THE BUILDER JULY 1916


THE STORY OF "OLD GLORY" THE OLDEST FLAG
BY BRO. JNO. W. BARRY, IOWA

WE Masons who teach so continuously and so much by symbols, point
with a pride truly laudable to the part of Masonry in estabing the
greatest symbol known among nations--the stars and stripes now so
fondly called "Old Glory."

At its entrance it was received on the sharp points of many
instruments, but being borne by those taught to yield their lives
rather than their honor, it passed all obstructions and was finally
raised and "in triumph it will wave o'er the land of the free so
long as it is the home of the brave."

While most of the Masons were united in opposing their king's claim
of "a divine right to govern wrong," yet some of them were on the
king's side, but for the most part they moved to Canada, so that in
general while every patriot was not a Mason, yet every Mason was a
patriot. These Canadians from the States had long memories which
served to promote and prolong a greater enmity toward us by Canada
than had ever been evinced by England, greatly retarding the benign
influence of the Masonic tie. Even to this day our Canadian
brothers esteem it an honor that their ancestors refused to turn
"traitor" and with us a Revolutionary ancestor is a birth mark of
distinction--yet the mellowing of time has brought a kindlier note
and "God save the King" and "America" are chanted to the same tune,
and Old Glory is honored now by the descendants of its bitterest
foes at its entrance in 1776.

THE ENTRANCE OF"OLD GLORY"

First will be given the story of the flag from the standpoint of
the patriot - just as our fathers fought to establish it. Then will
follow some of the things done by those who met upon the level and
fought on the square.

Truly our flag came from "darkness to light" and many facts about
its earlier history can never be known. The patriot cause in 1776
was worked out in the very shadow of the firing squad and the
gallows. It was no jest but a most serious remark of Franklin that
if they did not hang together they most certainly would hang
separately. In Congress, therefore, the secrecy of Masonry, in
which so many of them were initiates, was strictly enjoined on
every member.

THE SECRET PACT

The "Secret Pact" (1) was a commandment in Congress to which every
member was required to subscribe:

Resolved that every member of this Congress consider himself under
the ties of virtue, honor and love of his country not to divulge
directly or indirectly any matter or thing agitated or debated in
Congress before the same shall have been determined, without leave
of the Congress; nor any matter or thing determined in Congress
which a majority shall order to be kept secret, and that if any
member shall violate the agreement, he shall be expelled this
Congress and deemed an enemy to the liberties of America and liable
to be treated as such and that every member signify his consent to
this agreement by signing the same.

The names include the leaders of the time--many of them the very
makers of America. In keeping with the spirit of the famous "Pact,"
the secretary of Congress, Charles Thompson, made a record of only
those doings requiring it. So the wonder is not that we have so few
facts touching some matters but rather that we have any.

WASHINGTON GIVES THE BRITISH "JOY"

On January 1, 1776, the New Constitutional army was organized and
a "Union flag" was raised. In writing to his secretary, Joseph
Reed, at Philadelphia Washington said referring to this flag and
the king's speech spurning the petition of Congress:

"The speech I send you. A volume of them was sent out by the Boston
gentry, and farcical enough, we gave great joy to them (red coats,
I mean) without knowing or intending it, for on that day, the day
which gave being to our new Army, but before the proclamation came
to hand we had hoisted the Union Flag in compliment to the United
Coionies. But behold, it was received in Boston as a token of the
deep impression the speech had made on us, and as a signal of
submission. So we learn by a person out of Boston last night. By
this time I presume they think it strange that we have not made a
formal surrender of our lines...."

What sort of a flag could this have been ?

THE ONLY CONTEMPORARY DRAWING OF WASHINGTON'S FIRST FLAG

Benson J. Lossing, who was a most eminent American Historian, in
preparing his history of General Philip Schuylel, found among the
general's papers, this drawing in colors--the only one known to
exist of the new flag used by the Americans in 1776. As none of
their flags are preserved to us, this drawing is a most important
link in the flag story.

Benson J. Lossing says: (2) "Why the hoisting of the Union Flag in
compliment to the colonies should have been received by the British
as "signal of submission," was a question historians could not
answer until 1855, when the writer of this work discovered among
the papers of General Philip Schuyler a drawing of the Royal Savage
with the Union flag at its mast-head." The sloop and flag are here
shown in No. 1. The drawing is endorsed in the writing of Gen.
Schuyler as "Captain Wynkoop's schooner on Lake Champlain," it
being one of a small fleet under command of Arnold, assembled by
Schuyler to oppose the British advance from Canada. Here you see
the only contemporaneous drawing of the flag like the one raised by
Washington at Cambridge. From the colored drawing of the Royal
Savage flag plus the disjointed references in contemporaneous
prints, the flag Washington raised to the "joy" of the enemy is
found to be one and the same and is shown in No. 3 and is known as
the Cambridge flag. The exact counterpart of the flag of India.

