Morning journal and courier., 1891-06-01

thousand dollars, can probably be recow-
 cred. Steps were recently taken to revise
 the Virginia society," North Carolina
 ceased to hold meetings about 1790; and Georgia about 1795. It is hoped that all
 the dormant societies will be revived dur ing the next decade.
 At the last meeting of the Connecticut Humphreys delivered valedictory ora
 tion, from which make the following ex-
 tract:
 Had we the inclination, how have we
 the ability to become a privileged order,
 dangerous to the liberty of the republici
 To prove we will not is in our power Per
 haps page is vacant in the annals of America, to revive the proceedings of this
 society on this anniversary.S We may
 then expect more justice from posterity
 than from the present age. For myself, I scorn to live the object of jealousy, when it's mslignity may be avoided by dissolving
 the connection. This medal of the Socie- ty of the Cincinnati (holding it up) Gene ral Washington caused to be procured in France, and gave it to me as a present
 with his own hand. For the giver's sake
 will keep 1t as a precious relic but from
 this hour shall never wear it, not even
 on the proud day consecrated to indepen-
 dence.
 My Friends of the Cincinnati, The
 most painful part of this solemnity still
 remains. To bid an adieu until the con
 summation of all things is to pronounce
 an awful word. Whatever may be your
 determination as to the continuance or
 dissolution of our society, under the cir
 cumstances which have been related, my
 part is decided. cannot reconcile it to
 my idea of propriety to attend your more
 separated meetings.t The behavior of one
 branch of the legislature (the senate) has
 accelerated the separation which must soon have been inevitable. I shall see your faces no more. May the sunshine of conscience gild your setting day-and may you enjoy every species of felicity which you can desire for yourselves, For the last time-farewell, ye survivors of thou sands who died fighting for the glorious cause of liberty! Ye remnants of your selves in better days-Ye veterans of the Revolutionary army, farewell, Farewell forever!"
 One can almost see the old veterans wip- ing the tears from their cheeks as the ora tor closed his touching peroration. In another portion of his speech Gene ral Humphreys said: "The senate was as sured that their refusal to grant such pro- lection to the fund of the society as they
 were in the habit of granting to other as- sociations or citizens indiscriminately must operate as its death warrant A mo- tion to adjourn (dissolv) made last year was not carried I recommend that the fund be converted into annuities for the maintenance for life of benefciaries hith- erto aided"
 Gustavus III of Sweden forbade his subjects to wear the Cincinnati eagle, be-
 cause the society had republican tenden- cy not suited to his government In the United States the society was regarded as | aristocratic and monarchical.
 La Fayette asked and obtained permis- sion of Louis XVI to wear his eagle st | court. Despite the prohibition of Gusta-
 vus, the son of Baron Stedingh wore it daily under his monarch's eye. In the bylaws of the Connecticut socie- ty the following penalties were enjoined: Absence from meetings, within twenty | miles, eight dollars; twenty to one hun dred miles, four dollars; more than one hundred miles, two dollars. Officers, l double. Absence three times, expulsion: | for not attending the general society as a
 delegate, twenty dollars; for refusing to | serve when elected as an officer, - dol lars. (Thsre is no record that any of these | penalties were ever infiicted.I The number of original members of the | Massachusetts society were 333. Connect | icut, 1S1; Rhode Island, 72; New York,
 230; New Jersey, 110; Maryland, 14s; | Pennsylvania, 26S; South Carolina, 131; | about l 300. Massachusetts has now, SS
 Rhode Island. 49: New York, 66: New
 Jersey, 90; Pennsylvania, 46; Maryland,
 34; South Carolina, e; the Connecticut
 organization, 30; total, 410.
 l At 8 meeting held at Hartford, December | IT, 17S4, MT. Amos Hall, of Guilford, sec.
 ond son of Captain Stephen Hali, de.
 ceased, was admitted a member, the eldest
 son having ''relinquislIed his birth-right ' | Several of the original Cincinnati diplo-
 mas are owned in New Haven; and there
 is at least one of the original eagles The
 Historical society, Dr. Bishop and MT. s, | W. Glenney have diplomas, and Mir. Pun.
 derson an original eagle. 4. N. L. | New Haven. May 26, 1891.
 | 'It is held that state society cannot dissolve | The society was to be perpetual
 l tNow the Washington Lee university. sThe words were prophetic,
 | Meaning, probably, the state meetings.