Brevard Celebrates
Peace Declaration
Flag of the free
heart’s hope and home!
By angel hands to valor given;
The Stars have lit the
welkin dome,
And all thy hues were born in heaven.
Forever float that
standard sheet!
Where breathes the foe but falls before us.
With freedom’s soil
beneath our feet,
And freedom’s banner streaming o’er us?
For a week we had been waiting, listening, every nerve taunt
with expectation. Tuesday of last week, in the midst of the election
excitement, came the report, “Germany has surrendered.” There was no shouting,
no gangling noise, only a deep, deep thankfulness that “The God Of Battles hath
given us the victory.” When in a short time the report was proven premature,
there was hardly a sinking of spirit. The news must come in a few days.
Several citizens had arranged with the Asheville papers
getting Associated Press reports to send the news on as soon as received.
Before dawn Monday morning, telephones were ringing. “It is
true. Germany has surrendered. The Kaiser has fled. Fighting stops at 5 a.m.”
All day there was quiet joy and thanksgiving. Excitement was
growing as assurance grew that there was no mistake this time.
By evening the pent up joy burst forth. At 7 o’clock engines
whistled, church bells rang, the fire bell clanks, guns and pistols were fired,
even firecrackers appeared from somewhere and added to the general din. There
were tea bells, dinner bells, cow bells, sheep bells, tin horns, alarm clocks
and—Voices. Anything and everything that could make a noise.
In a short time the crowd had gathered on Main Street. A
procession was formed and paraded as far as the Rectory and back again to the
square.
Mayor Breese called the gathering to order. Rev. John C.
Seagle read a scripture lesson and offered a prayer of praise and thanksgiving.
Mr. Breese made a short talk. As he looked at the flag
before him he said, “That flag has led us to victory over the Beast of Berlin,
the enemy of mankind; from the moment our troops entered the fray, the tide of
battle turned.” He proposed as we people of Transylvania have so much to be
thankful for, we have a great union Thanksgiving service outdoors and all have
our Thanksgiving dinner there together. From the applause which greeted this
suggestion it would seem that a community Thanksgiving might be made an event
long to be remembered among us.
Mr. D.L. English spoke next. Mr. English said, “Last week when
the local election returns were received the Democrats were glad and the
Republicans were somewhat sad, as the returns came in. And as it was known
there would be Republican majority in the next Congress, the Republicans were
glad and the Democrats were sad, but tonight we are ALL glad. We celebrate a
victory in which party and sectionalism have no part. Nor has the victory been
won solely by prowess of arms. We have won by the help of Him who ruleth the
universe.
Mrs. Silversteen, who as county chairman of the National
League for Woman’s Service, has done so much for the comfort and happiness of
the boys leaving home, was the next speaker.
Mrs. Silversteen said she had envied the boys as they went
forth at their country’s call, and she knew the men who couldn’t go had envied
them, too. Now she was overjoyed to know not another American boys would be
killed by a German bullet.
The crowd, led by Mr. Thos. Dodsworth and Mrs. Simons, then
joined in singing America and the Star Spangled Banner.
The benediction was pronounced by Rev. Manley.
While there was shouting and noise one was nevertheless
impressed by a spirit of reverence and thankfulness to God who has shown us
great mercy.
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