The Portland daily press., 1868-07-15

At the annual meeting of the Massachusetts,
Society of the Cincinnati, held in Boston, on
the Fourth of july, DR.. Gilman Daveis, of this
city was elected a member of the standing
committee, in place of DR.. Romans of Boston,
deceased.
Residents of Maine receiving aid from the
funds of this Society, will make their applica-
tiors accordingly
The following notice of the meeting we cut
from the Journal:
The Massachusetts Society of the Cincinna-
ii held their annual meeting OF the Fourth of
July and eighty-fifth anniversary of their Or
gahization at the "Cantonments of the Ameri-
can army on the banks of the Hudson, 1888"
The officers chosen for the ensuing year are:
President, Col. James w. Sever; Vice Presi-
Treasurer, Henry A. Pierce; Assistant Secre-
tary, Leonard G. Bowles; st ,nding Commit
tee, Hon. Henry Vose. Rev. E. NJ p. Welles,
Hon. Franklin Pierce, Admiral Charles HI.
Davis, Admiral Henry Knox Thacher, Benz.
+. Haywood, Nj. d., Rev Dana Hayes ZibeOn
Hooker, Henry Bancroft, Amos A. Lawrence,
Charles w. Story and Gilman Daveis NJ d
Poladore Hanlin, William TORY and Charles
ID. Romans were elected members, each in the
direct line of descent from the original MEM
bers. The interest in the society seems to be
on the increase, particularly among those who
bear relationship either through the male or
female line to its founders. OF the thirteen
original State societies there remain only
those OF South Carolina, Maryland, Pennsyl-
wanna, New Jersey New York and Massachu-
SETS Of these six societies the last named
has the largest number on its rolls and has a
fund considerably in excess of that of any
other. The liberal appropriation of its income
has contributed largely to cheer and comfort
the hresides OF about thirty of the children of
the original members, to which object it is
strictly confined by the constitution and by
laws OF the society.
The President, Vice President, Secretary,
Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer were elect
ed delegates to the Triennial meeting of the
General Society to be holden at Baltimore in
May next, with power to fill vacancies The
exhibition at the dinner table by the President
OF CHINA cup, which had upon its front the
eagle or order" of the Cincinnati added
greatly to the interest of the occasion. This
valuable relic was kindly and most consider
ately volunteered for the day by the gentle
man to whom it belongs, one of our most es-
teemed fellow citizens.
In 1851 he formed an acquaintance at Shar-
on Springs with descendant of Washinoton's
brother. who had married a granddaughter of
Lady Washington. This acquaintance ripen-
ed into an intimacy, which led to placing their
children at school at the North, under his care
Subsequently, through this intimacy it came
about that Fitz Hugh Lee, son of Gen Rob-
ert f. Lee, was sent to Harvard University
for his education, and that this gentleman be-
came his sponsor for the punctual payment of
college dues. To use his own words -"While
there he was taken seriously i'll and was taken
home by me and nursed for time under nv
roof. When he returned from the winter col
lege vacation, he brought with him the cup l
now send, with a note from has mother ex-
pressing her Acknowledgements for our care of
her son, and offering for our acceptance
cuStdrd cup, from a dinner service imported nv
General Washington, for the use of the Gin
cinnati Society when dining with her, and
bearing the arms of the Society upon each
piece. Mrs. Lee, you are aware, is the daugh-
ter of MIR. GUSTS, who owned Arlington
House; at least, so understand. Il occurred
to me, while sitting by you at the Bunker Hill
Monument Association, that at your coming
anniversary the members of your society
would like so see relic of such honored asso-
Citations, and l send it to you to be exhibited
on that occasion" This little cup. part of a
full dinner service, with the arms of the Soci-
ETY. on each piece, the authenticity of which
is thus fully established, is decisive as to the
assertion so often made and as often refuted
that Washington had Withdrawn his counte-
nance and membership from the Society, of
,chich he aods President General from the time
Of ats formation to has decedse in 1899. Among
the distinguished guests present were Com
modore Rodgers, Capts. Preble and Foxhall
Parker of the U. S. Navy, Gen. Prince of the
u. S. Army, and Rev. DIR. George e. Ellis.
The addresses were replete with the spirit of
the day and of the occasion, and that of Com
modore Rodgers particularly interesting and
valuable for the philosophical views taken by
him of the part "Iron-clads" are to take in flu
ture naval warfare.