The New York herald., 1879-12-15
The Projected Memorial Of the
Cincinnati Society.
MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY OF WAPTlNG
Practical Steps Taken Toward Erecting
the Monument
PHILADELPHIA. Dec. Is. 1879.

Of the drawings submitted by Professor Siemerng.
of Berlin but that the work could not be proceeded
with at present. because the estimated cost Of the
design accepted would be 100000. whereas only
: sl55OO0 were now the fund. Diligent in
quiry Of several members Of the Cincinnati's
committee would to contradict the re-
port, although the barrier of secretiveness which
the men who are possessed OF positive information
the subject is hard to break through. Mr. Robert
Adams. chairman Of the committee. was found at
his Office in the Stock Exchange Building He re-
ceived the HERALD correspondent grufiy and when
asked II the award had been made to Professor
Siemering declared that it had not been. When
further nterroga gated he said that the committee had
not taken any action whatever. Search for George
w. Harris treasurer Of tho fund. resulted better
1t was, however. learned that the committee had
visited the Park and virtually approved the site
upon which the monument is to be placed.
Georges Hill is the highest point in the West
Park and takes its name from Mr.. Jesse George
who gave the plot OF ground. afterward incorporated
in the Park. to the city.
THE HISTORY OF THE MONUMENT
The inquiry resulted in elciing the history Of the
society and of the memorial which is to be man,
moth in its proportions. Perched. as it will be-
upon site from which much OF the city can be
seen. it will be very conspicuous object. The his
tory of the memorial is. however. worth telling:-
After the death Of General Washington. its first
president the Society of the Cincinnati organized in
1855. composed of officers who had served in the
war for independence. deemed it its sacred duty to
immortalize his memory by erecting a monument
which should be permanent memorial to its be-
loved leader. companion and friend. and evidence
of its lasting affection for him. But 1T not
til twelve years after his death that the first positive
step toward this end was taken. This was by the
meeting in Philadelphia on Independence Day 1910.
when the long talked OF project took proper shape
by the motion OF Charles Biddle to appoint
committee to procure subscriptions to
'fund for the purpose of erecting appropriate
monument to the memoryIof Washington" being
unanimously approved, and $l50O0O was the sum
desired. The committee named for this purpose was
composed of Major d. Lennox Judge Richard Peters.
Major W. jackson, Messrs. Charles Biddle and
Horace Bnney Although this committee found
feeling Of enthusiasm worthy Of the object in
among the members Of the society. it did not find
that iberaty in subscribing to the fund which they
had hoped to meet and after nearly ten years of
I this insignificant sum contained amounts con-
tributed by persons outside the pale of the
society. AS fast as the subscriptions were
collected they were advantageously invested by
Mr.. Binney, their custodian that, with additional
subscriptions received through persistent canvass
that in 1925 it .099 ~. From then till his
death. at green old age in 1875, Mr.. Binney
tinued manage the fund.- and it's history is that Of
prosperous business transaction. and is itself an
evidence of Mr.. Binneys we'll known fnanciering
After Yr. Binney's death Messrs. Robert Adams,
George w. Adams. the president of the Philadelpha
branch. and Richard Dale. OF Philadelphia; DR.. w.
A. Irvine; OF Warren county, Pa, and William
Wayne Of Paoli. Pa. were appointed his successors
IN the management of the fund. which amounted to
$1O7.3OO. To-day the fund. contributed with the
few exceptions of the donations from
members in the first years Of its col
lection. entirely by memrers of the So-
ciety Of the Cincinnati, amounts to $4,000. and
it expected that by the day of the centennial ami
versary OF the society's foundation it will have
reached the amount originally desired. So nearly is
the amount on hand to the amounts required that
nh TO ask vii estim m for
monument; but among the many replies received
those OF only four considered worthy of the at
lessor siemering, OF Berlin, and W. W. story Two
Of the best four now under consideration colos-
to be made either in marble bronze. This is all
that is known of them. even by the members, out
side Of the committee having them in charge.
SOCIETY THE CINCINNATI.
At the time Sir Guy Carleton held the city of New
definite treaty OF peace had been settled. the Amer
forces lay encamped on the banks the Hud-
son at Newburg. Then it was that the master minds
OF the young Republic turned naturally their
thoughts to the change that would be effected in
their condition at the disbandment Of the army, and
they foresaw many endorsements and found the
evils resulting from the of pay TOR which
no adequate provision had been made. and the tenn
porizing policy of Congress in the matter. The
murmurs Of the aisafected in the camp had
became turbulent that they claimed the serious
attention of the Commander jim Chief, and by
his moderate counsels the general agitation was
calmed and certain OF his companions in arms,
fully Impressed with the danger of the doctrines
tnat had been broached in thor midst, determined
to mark their dsapprobation by some signal service,
and hit upon an expedient that met the cordial ap
prcval of Washington. These noble and patriotic
motives led the gallant officers OF the American
army meet together on the banks Of the Hudson,
May TO- 17s3. and form the Society OF the Gin
ciunati. the link which would unite them together
at periodical intervals, when around the social board
old friendship could be renewed This preliminary
was made up Of officer from each regiment,
together with the general officers. Baron de
Mor General Ksox and Brigsdier Generals Hand
and Huntington aud Captain Shaw were named the
committee to investigate the plans Of the society
and submit them at the next meeting, which took
place three days afterward ut the quarters
de Steuben. when the institution of the Order was
duly accepted on the three following fundamental
articles:-
An incessant attention to preserve involate the
exalted rights and liberties of human nature.
An unalterabe determination to promote and
cherish between the States union and national honor
To render permanent the cordial affection subsist
ing among the officers.
Besides this the society was to be eleemosynary.
All the officers Of the American army who had
served honorably for three years eligible to
membership. The general society was divided into
State societies.
and Knox appointed q committee to wait
General Washington and request him to honor the
society by placing his name at the head Of its list Of
members. badge was adopted. consisting of a
bald eagle OF enamelled gold bearing its breast
medallion, with suitable devices upon 1t, and the
motto, "Esto Fsrpetua." Tho whole pendant to o
blue ribbon edged with white.
Thus the society started and the decree issued
that in accord with its motto the eage should de-
scend from father to son, according the law of
prmoReniture, IN failure of issue. to collateral
heirs in the due line of inheritance forever. Then
IL was that hue and cry raised against the
society by those who claimed to be the jealous
Of the life of the Republic, and the legislatures of
many States appointed committees to inquire into
the object of the Order Ineyery instance the report
was unfavorablc Rhode Island aud Massachusetts,
were particularly opposed TO it.
ELEcTIoN OFFICERS.
The first general meeting after the disbandmcnt of
the army held ut the state House, Philadelphia
on May A. 1884. On May 15 General Washington was
unanimously chosen President, General Gates Vice
President, General Knox Secretary The 4th OF
July selected the annual meeting day for the
future and since then the meetings have taken place
annually on that day. and nothing worthy OF note
appears the records, excepting the united effort
OF the fathers then the sou, then the SON. to
raise funds for the monument of which write.
MEMORIALS
When Lafayette in Philadep phia, in 1924. Il
was decided TO erect statue of Washington in Wash
fbgton square. on Walnut street. between Sixth aud
Eighth streets. stephen Grard General John Steele
Commodore Chauncey, Paul Beck, Jr.. and General