Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-02
WICHITA
EXTENDS A HEARTY GREETING TO
THE LOYAL LEGION,
And Bids Them Welcome to the
Hospitality of the Peer
less Princess.

NJ H. Insley, Homer Vaughn and Smith,
of Leavenworth, Maj. J. D. Barker, Girard.
Capt L H Seward, Winfield; Col. W. c.
Jones, lola: Major II. W. Pond and Capt.
c. H. Haynes, Fort Scott: Major C. Hood,
Capts. H. c. Cross and L. T. Heritage,
Enporia: Capt c. f. Hilton, Salina; Capt.
II. r. Hubbard, Boston Mills; Capt. r. h.
Tabor, Lawrence: Lieut.. E. P. Brewer and
Mr. Allen y. Dennison, Fort Riley; Coils.
Pinckney and McKercher, Peabody; and
Mr. Frank Buss, Fort Leavenworth.
The trains tomorrow Will bring General
G. W. Blair, the present commander of the
Loyal Legion, Governor John a. Martin,
Ex-Governor Geo. L. Anthony, Gov Smith,
of the soldiers home, Capt. j. B. johnson
and others.
The local companions were all at the
Union depot to escort their visiting COM
panions to the Carey Grand. They express
themselves as much displeased with the
actions of the conductor who started up
the train before the passengers had all got
off, which came near resulting in serious
accident to an officer from Fort Leaven-
worth. The program for today includes a
visit to Dold's packing house, Paramount
and the Burton car works on the motor
line starting from Fourth avenue and
Williams street at $3.50 a. N.
In the afternoon carriages will be taken
at the Carey Grand and other hotels in the
city where companions may be stopping,
at o'clock D. m, for drive to the watch
factory, Garfield University and River
side.
At T:30 p m. the Commandry will meet
at Garfield opera house for the transaction
of business.
At 10 p. m. the festivities at the Hotel
Gandolfo will open up with a flow of
reason and feast of soul.
NJ. o. L. L. [. S.
The Military Order of the Loyal Legion
of the United States is the only thor
oughly military order in the United States,
being composed almost exclusively of COM
missioned officers of the regular and vol
unteer service, who participated in the
war of the rebellion. None but officers Of
the highest responsibility, whose military
record is pre-eminent, can obtain admls-
sion to the order, as the military history
accompanying each application for mem
bership is sent to the secretary OF war, or
secretary Of the navy-as the case may be
for verification with his official record
on file in the department.
The order was instituted in Philatel-
phia on April 15 1865, the day succeeding
that on which President Lincoln was
assassinated, Gen. Winfield 3. Hancock
being installed as its first commander-in-
chief, aud serving as such until his death.
Lieut. Gen. F. H Sheridan succeeded him,
and is the present incumbent.
From time to time communicates have
been instituted in different states from
which union soldiers marched to the field,
a commander-in chief holding supervision
over the several Communicates of the or
der
The membership of the order consists of
companions OF three classes, which may be
designated af follows, viz: Companions OF
the first class are those commissioned Of
ficers who served as such in the war Of the
rebellion, either as officers of the regular
or volunteer service, who was specially dis
tinguished for gallantry and meritorious
service rendered upon the field of battle
COMPANIONS of the second class are the
eldest sons of such officers, who have at
tanned the age of majority; and compan-
ions of the third class are chosen from
civilians who have specially distinguished
themselves during the rebellion by their
acts of fealty and loyalty. Third class
companions are restricted in numbers to
three per cent of the entire membership of
first class companions.
Every general officer of the regular army
is a companion of the order, together with
about five hundred eff the field staff and
line officers of the regular army, and over
four thousand officers of the volunteer ser
vice. making a total membership OF some
thing less than five thousand.
These are divided among seventeen state
each holding its command
erv meetings within the state, the COM
is located at Philadelphia,
Pa, where it holds its meetings every two
wears. a congress of the order is held
every four years,
With but few exceptions every compan-
ion of the Loyal Legion is a comrade of
the Grand Army of the Republic, and
among the objects of the order may be
cited the following, viz: To cherish the
memories and associations of the war
waged in defence of the unity and indivis-
Utility of the republic TO strengthen the
ties of fraternal fellowship and sympathy
formed by companionship-in-a to adj
vance the best interests Of the soldiers and
sailors of the republic and to extend all
possible relief TO their widows and children,
To foster the cultivation of military AMI
naval seience-to enforce unqualified al
Ieuience to the general government and to
national honor, union and in
The military order of the Loyal Legion
of the United States is to some extent pat
termed after the Society OF the CINCINNATI,
\ society formed at the closing of
the Revolutionary war. This society
still maintains its organization although
its membership numbers but about fifty
The present members are the hneal de
scendents of Revolutionary officers. They
meet once in five years and never fail to
have an en- ;oyable time. The perpetuatiou
of the Loyal Legion depends upon its
feature of heredity of membership, or
rather eligibility. The eldest son OF
of the first class is eligible as
of the second class whenever
he attains his majority and may then be
come a companion of the first class upon
the death OF the person from whom he in
herits his eligibility. The Star of the LIE
gion Is conferred upon a companion by the
in chief-who is at present the
ranking general of the United States army
upon the recommendation OF the state
commandry. In this regard it is some
what similar TO the Legion OF Honor CT
France. There is no insurance feature
with the organization and
it is strictly military they can
not be induced TO play the lawn soldier.
They have led army corps. divisions. bri-