THE FLAG WASHINGTON RAISED AT CAMBRIDGE

It is often stated that the Cambridge flag was the work of a
Committee from Congress--but such claim rests on inferences only.
'Tis true Congress did send a committee composed of Benjamin
Franklin, Benjamin Harrison and Thomas Lynch to confer with
Washington at Cambridge. This committee arrived Oct. 16, 1775, and
remained in conference with Washington and leading patriots about
a week. The minutes of the committee's proceedings are on file in
the Department of State, Washington, D. C., together with a letter
in the writing of Franklin and signed by all the committee. Lloyd
Balderston of Ridgway, Pa., (3) has recently examined these
documents carefully. The letter was written to John Hancock,
president of Congress, and fully described all the committee had
done. But there is nothing in the minutes or in the letter giving
the remotest intimation regarding a flag of any kind. How these
flags came to be or who made them is unknown but since 1855,
Lossing says, we know why they were taken as indicating submission.
The answer is to be found in a well known flag of India.

THE ENGLISH EAST INDIA COMPANY

It is the flag of the English East India Company which practically
owned India, subject only to the English king and not until Sept.
1, 1858, were its regal powers surrendered. This Company maintained
a large army of its own as well as ships of commerce and of war. It
had the right to make war and peace "in all heathen nations" and
administered all laws--civil and criminal. No. 4 shows its flag in
1704, the 13 red and white stripes referring to India and St.
George's Cross to England. It was reproduced by Rear-Admiral George
Henry Preble in his monumental work of 800 pages on the United
States flag. He takes it from a work called "The Present State of
the Universe" by J. Beaumont, 4th edition, published in London,
1704. (4) At the time, 1704, the cross of St. George was the flag
of England and the 13 stripes of alternate red and white the badge
of her loyal East India Company, whose tea was used by St. Andrew's
Lodge in its now famous Ocean Tea Party at Boston in 1773. There
were slight changes in the union of the flag of India, following
the changes in the flag of England until 1858 when India became a
crown colony. These changes will be more readily understood in
connection with Figure 5 which is St. George's Cross. This Cross
was the flag of England until her union with Scotland in 1707. Then
No. 5 was united with No. 6, St. Andrew's Cross, which at that time
was the flag of Scotland, making No. 7 the union flag of England
known as the King's Colors. So after 1707, the King's Colol s took
the place of St. George's Cross in the flag of the English East
India Company, making it the exact counterpart of the Royal Savage
flag and Washington's Cambridge flag. In 1801 No. 4, Figure 8, St.
Patrick's Cross, then the flag of Ireland, was united with No. 7,
the King's Colors, making No. 9, the flag of England since 1801.

Again the flag of the English East India Company changed its
"union" to accord with the flag of England. (5) The word "union" in
connection with flags refers to any device in the upper staff
corner, indicating a union of government--as of England and
Scotland in 1707.

REBEL RAGS

The King's speech had just been sent out and its stern tone was
expected to overawe the rebels, whose many flags--several to each
colony--were known and dubbed by the English, "rebel rags."
Naturally they were all looked upon as the emblems of traitors but
when (6) the "Union flag" raised by Washington was seen, many of
the English troops being fresh from India, it was at once
recognized as the distinctive flag of a loyal English colony, and
it gave them joy and an indication of "submission." Truly
Washington might have signaled them thus:--"However natural this
supposition may be to you, yet it is erroneous," for to the honor
of those "embattled farmers" be it said that Washington then and
there proceeded to give the most daring knockout blow in the annals
of war. Truly that which he proposed, he performed, for without
powder and under the very guns of the English fleet and army, he
disbanded one army and organized another and on March 17, 1776,
forced the British to evacuate Boston and flee in terror from that
flag which scarce two months ago, they had hailed as a flag of
submission. Verily, that "supposition was erroneous."

Following his success at Boston, Washington was called to
Philadelphia to confer with Congress. He arrived on May 22 and
returned to the Army on June 5, and was not again in Philadelphia
until August 2, 1777. During the time Washington was in
Philadelphia the only official mention yet discovered of flags of
any kind is in a post-script of his letter under date of May 28,
1776, to Major General Putnam, as follows:

"P. S. I desire you'll speak to the several Col's and hurry them to
get their colours done." The "colours" of a regiment may be very
different from the flag of the country--and again might be the
same.

