people to Christianity. The Greek Christians kept him in remembrance
by adopting the letter X as the sign of the cross. When Richard the
Lion-Hearted started on his crusade to rescue the holy sepulchre from
the Moslems, he selected St. George as his protector. He is the patron
saint of England. He stands for courage in defense of the truth."
"That is what the Cross of St. George should stand for, Miss Newville,
but just now it represents tyranny and oppression. It is a beautiful
flag, the crosses of St. George and St. Andrew combined, in red,
white, and blue. No other banner symbolizes so much that is precious
of what men have done, but the king and his ministers are perverting
it. St. George and St. Andrew were representatives of justice and
righteousness. They died for principles which in their nature are
eternal, which will remain, when we are gone. I have taken pride in
being an Englishman. The flag thrills me. I like to think of the
brave deeds that have been done under it. No other banner means so
much. It stirs me to think of it as waving not only in England, but
here, in Canada, in South America, and on the banks of the Ganges. Of
course, the flag, the crosses upon it, signify suffering, devotion,
heroism, bravery. It is these things that warm my blood."
"Go on, please, Mr. Walden. I want to hear more," said Miss Newville
as he paused.
"I have delighted in being an Englishman because the flag stands for
all I hold most dear, but I am conscious that my love for it is not
what it was. The king and his ministers by their arbitrary acts,
Parliament by passing laws taking away chartered rights, are
alienating the affections of the Colonies. We are not so meek that we
are ready to kiss the hand that smites us. The time may come, Miss
Newville, when the people this side the Atlantic will have a flag of
their own. If we do it will be a symbol of a larger liberty than we
now have. The world does not stand still. I do not know what Almighty
God has been reserving this Western world for through all the ages;
but it must be for some grand purpose. It is a great land and it will
be peopled some day. We have made our laws in the past, and we shall
not surrender our right to do so. The king and his ministers are not
using the crosses of St. George and St. Andrew for the good of all.
The crosses should represent brotherhood, but they do not. I think the
time may come, though, when there will be such a flag."
Again he p
|