The New York herald., 1879-07-04
THE SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI.

THE SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI.
A SKETCH OF THE ORGANIZATION BIZ WHICH
THE HEROIC LEADERS OF THE AMERICAN
REVOLUTIONARY ARMY SOUGHT TO PERPETUATE
THEIR FRIENDSHIPS AND PROMOTE rRosE
RIGHTS OF HUMANITY FOR WHICH THEY
FOUGHT. re f
The anniversary of American independence to-day
brings together the members of this disting ushed
society in the States where State societies
in existence to attend to regular business and
then dine together in friendly communion.
Major General Henry Knox. of the Continental
Army of the Revolution. and Major General Baron dc
Steuben. considered to have been the earliest
promoters of the Order Of the Cincinnati. When
hostities had ceased between Great Britain and the
United States, and the American army, after eight
years of war, about to be disbanded. number
Of officers Of rank met ut Baron de Steuben's
quarters on the Hudson River. near Fishkill. ON
May 10. 17S3 in order to perpetuate the remem-
brance of the efforts which had been made by them
to the Independence of the United States,
well as the mutual friendship which had been formed
under the pressure Of common danger. and in many
instances cemented by the blood Of the parties. by
associating, constituting and combining themselves
in the most solemn manner into one society Of
friends. to endure as long they should endure. or
any of their eldest male posterty and, in failure
thereof the collateral branches who should be
judged worthy. '35HluY t4
a HEREDITARY ORDER.
These officers thus founded an Order hereditary
IN it's character and they had generally been
from the citizens Of America and about
to follow the example Of that tlustrious Ro-
man. Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus. by
turning to their citizenship. they
cluded they might with propriety denominate
themselves ''rhe Society of the Cincinnati" The
principles which they declared should be immuta-
BILE and form the basis of the society remark
able, and showed the strong national feeling with
which that incompatible little army was imbued at
the very time when the articles of confederation
under which the United States government then
administered, were weakest and when the officers
had the most just of com plant at the failure
of government to settle their own long overdue
counts.
LIBERTY UNION AND FRATERNITY.
They said the basis OF their society should be:-
An incesssnt attention to nvioate those
have fought and bsd and without which the high rank o
a rational being is a curse instead of a bessine.
between the Gspssvs States hs. union and national
l1iS's RI as
In all things. and particularly extend to the most
r. D5
unfortunately may be under the necessity of recevn
PLAN ORGANIZATION.
Membership confined to regular Continental
officers OF the army and navy OF the Revolution who
had served with honor at least certain number of
years or until RETIRED The General Society, as it
WAS termed, for convenience, divided into State
societies, composed of those members residing
In such States; the General Society to consist
of president general, vice president, secretary,
assistant secretary treasurer and assistant treasurer
generals. and five delegates from each State society
aud rtnn and tho Sfafa
nually on the 4th of July. On the 18th OF June.
17S3 all the provisions OF the "Insttution" having
been perfected. 1t went into effect
CHOSEN OFFICERS.
The following constituted the first general officers,
General George Washington. of Virginia. president
Major General Horasio Gates. of Virginia, vice
Major General Henry Knox, secretary general.
Brigadier General Ohio Holland Williams. of Mary
land, assistant secretary general.
Major General Alexander McDougau, Of New York,
General Washington continued in office until his
Alexander Hamilton.
In the State societies of their respective States
Major Generals Benjamin Lincoln, Nathaniel Greene.
Alexander McDougall, Arthur st. Chair and William
Moultrie became presidents.
At first there were thirteen State societies and
q French State society, but because OF the very
few qualified members in some Of the States diff
Guilty of communication at that period and like rea-
sons, only seven have continued in existence, the
General Society meeting least in three years.
Each original member required to contribute
one months pay of his rank. This by judicious in
vestments in several OF the societies has become o
considerable fund.
THE FRENCH BRANCH
In France, Marshal Count do RochAmbeau became
president of the State Society, and Louis XVI,
special favor formally recognized the Order and per-
bership by service In the American Revolution to
become members and wear the insignia None be-
low the rank of colonel were selected, and the high
est OF the French nobility sought to qualify. The
French Revolution put end to further meetings
OF that State Society. which numbered among its
illustrous members of the nobility six field mar
shas generals nine lieutenant generals three ad-
mrals, three vice admirals. rear admirals, two
princes three dukes eighteen marquises and others
of lower rank who, like Count de Segur and the
Chevalier de La Perouse. were not unknown to fame
In the "institution" of 1888 it was provided that
the insignia of the Order should be bald eagle with
u medal and certain emblems on its breast. and the
typical Of the alliance between France and the
United States Most of the eagles possessed by the
hereditary members in the United states were made
IN Paris at the order of the Marquis de Lafayette
when he returned there in 1854.
HONORARY MEMBERS.
Under the institution each State society Is permit
ted to elect very limited number OF honorary
members, and in this way Chancellor Livingston.
Benjamin Franklin. Commodores Decatur. Balm
bridge, Stewart and Perry, Chief Justices Mckean
and Richard Morris. William Ii. Prescott and Daniel
Webster. General Winfield Scott and other eminent
characters became members.
THE ANNUAL REUNIONS.
No State societies have been allowed to be
constituted IN any stale except one or the original
thirteen and membership is rigidy retained set
tied by the founders. In consequence of this ad-
herence to the wishes of the founders there is poss
bly, Order of distinction to-day in Europe US
exclusive that of the Cincinnati founded by re-
publican officers ardently attached to the principles
OF civil liberty and nationality To-day each OF the
several State societies will meet and the hereditary
members come from every part of the country, few
in number. but glad to do honor to the memory OF
the founders aud the great principles they enunci-
ated The Massachu usetts State Society meets in
boston. Rear Admiral Henry Knox Thatcher.
United Statos Navy. being its president.
The Rhode Island State Society meets this
year in the State House in Newport. Last year it
met in the State House in Providence. Nathaniel
Greene Is president. The New York State Society
meets at Dcmonicos. in this city, with Governor
Hamilton Fish Ms its president. He IL also presi-
dent general of the General Society. Tho Pennsyl-
vania State Society. of which Mr.. deorge W. Harris
president meets in Philadelphia. while the New
Jersey State Society. of which Mr.. l.. z. c. Elmer
is president. meets in Trenton. The Maryland state
SNc tv has mat in Mr.