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About The united American : a magazine of good citizenchip. (Portland, Or.) 1923-1927 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 1927)
Page Eight THE UNITED AMERICAN February 1927 Welcoming the New Citizens The Portland Public Auditorium should, for an A PUBLIC RECEPTION to new citizens of America, on Washington’s birthday anniversary, has become occasion of this kind, have no standing room left, an institution in Portland. The foreign born who are There should be no doubt left in the minds of the new still in the citizenship training classes take as much citizens that the community, to the last man, is back interest in the reception as the new citizens and their of this arrangement for a solemn and sobering review families, who are the guests of honor. Usually the of what citizenship means and how it might be made reception resolves itself into a festival of welcoming— into a force for greater good for the country, as much a welcome to those who have qualified for citizenship as for the new citizen. during the preceding year. Much of the spirit of good cheer, fellowship and The Portland Americanization Council again appropriate entertainment was furnished by the sponsored the reception. Nearly five hundred new forein born themselves and revealed that several of citizens had been invited. They came there with them possessed fine artistic talents. Such contributions as the solos by Sargeant P. M. their families and friends. Many of those who have been so welcomed in previous years were there too. Blenkinsop, Mr. McCauley and Miss Colombi, gave evidence of the finer Several of them said they had come '•lllllllllllllHlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllfllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllltllllllllllllllllt.lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllil culture America has come in possession to every annual re of through these ception since the children of adoption. first one, six years Lucien Becker’s ago. There was a opening organ re noticeable manifes cital consisted of a tation of comity be colorful blending of tween the people of many nationality many nationalities melodies that have and racial strains added to tonal color who gathered at the ings of home and Autitorium on the evening of Washing public places in America. The night ton’s birthday. The school classes, un occasion is one of ABRAHAM LINCOLN GEORGE WASHINGTON der the leadership great significance Born February 12, 1809 Born February 22, 1732 of Mrs. Fred L. for many of those “Let reverence for the laws “This government, the off Olson, gave evidence who have attained | be breathed by every American spring of your own choice, un of the immigrant’s the priceless gift of | mother to the lisping babe that influenced and unawed, adopted I prattles on her lap; let it be aptitude for the a share in America, | taught in schools, in seminaries upon full investigation and ma songs we treasure a personal interest I and in colleges; let it be writ- ture deliberation, completely free in its principles, in the dis as our own. Judge in the heritage, I ten in primers, spelling-books, tribution of its powers, unit Jacob Kanzler, pres which also their i and in almanacs; let it be ing security with energy, and from the pulpit, pro- ident of the Council, children are to have | | preached containing within itself a pro claimed in legislative halls, and who presided, gave a part in. With | enforced in courts of justice, vision for its own amendment, an address of wel faces all aglow and f And, in short, let it become the has a just claim to your confi dence and your support. Re come in which he with a flutter of | political religion of the nation; spect for its authority, compli fittingly stressed hundreds of little | and let the old and the young, ance with its laws, acquies rich and the poor, the grave the purposes for silk flags, presented | | the cence in its measures, are du and the gay of all sexes and which the new citi at the door to each | tongues and colors and condi- ties enjoined by the funda zens had been invit new citizen, the re | tions, sacrifice unceasingly upon mental maxims of true Lib- ception took on an | its altars.” ed and gave a fine interpretation of the aspect of a great higher ideals in ci fete day. iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiifiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiimiiiiniiir tizenship. Rabbi Though it had been announced as a PUBLIC reception to new citizens, Max J. Merritt gave the invocation, and the Reverend the great mass of patriotic American citizens of Port Father Smith gave the benediction. land, outside of those with representation on or a The main address was delivered by Chaplain John direct contact with the Portland Americanization W. Beard, pastor of the Sunnyside Presbyterian Council, were noticeable by their absence, save per Church, who is a most delightful orator. His fear haps upwards of a hundred and fifty kindly souls, who lessness in dealing with facts makes him extra had felt the urge to represent Uncle Sam in the receiv ordinarily interesting, as he makes no apology for his ing line with a warm handclasp and a genial smile. opinion of those who obstruct the road to the finer Can it be possible that the citizens of Portland attainments of life. In his discource he made it plain are so completely lacking in their understanding of that Uncle Sam is entitled to the fullest measure the Americanization work that is carried on among the of devotion and service from every adopted citizen foreign born, that they are capable of only an abstract who by his oath of allegiance has given his most sacred possession—his honor, as a security of his expression of interest?