to the flag May 1, 1795, to represent
Kentucky and Vermont.

FROM THE CIRCLE TO THE "OBLONG SQUARE"

The bill for the flag change originated in the Senate and on Jan.
7, 1794, the House considered the bill in a long debate, which
contrasts sharply with the adoption of the original thirty word
flag resolution June 14, 1777. The most effective argument in favor
of the change was the importance first of notifying the world at
large by the STARS in the flag of the nation, that so far from
division, there were new states ADDED, and second the great
importance of not offending the new states. In Fig. 20, Color
Plate, the flag change is shown.--So the circle of 13 stars became
the oblong square of 15 stars--a step in advance, to the utter
discrediting of the pessimists.

This is truly a flag of "passing"--a coming of the nation to the
vigor of young manhood--a passing from the small petty jealousy of
strict construction to the broad national policy embodied in the
Louisiana Purchase. It is the flag under which real peace and union
were achieved through the war of 1812; the flag that inspired Perry
to outdo Caesar's famous message, "I came, I saw, I conquered,"
with his: "We have met the enemy and they are ours." But while its
material achievements are great almost beyond compare, yet its
chief claim to distinction must ever be regarded as that of
converting the minds of the people from the idea of a mere loose
aggregation of sovereign and independent states to that of one
great united and happy commonwealth.

THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER FLAG

The thought is crystalized in The Star Spangled Banner by Francis
Scott Key. His brother-in-law, Chief Justice Taney, says that the
scene described is no mere fancy but exactly what Key saw and felt
while the battle was fought and when it was won by his countrymen.
Key had gone out to the British fleet under a flag of truce to get
his friend Dr. Barnes released, and was himself then held as
prisoner until after the battle.

The picture here shown in No. 21 is from a photograph of the actual
Star Spangled Banner flag in 1774. This was a large flag, being 29
feet hoist and 40 feet fly before relic hunters shortened it to 32.
It has 15 stripes each two feet wide and 15 stars each two feet
from point to point. It can't be said the enemy "never touched it,"
but you ought to have seen the flag of the English Admiral
Cochrane.

Strangely enough, the music to which the star Spangled Banner is
sung, like the music of "America," is from an Old English song
entitled "To Anacreon in Heaven."

ESTABLISHING "OLD GLORY"

In 1794 when the proposed addition of two stars and two stripes was
under discussion, a few opposed it and asked what would be done
when there would be twenty new states. This statement though
ridiculed as the objection of a dreamer, yet by 1816 it was near
fact, so that this time it was proposed to ESTABLISH the United
states flag in some form that would represent all the states all
the time. Congressman Peter Wendover of New York introduced a
resolution in December, 1816, with this in view. After pages of
discussion the matter was referred to Captain Samuel C. Reid famous
as the commander of the General Armstrong during the great sea
fight in the harbor of Fayal. Such was the man who was asked to
design a flag to represent ALL the states ALL the time so that
Congress might ESTABLISH the flag once and for all. He designed the
present flag meeting the requirement as follows:

1. For the original 13 states, the original flag of 13 stars and 13
stripes.

2. For the new states already admitted, one additional star for
each.

3. For future states, one star for each to be inserted July 4th
following its admission.

The sample flag was made by his wife, Mrs. Reid, and presented to
Congress. 'Twas ever thus, enduring stars are made by women. Betsy
Ross, the widow of a man killed in the services of his country,
made the first starry flag and Mrs. Samuel C. Reid, the wife of a
man who risked his life in one of the most daring battles in naval
annals, made the last and they each used colors never known to run.
So mote it ever be. Though the change did not become effective
until July 4, 1818, yet Congress in compliment to Mrs. Reid hoisted
the new flag over the Capitol April 13, 1818.

The flag Mrs. Reid made is shown in Fig. 22, (Color Plate) exactly
as adopted. Though the wording of the new law provided for
increasing the stars above 13, yet Congress made no provision then
or since for the arrangement of the stars. The twenty stars in Mrs.
Reid's flag were formed into "one great star," says Preble, "and
such was the arrangement for many years by the Military Department
whereas the Navy Department adhered to arranging the stars in
parallel lines." Finally the Navy arrangement by agreement with the
Military Department, has come to be the only one in use, and Old
Glory today is an "oblong square" of stars six deep and eight wide.

THREE VARIANTS OF THE FLAG

In the great seal of the United states and in the great seals of
many of the individual states a variant of the flag is used. This
is also true in battle flags knows as "company colors."

