Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 August 1914 — Flag at Half-Mast in Respect of the lead Pope. [ARTICLE]

Flag at Half-Mast in Respect of the lead Pope.

Former Sheriff John O'Connor raised “Old Glory” at half-mast at his home on Oullen street Thursday morning on learning of the death of Pope Pius X. Mr. O’Connor is not narrow nor bigoted, and thinks with the public in general, that the death of the Pope is a distinct loss both to church and the country in general. Mr. O’Connor suspended the flag at half-mast at his hoiiie in Kniman a few years ago w-hen a prominent Methodist bishop died and also when a noted Jewish rabbi had answered the death summons. Mr. O’Connor takes the broadminded view that our flag is an emblem of both political and religious freedom and patriotism and is not the exclusive property of any political party or religious sect. Its folds encircles us all, and our tears are mingled today with the ..Catholics of America and the whole world in mourning the death of the head of their church, whose grief over the great European war hastened his end, and whose last public utterance to his people was a powerful plea for, peace.