The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-03

L
tary Company of Boston," and it's long line
| of social successes added to its martial Prov.
ess well illustrates the saying that Peace
hath her victories no less renowned than
those of war" Indeed. it is mainly for its
civic triumphs that we of today honor the
! grand old company as it parades on its
annual Outing" election day" which
comes on the first Monday in June and is
IAN event. in many respects
The first captain of the company was
Robert Keayne, who had also been one of
the chief promoters of the organization.
How be looked we cannot tell; whether he
was handsome or not we do not know, as
there is no picture Of him in existence.
Not until 1861 did it become an artillery
company, when it was recognized as such
by the general court, as the legislature of
Massachusetts is termed
The title Ancient and Honorable" was
assumed in 100, first occurring in its rec
ords in September of that year; the "an-
cient" from what was. even at that early
day, considered to be its great age, and the
honorable" from the fact that its first
captain and some of its earlier members
had belonged to the Honorable Artillery
company, of London, England, an organ
ny Guc SOill o&lSJS Id a
hOurishing condition. with over $50 years
of interesting history behind it and many
of the greatest names of England's annals
on its rolls past and present.
The Boston company was dispersed by
the Revolution, but was revived in 1889 (tlAe
same year that George Washington as
sumed the presidential chair. and it's mans
and privileges were confirmed by the legis-
lature.
The annual election is even yet cele-
DRAFTED by parade, just as it was in an
Gent times.
From Judge Samuel Sewall's famous
diary we get an interesting glimpse of the
way things were done when he was COM
mander of the renowned company in 1901,
for he gave the following account of a
training day: Very pleasant, fair wether;
artillery trains in the afternoon (Sewall in
command); march with the company to
the Elm; go to prayer, march down and
shoot at mark; by far tie most missed,
as did for the first; were much contented
with the exercise; led them to the trees
agen; performed some facings and doub-
hngs; drew them together: propounded
the question about the colours: twas voted
very freely and fully informed the Com
pany was told the Company's halbertls,
etc, were borrowed | understood the !
leading stat was so, and therefore ask'd |
their acceptance of a Half Pike, which |
they very kindly did They would needs |
give me a volley, in token of their respect, |
on this occasion. The Pike will, / suppose, |
stand me in fourty shillings, being headed |
and shod with silver Were treated by the |
Ensign in fair chamber"
On this annual celebration, which takes
place on the first Monday in June, SER
mon is preached TO the company. A good |
dinner is eaten in Faneuil hall, and
speeches are listened to; after which all
form in line and march to the common,
where the governor of the commonwealth
delivers TO the newly elected officers their
which run for one year only,
officers at the close of their term returning to
the ranks, being ineligible to election to any
office excepting from the ranks. This rule
keeps alive in a peculiar way the spirit of
pure democracy which pervades the COM
Dany. the commander of last year being the
private this year, and on either side of him
N the ranks may be found ma jor generals,
captains or leutenants and all grades of
officers The Ancient and
Honorable Artillery company is composed
If two branches-the infantry, to which
zone but past or present commissioned Off
;ers of the army, the navy or the militia,
md the artillery" or civilian" branch,
% which any plain, everyday, ordinary
,itiZen may be elected.