THE FLAG IN THE SEAL OF THE UNITED STATES

The seal or arms of the United States is, on one side, really a
form of the flag and is held equally sacred. It is the emblem of
authority on all documents of state.

"As well might the Judas of treason endeavor
To write his black name on the disk of the sun
As try the bright star-wreath that binds us to sever,
And blot the fair legend of 'many in one.' "

July 4, 1776, Dr. Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were
the first committee appointed to prepare a seal for the United
states and finally after several other committees had worked on it,
it was adopted June 20, 1782. Wm. Barton and Secretary Charles
Thompson gave the designs the final touches and as a whole the seal
is a composite--the work of many patriots. The all seeing eye in
the triangle above the pyramid is from Dr. Franklin as also the
words at the top meaning "God has favored the undertaking" and at
the bottom "a new series of ages." Contrast the six years and the
many pages of discussion to adopt this seal with the thirty word
resolution of June 14, 1777, adopting the stars and stripes.

In state seals our own Iowa is the best example--using "Old Glory"
unchanged.

THE FLAG IN THE SEAL AND COVENANT OF IOWA

Old Glory celebrated on the 4th of July, 1847, by adding a star of
the first magnitude, representing Iowa which on Dec. 20, 1846, had
become a state. In token of her sincerity in this solemn
engagement, Iowa took as her seal and covenant the beautiful design
shown in Fig. 23-- an eagle guarding the flag as her sons then did,
do now and promise always to do. In it you see the citizen soldier,
his right supporting Old Glory, the liberty cap resting thereon,
his left grasping his gun, which is to signify 

That Old Glory will wave o'er the land of the free,
Just so long as it is the home of the brave.
Here in the "East" as a background is the Father of Waters with the
good ship Iowa under way.
"Thus, too sail on O ship of State; 
Sail on O Union strong and great, 
Humanity with all its fears--
With all the hopes of future years
Is hanging breathless on thy fate." 

Before referring to the third variant, it might be well to give the
origin of the name "Old Glory."

"OLD GLORY"--WHENCE ORIGINATED THESE WORDS ?

Often have you heard the name "Old Glory" and it is frequently
asked "Whence originated these words?" If you should go to Essex
Institute, Salem, Mass., you would see there carefully cared for
the particular flag to which the name "Old Glory" was originally
applied. You would see also the portrait of a sea captain with
which is framed a letter, acknowledging an unusual service. The
letter and picture are endorsed as follows:--

"My Ship, My Country, and My Flag, Old Glory," Signed--"William
Driver." (21)

Until 1837, Captain Driver followed the sea, sailing out of Salem,
Mass., where he was born. In 1831 while in command of the ship
Charles Doggett he rendered an unusual service in the Southern
Pacific, in recognition of which, he was given the beautiful flag
which inspired the name "Old Glory." In 1837 he quit the sea and
moved to Nashville, Tenn. On gala days "Old Glory" was always to be
seen on his house. When the war begun in 1861, many efforts were
made to capture this particular flag. In February, 1862, the Union
troops under Gen. Nelson captured Nashville. Horace N. Fisher aid
to General Nelson tells the story as a participant. (21) He says:--

"Capt. Driver,--an honest-looking, blunt-speaking man,--was
evidently a character; he carried on his arm a calico-covered
bedquilt; and, when satisfied that Gen. Nelson was the officer in
command, he pulled out his jackknife and began to rip open the
bedquilt without another word. We were puzzled to think what his
conduct meant. At last the bedquilt was safely delivered of a large
American flag, which he handed to Gen. Nelson, saying, 'This is the
flag I hope to see hoisted on that flagstaff in place of the d--d
Confederate flag set there by that d--d rebel governor, Isham G.
Harris. I have had hard work to save it; my house has been searched
for it more than once; my wife devised a safe hiding place for it
by quilting it into this old calico bedquilt.' He spoke
triumphantly-with tears in his eyes.

"Gen. Nelson accepted the flag with manly emotion and ordered it
run up on the State House flagstaff, when all heads were uncovered
and the troops presented arms; he swore that that very flag should
stay there, night and day, as long as he was in command at
Nashville."

During 1862 William Driver wrote a series of letters which were
published in his old home paper, The Salem Register, (22) referring
so often to the United States flag as "Old Glory" that he himself
became known as "Old Glory Driver." (23) The name he gave it fits
so well that our flag is now known everywhere as Old Glory, the
greatest symbol known among nations.

