Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-29

1--WE ~ SA9 u0Wif eleCteO commander steps
out from the conipany's ranks and marches
toward the governor. The retiring COM
mander and the pewly elected commander
pass each other In the middle Of the pa
rade grounds. The retiring commander
takes his place In the ranks. while the new
commander receives at the hands Of the
governor the espontoon and gorget which
have just been given up by his predeces-
scr, and Is commissioned commander of the
company for the next year. No man is
ever chosen to command the company two
years in succession, but there are several
Instances where men have held the COM
mand number Of times.
The company Is jealous OF this preroga-
tive OF having the officers commissioned d.
reotly by the governor Of Massachusetts,
and insists on its being done by him and no
one else. In 1870. when John Hancock was
governor. he was sick in bed. and. as the
Of officers took place In Faneuil Hall. AL
though Lieutenant Gov. Samuel Adams
was present, the retiring officers and those
newly elected at once proceeded to the rest
Once OF Gov. Hancock, where the new off,
GERS were commissioned at the bedside of
the chief magistrate. It Is recorded that
but twice In the history Of the company has
the governor failed to commission the off,
GERS in person. Once was when Gov. Sum-
ner died, In 1899. and the other was in 1774,
when the seat Of government was removed
from Boston to Salem by order Of the Brit
ish parliament The duty was then per-
throughout the province
The company's banquets are great events,
and many distinguished men have stretched
their legs beneath the mahogany. James
banquet in 1913. and since that time Presi-
dents, governors and foreign potentates
have partaken of the Inequalities Of the
old corps: In 1870 the company was pre-
scented with Its famous punch bowl, which
bears this inscription: "The military COM
pany Of Boston, called the Ancient and
Honorable Artillery Company, incorporated
1858" It was present from Senator JON
than HunnewelI. and was made to order.
The bowl holds eight gallons, and Is very
handsome. 1t Is now used at all anniversa-
rfes.
The present commander Of the Ancients
Is Col. Sidney M. Hedges. who was born In
st. Louis In 1874. He came to Boston In
1879. and became a member Of the Ancients
In !SSI. He was appointed an aid-de-camp
with the rank of colonel on the staff of
Gov. Bracket in $780, Col. Hedges is at
the head Of one Of the big insurance firms
Of Boston, and Is a popular member of
the Algonquin and other clubs. He is also
active In the Masonic fraternities, being
Templar: Massachusetts Consistory. thir-
ty-second degree. and Mystic Shrine.
The hrst lieutenant Of the company Is
MAI. Aaron A. Hall. He is a veteran of
second Massachusetts, infantry, and has
since the war commanded one Of the crack
cavalry companies In Massachusetts, the
Roxbury Horse Guards. He Is now assist
ant inspector general Of the second brigade
OF Massachusetts militia.
The second lieutenant Is Josiah 8. Cush-
Ing. who was born In Bedford, Mass, In
1854. Lieut.. Cushing Is a devoted yachts
man and thirty. second degree Mason. He
Is nephew Of the late Luther S. Cushing,
author Of "Cushing's Manual"
The adJutant OF the company Is Capt. Ed
ward Il. Wadsworth. who was for fifteen
years o member Of the Massachusetts mill
Tia ana was one Of the most popular COM
manders OF the celebrated National Lancers
or Boston. He Joined the Ancients In 1885,
making his first parade to Washington on
the occasion Of the dedication Of the Wash
ington monument. He Is a Mason, a Red
Man and a knight Of Pythias.
Lieut. Thomas ]. Olys. who Is chairman
or the fall field day committee Is one of the
most popular officers of the corps. He has
worked hard for the success Of the Wash
ington trip. and II 1t comes up to present
expectations he can Justly be given a large
share Of the credit.
WALTER E. ADAMS.