Dawn's Early Light 

     Hmmm. That sounds familiar. 

     On Sunday, our pastor began with the story of Francis Scott Key on September 13, 1814, when the British opened fire on Baltimore. A lawyer, Key was on a British command ship, before the attack on Ft. McHenry, to negotiate release of a friend. Key learned the attack was beginning soon, and they held him to prevent him from alerting the defenders. 

     The pastor's remarks were a lead-in to his sermon, his message from Mark chapter 5. 

     So, who was Key's important friend? I had to know. 

     Google search wins again. Dr. William Beanes was the friend. He and Key, a few miles from Baltimore, heard that something was up, and hustled over to check it out. And Beanes got in trouble. 

     It's a good thing, because the incident led Key to write what would later be called the Star-Spangled Banner, which we've been singing ever since. Early the morning of Sept. 14, he saw "the flag was still there."  

About the Flag(s)

     The flag we think he saw, was 30x42 feet. It had 15 stars and 15 stripes (for 15 states). Each star was 2 feet in diameter. It had been made by Mary Pickersgill with help from her daughter, two nieces and an age 7 servant. It is on display, after much restoration. It was made of linen, with silk threads. 

     When the attack began, a 17x25-foot flag was flying. 

                  Jimmy

Wednesday: Redeemed, completely