NOT UNTIL 1912 WAS THE EXACT FORM OF OLD GLORY MADE DEFINITE

Up to 1912, there was a wide variation in the United States flags.
The record demonstrates that both use and uniformity as to the flag
in the various departments have been of very slow growth. The navy
alone acted promptly in the use of the early flag. After Congress
adopted the stars and stripes June 14, 1777, there was a long
correspondence between Washington and the "Board of War." (24) It
was thought that our army "should carry a variant from the marine
flag." (24) The correspondence shows that the flag finally agreed
upon as army colors, was ready for distribution in the fall of 1782
but does not show just what the "variant" was. But from
Washington's letter of Sept. 14, 1779, it probably was a serpent
across the stripes of the flag adopted June 14, 1777. While the
flags were never distributed, yet up to 1916 they have never been
located. (25) So the flags used during the entire Revolution might
be called "personal" in that they were not furnished by the
government. Regimental or company "colors" have usually combined
features of the flag. As heretofore indicated no definite
specification had been made for the arrangement of either the stars
or the stripes. This resulted in such a variety of designs that in
1837 Holland asked its representative in this country to advise
just what the United States flag really was. (26) Other countries
made similar requests. Finally Gen. Schuyler Hamilton in 1851 was
directed to investigate. This resulted in the first careful study
of our flag and was published in 1852 in the form of a history of
the flag. Still the desired uniformity did not obtain and all
through the Civil War there was a variety of flags and colors. As
recent as 1912, investigation showed 66 different proportions and
forms in use by the executive departments of the government. (28)
Finally, Oct. 29, 1912, President Taft signed an "Executive" order
(27) embodying the recommendations in the report which had been
agreed upon by representatives of the various departments of the
government. This order is very specific, defining minutely all
details of the flag--but still sanctions the old custom in the Navy
of using only 13 stars in the "small boat" flags. (29)

MASONRY'S PART IN THE GREAT SYMBOL--OLD GLORY

The natural desire to avoid hemp collars resulted in the "Secret
Pact" in Congress and prevented a record of many things now
desirable to know. So it is in Masonic history of that time, the
exclusive character of Masonry and the loss of most of the scant
records made, bar out forever many things the craft would now like
to know. Yet enough remains to show that Masonry was the generator
and supplied the current for the varied activities both civil and
military during the Revolution which gave the world the great
symbol of that "new constellation," the United States.

IN THE BEGINNING

The most loyal subjects of the king--such were our brothers in all
the years immediately preceding 1776. But there was a force among
them generating those impulses which impel men to yield their lives
rather than their honor, and to make the regularity of their own
behavior the best example for the conduct of others less informed.
At both their meeting and parting they were exhorted to meet upon
the level and act upon the square. When therefore their king began
that unwise policy of treating them as below the level of
Englishmen, and so far from acting on the square as to actually
deny their rights under the English Constitution, they petitioned,
they remonstrated, and being spurned, they rebelled. Perhaps their
position has never been better stated than by Edmund Burke right in
the English Parliament. He said:--

"The Americans will have no interest contrary to the grandeur and
glory of England, when they are not oppressed by the weight of it.
. . I confess I feel not the least alarm from the discontents which
are to arise from putting people at their ease; nor do I apprehend
the destruction of this empire from giving, by an act of free grace
and indulgence, to two millions of my fellow-citizens, some share
of those rights upon which I have always been taught to value
myself. . . Let the colonies always keep the idea of their civil
rights associated with your government,--they will cling and
grapple to you and no force under heaven will be of power to tear
them from their allegiance. But let it be once understood that your
government may be one thing and their privileges another; that
these two things may exist without any mutual relation, the cement
is gone, the cohesion is loosened, and every thing hastens to decay
and dissolution."

THAT OCEAN TEA PARTY AT BOSTON

Mistaking the attitude of the Americans, as well as that of their
king, The English East India Company had offered to refund the tax
by selling tea at a less price in America than in England. The King
insisted on his claimed right to tax without consent. So Burke's
resolution of conciliation was voted down in England Parliament by
270 against 78. The issue was joined: England claimed the right to
tax without consent; the Americans denied such claim. England said:
"Land the tea"--A gathering Dec. 16, 1773, in "The Old
South-Meeting House" said "No." A messenger had been sent to Milton
to urge Hutchinson, the King's representative, to order the tea
back to England. Long after dark his refusal was delivered by Rotch
the messenger. At once Adams announced: "The meeting can do nothing
more to save the Country." (30) When the church doors opened there
were 40 to 50 men disguised as Indians, "and" says Avery, "in two
or three hours 342 chests of tea valued at about 1800 pounds
sterling were emptied into the sea." The smoothness of the
performance suggests a master playwright and many rehearsals. When
the work had been completed the crowd quietly dispersed, and before
daybreak Paul Revere was riding fast to Philadelphia with the
glorious news that "Boston had at last thrown down the gauntlet for
the king to pick up."

