The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-08-04
THE CINCINNATI.
kEaHcst But Most Distinguished Of ths
Revolutionary Orders.


Revolutionary Orders.
The other day there was held in Phil
edelphia a meeting of the Society Of the
Cincinnati.
When the struggle for Independence
had come to a final conclusion and Lord
CORVALLIS had handed over his sword,
the time came for the disbanding of
the Continental army. Gen. Washing
ton at this particular time had his head
quarters at the old Verplanck mansion,
near Fishkill-on-theHud The off,
GERS of the army We're most of them
aristocratic gentlemen who had gath
cred together from the various colonies.
They had formed many pleasant &C.
quaintances as well as warm friend
ships IN camp and field, and when it
was suggested that these be perpetuated
by the formation of permanent Or
ganization, the project met with waEm
approval. Accordingly, on May 13. 1883,
a meeting was called. Baron Steuben
who WAS inspector general of the army.
presided. Gen. Knox, that doughty old
patriot, read paper which he had pre-
pared, and which was adopted a. the
original constitution.
The original draft of this document
has been preserved and was handed
down with other relics and mementoes
OF the order to the late Hamilton Fish,
who was for many years its president.
The organization was one OK officers
only, and this was why it was 50 bitter
ly assailed in later years. The clause
designed to perpetuate the order. which
made only male descendants, or, failing
these, collateral male descendants, elig
nble for membership. stamped the order.
according to popular belief, as an imi-
tation of European orders of knight
hood. 1t was also asserted that this was
an attempt to establish an sristocracy,
end the legislatures of Rhode Island.
Massachusetts and Pennsylvania cen
sured it by resolution. In fact. Wash
ington saw something of the danger
and secured a modification OF the clause
at the second regular meeting.
II was intended TO have a branch OF
the order established in each state, but
this was never done. and to-day there
are but seven state organizations Many
OF the French officers who served N the
revolution were made members. and a
branch OF the order. which - still IN ex-
istence, was organized in Franco By
royal consent Count dEstaing sent 10
Gen. Washington. who was elected the
first president of the order in this coan-
try. the eagle OF the French branch set
in diamonds. as a gift Of the French
naval officers.
The jewel has been worn in succes-
sion By each president general OF the
soc.ety from Washingtou's time down
20 to-day. 1t has adorned the breast
OF Alexander Hamilton, OF the two
Pinckneys. Of Ogden. Lewis. PoPhaTn.
Dearborn and Fish, who was made pres
ident IN 1854 and held the Office uata
his death. since which time the Office
was vacant until recently, when MAJ
William Wayne. of Philadelphia, = DE-
soendant OF Gen Wayne known as
Mad ANTHONY was ckosrn- On the
election OF Gen WAYNE the historic
Jewel OF the order was handed over 20
him by Nicholas Fish. son Of the late
president The society meets oaly once
in three years, and 50 the EexT genera
assembly viii not occur until Nag =,
1890. wher = meeting viii be bold N
Ser Yerk city,