There is no other mention of flags in anything official or
semi-official until Saturday, June 14, 1777, almost a year after
the Declaration of Independence when Congress without previous
discussion, resolution or committee report, recorded the "entrance"
of Old Glory.

ORIGINAL JOURNAL OF CONGRESS PHOTOGRAPHED

Page 243 of the original journal of Congress is shown in No. 10
reproduced from a photograph. (7) That it may be the more easily
read we reprint the flag resolution together with the John Paul
Jones resolutions immediately following it, as if giving a reason
for adopting the flag on this particular day. First the secretary,
Charles Thompson, wrote, "Resolved, That the flag of the United
states consist of." Then he erased "consist of" and wrote above "be
distinguished," and changed "of" to "by." Finally he deleted the
wolds "distinguished by," making the resolution read as follows:

"Resolved, That the Flag of the United States be 13 stripes
alternate red and white, that the Union be 13 stars white in a blue
field representing a new constellation."

Immediately following is the resolution appointing John Paul Jones
to command the Ranger, as follows:

"The Council of the state of Massachusetts bay having represented
by letter to the president of Congress that Capt. John Roach
sometime since appointed to command the continental ship of war the
Ranger is a person of doubtful character and ought not to be
intrusted with such a command. Therefore

Resolved that Captain John Roach be suspended until the Navy Board
for the eastern department shall have inquired fully into his
character and reported thereon to the Marine committee.

Resolved that Captain John Paul Jones be appointed to command the
said ship Ranger.

Resolved that William Whipple esq. member of Congress, and of the
Marine committee, John Langdon Esq. continental agent and the said
capt John Paul Jones be authorized to appoint the lieutenant and
other commissioned and warrant officers necessary for the said ship
and that blank commissions . ."-- the resolution is finished on the
next page of the Journal of Congress.

CONGRESS GIVING OFFICIAL SANCTION TO A FLAG IN ACTUAL USE

The papers of the day took no notice of the adoption of a flag by
Congress--not until August was the fact even mentioned. So
September 3, 1777, the flag resolution appeared over the signature
of Charles Thompson, the secretary. Again April 23, 1783, AFTER,
PEACE had been secured, Congress caused the flag resolution over
the signature of secretary Thompson to be republished in the
Pennsylvania Gazette, REQUESTING OTHER PAPERS TO COPY. (8)

From the total lack of interest in the public prints of the time,
it would seem that the resolution of Congress was merely to give
official recognition to a flag already familiar and in use. Why it
was done June 14, 1777, instead of Sonle other day appears in the
resolution immediately following appointing Bro. John Paul Jones to
the command of the Ranger which actually carried "Old Glory" clear
around England and right into her harbors.

Avery says, (9) "After the Declaration of Independence, the British
"union" was removed from the colors of the new nation." True he
does not say WHEN the British "union" was removed, but after the
Declaration, there was EVERY REASON why the King's Colors should
NOT be on the American flag. Indeed the resohltion itself is a
proof that the flag being adopted was actually before Congress and
too familiar to need detailed description, as to the arrangement of
the stripes, whether the top and bottom stripes should be red or
white, whether there should be 7 red or only 6, or as to the
arrangement of the stars, or as to whether there should be stars or
some other device in the staff CORNER or in some other part of the
flag. It seems reasonable to conclude that Jones appointed to the
Ranger and about to make his renowned voyage, needed all AUTHORIZED
flag, and Congress adopted one in actual use but there is no
official record of any kind except that above given.

WHO MADE THE FLAG CONGRESS ADOPTED?

In No. 11 is shown the flag adopted by Congress-- the flag
signaling the entrance of a new nation, "a new constellation," June
14, 1777.

Whence the idea and who made the flag?

George Canby's work on The Evolution of thc American Flag, shows
with reasonable conclusiveness that when Washington was in
Philadelphia just before the Declaration of Independence, he with
Robert Morris and George Ross, members of Congress, called at a
little upholstering shop in Arch street. This was run by Betsy
Ross, whose husband, John Ross, had been killed a shirt time before
while in the service of his country. He was the nephew of George
Ross, member of Congress, who now with Robert Morris brings
Washington to one of the most expert needle women in
Philadelphia--and who up to 1827 continued to make flags for the
United states--a fact which makes it seem all the more probable
that she really did make the first one, an honor never claimed by
any one else.

