Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-07-01
MISCELLANEOUS.
rE,op ,5e Boston Ilmcs.l

THE SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI.
The character and objects Of this honorable and
benevolent association, we believe, are not gene
rally known, and we have prepared The following
brief synopsis OF lis origin and purposes, which
we take pleasure in presenting TO our TeaoeIs,
believing that the facts will be read with interest,"
Prior 10 the month Of May, 1888 proposals had
been communicated 10 the several regiments OF
the respective lines in the American army, and
an officer from each was deputed 10 meet with The
general officers al The "Canonment oiile army,
then ouarlered upon Hudson's river. This meet
ing took place on The 10th of May, in that year,
at which The Hon Major General Baron de Steu-
ben presided. The proposals were submitted TO
the convention, and Major General Knox, Brig.
Gen. Hand, Brig. Gen. Huntington, and Capt.
Shaw were chosen TO receive The propositions,
and repor, at Maj Gen. Steuben's quarters upon
a subsequent day.
assembled on the 18th of May, and The plan sub
mitted BY the committee was duly accepted. The
objects proposed were 10 perpeluate the remem-
brance Of our national independence, as well as
the mutual friendships which had been created
during The Revolutionary struggle, which. IN
many instances, was cemenied by The blood OF The
parties"
Accordingly, the officers of the Army did then
and thereby "in the most solemn manner, asso-
ciate, constitute and combine themselves INTO
SoclETY OF FRIENDS, to endure, as long as they
should endure, or any OF their eldest male poste'uy
and in failure thereof, the collateral branches, who
might be Judged worthy Of becoming its support
ers and members" And said officers, (having
generally been taken from the citizens OF Amer-
ca \ holding in high generation the character OF
the illustrious Roman, Lnc'us QaintinS Cinc'n-
nats. and being now resolved, like him, to return
10 their citizenship, thought they might with pro-
priety denominate themselves
THE SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI
Constitution was Immediately prepared and
adopted-and officers were chosen. GEORGE
WAsHrNdroN was unanimously selected for Pre-
sident, and HENRY KNOX, Secretary. The prln'
ciples laid down for the basis Of the association
were an 'incessant attention 10 preserve invioate
those exalted rights and liberties, for which they
had tough, and bled an unalterab!e determina-
lion 10 promote and cherish between the respec-
tive States that union so essentially necessary TO
their happiness; and to render permanent The cor
dial affection suhsis,ing among the ofhcers.-
This spiri, would dictate hrothery kindness in all
things, and particularly extend TO the most SUD
slan,ia acts Of benefcence (accordinglo the So
ciety's ablity) towards those officers and their
families, who unfortunately needed assistance"
Honorary members were made admissible IN
der certain circumstances, and an immaculate
fund was raised TO assist The unfortunate, oy each
officers contributing The amount OF onc months
pau. which was delivered 10 The Treasurer, 10 re-
main forever 10 the use of the Society, the lnle-
resi- OF which was TO be appropriated for The benc-
6t of the needy. Donations and subscriptions
were also received, and a very large amount
was forthwith funded for the use OF the assocla-
lion.
The war closed, and the officers retired 10
their resnective homes in the different sections
of the Union An order was established by
which the members should be known, which
consists OF a beautiful gold medal, upon one
side Of which appears the figure OF Cinclnnatus,
with three Senators presenting him sword on
the reverse, the rising sull-a city WIN open
gates-,he figure OF Fame. browning Clnclnnatus
with wreath; underneath, appear Two hanus
iaspsd supporting heart WI WIN The, .hs no. .n.
pended from The Seeesn worn ms m ha r y
edged with white emblematical Of the union oil
America and France
| Immediately after its formation the society
| impressed with sense OF The generous aid our
country had received from France in The rcvou-
,ionary war, ordered a copy OF this medal TO be
transmitted to the Chev. de Ia Luzerne, Sieur
| Gerard. Counts DEslains, D'Grafe and D'Bar-
ras as well also, rs the Count De Rochambeau
| and the Generals and Colonels in his army, who
| were informed that the society did themselves
| the honor to consider them members Three
hundred and thirty four names were originally
subscribed 10 Tie constitution, very large por-
! ton ofwhom have long since paid their last debt
| 10 nature.
The General Society was divided into State
Societies. The parent association meets annu-
ally, on the 4lh Of July, al Philadelphia, and the
branches are governed by their own Stale regu-
latons The fund of The Massachusetts branch
now amounts 10 thirty thousand dollars, in mort
cages, al six per cent, and some four thousand
in stocks, at higher rate. The income annu-
ally is upwards OF t,ro thousand dollars, which is
appropriated for the benefit of some thirty-ive
recipients, afFordng them very essential assist
ance The members Of this Association are gen.
tlemen of sterling character and real worth, who
do credit TO themselves and honor TO society,
which was headed originally by the illustrious
Washington-and the principles Of which re-,
main respected and unimpaired, after period
OF more than sixty years. We will close this
brief and hastily prepared sketch, with copy
of the pledge affixed TO the Constitution Of the So
ciety Of The Cincinnati.
"We, the subscribers, officers of the American
Army, do hereby voluntarily become parties 10
the foregoing Institution, and do bind ourselves
to observe and be governed by the principles
therein contained For the performance where
of we do soemnly pledge to each other our sa-
cred honor"
Done at The Can,onmenl on Hudson's River,
in the year 1888.