WHENCE CAME THESE INDIANS?

The "Sons of Liberty" met at the Green Dragon Tavern where St.
Andrew's Lodge also met regularly. This was the lodge of Paul
Revere and Joseph Warren. It was a "North-End Lodge" whose secret
meetings alternated with the "High Sons of Liberty," who controlled
ALL the early Revolutionary movements. The men WERE the SAME in
BOTH. (31) The record of that lodge on Nov. 30, 1772, showed only
seven members present and in the record is this statement: "N. B.
Consignees of Tea took up the brethrens' time." On December 16, the
night of the Ocean Tea Party, the secretary after noting that the
lodge closed until the next night, makes the T entry thus:--"On
account of the few members in attendance" (32) and then fills up
the page with the letter "T" made big. Gould says (33) this record
is the only one of that now famous Ocean Tea Party at Boston.

A DIGNIFIED MASONIC EVENT

That Ocean Tea Party was as dignified a Masonic event as the laying
of a Corner stone--as indeed in very truth it was. Here is what
that eminent authority John Fiske says of it:

"For the quiet sublimity of reasonable but dauntless moral purpose,
the heroic annals of Greece and Rome can show no greater scene than
that which the Old South-Meeting House witnessed on the day (night)
when the tea was destroyed." (34)

Avery says: "An authoritative answer to the oft asked question,
'Who emptied the tea'? has never yet been given. (35) But Bro. Paul
Revere was well on his way to Philadelphia before morning."

But "Listen my brothers and you shall hear of another ride of Bro.
Paul Revere." Grand Master Warren had sent Bro. Paul Revere to
notify the Minute-Men at Lexington and Concord and to warn Bros.
Hancock and Samuel Adams upon whose head the British had set a
price. On that memorable April 19th, when the signals were
displayed in Old North Church, Paul Revere was arrested just out of
Lexington but William Daws and Dr. Prescott, a "High Son of
Liberty," who had joined him, escaped and reached Concord in time
to arouse the Minute Men and prevent the capture of the military
stores there. Thus the members of St. Andrew's Lodge otherwise
referred to as "High Sons of Liberty" or "North-End Mechanics,"
under the leadership of Paul Revere, later Grand Master. and Grand
Master Warren had defeated the first effort of the English to
enslave them. They had passed the "south and west gates."

"THE EAST GATE"

Preparations for "Bunker Hill" were at once begun. Profane history
describes Deputy Grand Master Richard Gridley as a skillful
engineer and artillerist" and he was chief engineer in planning the
defenses on Bunker Hill and Dorchester Heights. Here, what England
proposed, she was about to perform. The caviling at the "East Gate"
was heard and Grand Master Warren soon fell a martyr in the cause
of human liberty. But his death was as the blood of a martyr in
stimulating thousands of his brothers to yield their lives rather
than their honor even as he had done. A monument was erected by
Charlestown Masons in 1794 "to commemorate his labors, his fidelity
and his untimely death." It was replaced by Bunker Hill monument in
1857, inside of which a model of Warren's monument was placed.

ARMY LODGES

If the action of St. Andrew's Lodge were not merely typical of the
generative force actuating patriots everywhere, then it would be
but small evidence upon which to base Masonic claims in
establishing Old Glory. But the fact is the leaders were nearly all
Masons and so steps were at once taken to organize army raveling
lodges. St. John's Regimental Lodge had already been organized in
N.Y. but the first one in the Continental Army was American Union
Lodge organized in the "Connecticut Line" but because working in of
Massachusetts, its warrant was issued and signed by Richard Gridley
D.G.M. Feb. 15, 1776. This is the same Gridley who was chief
engineer of the army at the time. Of the ten or more military
lodges, the only one whose record has been preserved in anything
approximating entirety is American Union. In 1859, the Grand Lodge
of Connecticut published the American Union record almost in full
from Feb. 15, 1776, to April 23, 1783, (38) --its last meeting as
a military lodge. These army lodges were primarily officers'
lodges--if you please, Masters' lodges seeking to find the right.
On page 16, is a list of the members to Oct. 11, 1779, of American
Union Lodge. This list is an exception to every other list of names
in the record in that the first name and title are given. Almost
without exception they are all officers. So far then, here are the
members of St. Andrew's Lodge and other Boston Masons assisted by
Connecticut Masons, organizing an army lodge that together they may
divide themselves in parties and go in quest of the Hessian
ruffians. So by the record, Masonry was in the struggle for liberty
in the beginning.