In No. 12 is shown the little upholstering shop where Betsy Ross
made flags for the U.S. from June, 1776, to 1827 when she retired
and her daughter Clarissa Sidney Wilson, continued to make flags
until 1857 when she moved to Fort Madison, Iowa. So for 81 years
flags for the U. S. were made in this house now preserved by a
patriotic association as a shrine of American liberty. A large
proportion of the money to buy the Flag House and maintain it for
posterity as a shrine of American liberty in the city of "brotherly
love," was obtained by 10 cent subscriptions. A copy of
Weisgerber's famous painting was given to each subscriber. The
picture is shown in No. 13, in which the painter agreeably to an
artist's license has reversed the historic fact and instead of
showing Washington ordering the flag to be made, he shows him, with
Robert Morris and George Ross, inspecting the finished work. The
picture of Betsy Ross is built up as a composite from photographs
of her four daughters, there being no actual picture of her--so far
as known. The event here shown took place between May 22 and June
5, 1776, during Washington's stay in Philadelphia, about a year
hefore the flag resolution. Washington was not in Philadelphia
again until Aug. 2, 1777, almost 2 months after the resolution of
June 14th. The event is based on the sworn testimony of the four
daughters of Betsy Ross, who had helped her in the work and as
before stated Clarissa carried on the business herself after the
death of her mother.

As further corroboration, in the Pennsylvania Archives" is an order
dated May 29, 1777, "paying Elizabeth Ross fourteen pounds twelve
shillings two pence for making ships colours." lf this payment was
as slow as usual the chances are the work had been done long
before. It is true that "ships colours" might not be stars and
stripes, but it is also true that at this time there was no reason
for making any other than our own Old Glory for "ship's colours."
It is also suggested that "ships colours" might have been state
flags but the fact is Pennsylvania had no state flag then and not
until Oct. 9, 1799. So this record in fact does corroborate the
Betsy Ross incident. Use before official adoption June 11, 1777.

"OLD GLORY" JAN. 3, 1777-- THE TESTIMONY OF WASHINGTON'S AID

Col. John Trumbull's reputation as an historical painter is world
wide and rests on his FIDELITY to historic FACTS.

As he himself says, "Every minute article of dress, down to the
buttons and spurs, were calefully painted from the different
objects," (12) Col. Trumbull was present in command of his Company
at Bunkel Hill and he fought as Washington's aid at Trenton and
Princeton, taking active part in the battles. He is therefore a
competent witness. But before giving his testimony as to the early
use of the stars and stripes, let us show a sample of his accuracy
in related events.

In his "Bunker Hill," (Fig. 11) note the Pine Tree flag opposing
the King's colors. Joseph Warren is down just below the gun of John
Knowlton who is one who had just shot at Pitcairn seen falling into
the arms of his son under the King's colors. At the extreme right
is Sam Salem the negro who also has shot at Pitcairn. The Americans
were particularly incensed - at Pitcairn for many things and
recently because in stirring a glass of grog with his finger had
said that in that way he would stir the blood of the Yankees. But
particular attention is called to the flags. (13)

Again in his "Burgoyne," (Fig. 15) the troops are arranged in
accord with historic fact--Gates receiving the surrendered sword of
Burgoyne and returning it in compliment to the bravery of a
vanquished foe, and all is accul ate "to the buttons on the coats."

In his "Yorktown," (Fig. 16) is again the accuracy of a camera--the
French on the left with their flag of white silk, the Americans on
the right, Washington at their head and the stars and stripes above
him. Between the lines the English marched in new uniforms but with
colors cased and drums beating an Old English march--"The World
Turned Upside Down." In the center General Lincoln receives from
Gen. O'Hara the sword of Cornwallis in token of his surrender, and
leturns it to him in token of Washington's generosity. No. 17
(Color Plate) is Trumbull's story of the battle of Princeton, being
a direct photograph from the original. In his "Bunker Hill,"
"Burgoyne" and "Cornwallis," the scenes are everywhere admitted as
correct and because of their correctness Congress paid Trumbull
$32,000 for them. At Bunker Hill, Trumbull took an active part, and
at Princeton was aid to Washington. Surely Trumbull should know
what flag he was fighting under and he shows "Old Glory" and this
on Jan. 3, 1777. This was six months before its official adoption
by Congress. But in his "Bunker Hill," he does not show "Old Glory"
because it was not there and he is recording the facts. Why shall
we not give his "Princeton" the same credit for accuracy, so freely
accorded his "Bunker Hill" and other productions? Further, Trumbull
is corroborated by another eye witess who was in "Trenton" a week
before, and also in active command.