FOR MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS THEY LABORED

The work of Masonry was sustained and dignified throughout the
entire Revolutionary period. The army lodge was to the officers a
confidential club and to the sick and wounded the "Red Cross"
though under a different MARK. Scant as are the records of American
Union Lodge, yet so many clues are suggested that to follow out all
of them would far exceed the scope of this effort. Therefore only
a few meetings will be noted here.

ST. JOHN'S DAY, JUNE 24, 1779

At Nelson's Point near West Point, N.Y., on June 24, 1779, American
Union Lodge met to celebrate St. John The Baptist's Day. (39) After
opening, the lodge marched to the "Red House," General Patterson's
Headquarters, where says the record, "Lodge opened in ample form."
Then followed a list of 99 members and visitors. Continuing, "after
the usual ceremonies, the Lodge retired to a bower in front of the
house, where being joined by his Excellency George Washington and
family--an address was delivered by Bro. Hull." This kind of
education bound the officers to UNION of effort --the cause for
which they were risking their lives.


(14) Vide Preble p. 252. 
(15) Vide page 251 
(16) Vide Spencer and Lossing's Complete History of the United
States Vol. 
(17) Avery VI p. 386. 
(18) Avery VI p. 397 
(19) Vide Preble p. 721. 
(20) Vide Preble p. 339 
(21) Vide Essex Institute Historical Collections July 1901. p. 261.
(22) Essex Institute Historical Collections January, 1911. 
(23) Preble. 
(24) Vide Gherardi Davis' Colors of U. S. Army 1785-1912. 
(25) Vide address R. C. Ballard Thruston National Year Book,
Society of The Sons of The Revolution for 1915, p. 260. 
(26) Vide address R. C. Ballard Thruston National Year Book Society
of The Sons of The Revolution for 1915, p. 264 
(27) Executive Order Vol. 1637, Oct. 29, 1912, Wm. H. Taft. 
(28) Vide No. 1637 Oct. 29, 1912, Wm. H. Taft. 
(29) Vide address R. C. Ballard Thruston National Year Book the
Sons of The Revolution 1915, p. 265. 
(30) Vide Avery V 5, p. 166. 
(31) Vide Centennial Memorial of St. Andrew's Lodge, p. 112. 
(32) Vide Same, p. 113. 
(33) Vide Gould's American Addenda, p. 347. 
(34) The American Revolution, John Fisk. 
(35) Vide Avery V 5, p. 167. 
(36) Washington the Man and Mason. 
(37) Vide Lossing. 
(38) Vide Record of Freemasonry Grand Lodge Conn., V. 1. 
(39) Vide Vol. 1 Conn. Grand Lodge, p. 30-1-2. 

(To be Continued)

DEATH THE LEVELLER

The glories of our blood and state
Are shadows, not. substantial things;
There is no armor against fate;
Death lays his icy hand on kings:
Sceptre and Crown
Must tumble down,
And in the dust be equal made
With the poor crooked scythe and spade.
Some men with swords may reap the field,
And plant fresh laurels where they kill: 
But their strong nerves at last must yield;
They tame but one another still: 
Early or late 
They stoop to fate 
And must give up their murmuring breath 
When they, pale captives, creep to death.

The garlands wither on your brow;
Then boast no more your mighty deeds; 
Upon Death's purple altar now
See where the victor-victim bleeds: 
Your heads must come 
To the cold tomb; 
Only the actions of the just 
Smell sweet, and blossom in their dust.
--James Shirley.

CHARACTER

The reason why we feel one man's presence, and do not feel
another's, is as simple as gravity. Truth is the summit of being:
justice is the application of it to affairs. All individual natures
stand in a scale, according to the purity of this element in them.
Men of character are the conscience of the society to which they
belong.
--R. W. Emerson.