FIRST BATTLE OF OLD GLORY DEC. 26, 7776--TESTIMONY OF A COMPANY
COMMANDER

Charles Wilson Peale was a soldier, painter and Mason. He commanded
a company at that awful Crossing of the Delaware, Dec. 26, 1776,
and was actively engaged in the far famed Battle of Trenton. He is
presumed to know what flag his company carried and therefore a
competent witness. His picture, "Washington at Trenton," (Fig. 18)
gives his testimony as to he flag used. Here it is, secured by
direct photograph after long and patient effort. The painting now
protected by a glass front hangs at the head of the grand stair
case in the Senate wing of the Capitol at Washgton.

This drawing was made in 1779 only two years after the event, and
many years later Titian R. Peale, his son, said in a letter quoted
by both Preble and Canby:- "I have just had time to visit the
Smithsonian Institute to see the portrait of Washington painted by
my father, C.W. Peale, after the battle of Trenton. It is marked in
his handwriting 1779. The flag represented is a blue field with
white stars arranged in a circle. I don't know THAT I ever heard my
father speak of that flag, but the trophies at Washington's feet I
know he painted from the flags then captured, and which were left
with him for the purpose. He was always very particular in matters
of historic record in his pictures; the service sword in that
picture is an instance and probably caused its acceptance by
Congress. . . I have no other authority, but feel assured that the
flag was the flag of our army at that time, 1779. My father
commanded a company at the battles of Germantown, Trenton,
Princeton, and Monmouth, and was a soldier as well as a painter,
and I am sure, represented the flag then in use, not a regimental
flag, but one to mark the new republic."

Therefore when the stars and stripes received their baptism of
blood at Trenton, Dec. 26, 1776, and a week later at Princeton, one
can easily understand why Congress adopted it on June 14, 1777, in
a resolution of only thirty words--less than the limit of a day
message at ordinary telegraph rates.

To sum up, first, the record shows that Washingon on his own
initiative and authority raised the Cambridge flag of 13 stripes
with the King's colors in its union. Second, though there be no
actual record, yet the weight of evidence indicates that Washington
again on his own INITIATIVE and authority ordered the stars and
stripes to be made; and that he used the stars and stripes at the
battles of Trenton and Princeton and on other occasions, and that
Congress in the flag resolution of June 14, 1777, gave official
recognition, for the first time, to the flag so used and
constituted it the flag of the United States. Further each state
holding itself to be a "sovereign independent commonwealth" and in
most cases having a flag of its own, a variety of flags continued
to be used, so that even after peace had been secured in 1783,
Congress had the flag resolution republished over the signature of
its secretary and requested all papers to copy. How essentially
necessary such re-publication really was is evidenced by the fact
that the "Board of War" did not know in 1779 a flag had been
adopted. However this is not so strange for even now one Congress
often shows culpable ignorance of what a previous Congress had
done.

(1) Journal of American History, Vol 2, p. 235
(2) Vide page 1432, Vol. II Cyclopedia of U. S. History
(3) Vide Evolution of The American Flag, Canby & Baldbrston. 
(4) Vide Preble p. 220.
(5) Vide Preble p. 221 showing a cut of the English East India
Company's flag in 1834, with the 13 stripes and the present flag of
England in its "union."
(6) Vide Preble p. 193
(7) Vide Canby's Evolution of the American Flag.
(8) Vide Canby's Evolution of the American Flag
(9) Vide Avery Vol. 6, p. 68.
(10) Vide Canby's Evolution of the American Flag
(11) Vide 2d Series Vol. I, page 164
(12) Vide Washington Irving's Washington Vol. IV, p. 327.
(13) Vide Avery's History of the United States Vol. 5.
(To be Continued)


SHAKE HANDS

Frederick LeRoy Sargent

(The following is a translation of Beranger's "La Sainte Alliance
des Peuples." The original, written in 1818 to celebrate the
evacuation of French territory, is quoted in the Nation of Dec. 23,
1915, for its early use of the expression "place in the sun.")

Peace have I seen descending on the world; 
Peace, strewing gold, and flowers, and corn. 
The air was calm, War's blood-stained banners furled, 
And drowsy, sullen thunders overborne.
Peace said: "O peoples of English, French, 
Belgian, Russian, and Germanic lands,
In holy alliance your hatreds quench;
Equals in valor, shake hands !
Mortals, a burden of hate hath wearied you. 
Call not vain troubled sleep a victory won!
Portion the limited land, to each his due,
That each can so enjoy his place in the sun.
So long as ye are yoked to the chariot of power, 
True happiness afar behind you stands.
Peoples of Europe, sanctify this hour;
Equals in justice, shake hands."

