New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-05
WARRIORS ON A FRIENDLY WHIT.
THIS COr-NTRY's OLDEST MILITARY OK
GANIZATTON TO BE THE GUEST OF
F%crAND'S OLDEST COMPANY

Tho Ancient and HONORABLE Artillery Company Of
Roston. which sailed for England on Tuesday will
probably arrive at their destination to-day. Ihey
ore on a vjsi, TO the Honorable Artillery Com
pnny Of London. which will he an incident OF
moro than passing interest The oldest char
tered military organization in America Is going
70 visit its parent body. which Is the Oldest
organization " the kind In Great Britain That
fact alone IL enough to make the occasion memo
rabe But that is not all The arrangements made
for the trip are in themselves decidedly out OF the
common Cunard steamer has been chartered
FOR the voyage and will be occupied exclusively by
the company and It's attendants unique feature
OF this trip will be the publication OF daily news
paper. 1t is not uncommon for single
copy OF a paper, in manuscript, to be issued
during an Atlantic voyage. But on this occasion
newspaper will be printed daily on the ship. One
of the editors Of a Boston daily paper is member
of the company and he is taking with him suf-
fcient staff 10 do the editorial and printing work
This 1t is said Will be the first daily newspaper
ever published in the middle OF the Atlantic Ocean
The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company OF
Boston. or OF Massachusetts. is In many respects
the most distinguished and remarka BILE military or
ganzat:on in this country. 1t exists by virtue OF
charter signed March 10. 1888, by John Winthrop
Governor Of the Colony OF Massachusetts Bay the
petition for this charter was made some time be-
fore the date given bu: remained In allegiance be-
cause Governor Winthrop at first thought that 1t
might be dangerous ITO erect a standing authority
Of military men who might easily. in time, over
throw the civil power" The religious question.
however probably entered into the matter still
more largely. Many Of the signers OF the petition
were dissenters from the established faith OF the
Purtans and were therefore looked upon with DIS
favor II not with actual suspicion. The charter
was however granted az last. and the company was
organized upon the model OF the Honorable Artil-
lery Company Of London. Its first commander was
Robert Keayne. He had come to Boston from Lon
don three years before and had been a member of
the parent company. Indeed. the organization OF
the Boston company was almost entirely due TO him.
There already existed in and around Boston various
train bands which had been framed upon the model
OF those OF London. Keayne thought that these
bands needed some central power TO increase Their
efficiency. which should insure general system OF
drill and be a school u sodiery 10 which the officers
of all these bands should belong. The Honorable
Artillery Company Of London had served in just
that capacity in England. and Keayne accordingly
desired to organize duplicate Of 1t in Boston.
The roll OF membership of THIS company includes
the names Of many men who In their day and gen
Grafton have been conspicuous In peace and war
and have occupied the highest places In science art
literature and the social professional political ana
military life not only OF Massachusetts, but OF the
entire Nation. For many years the company held
en- unchallenged place at the head OF the citizens
soldiery OF the colony and the State. When tho
Puritan and Pilgrim colonies transformed
into powerful commonwealth the relations OF the
company to the volunteer militia gradually
changed 1t still remains. however, a military
panv performing military duties and adding officers
who are each year commissioned by the Governor
of the State with elaborate ceremony
Ever since the formation OF the company It's meet
ing room has been IN the Market House OF the
Town This arrangement was imposed upon the
company by the will OF its first commander For
century and a half therefore the company he's met
in the upper story OF famous old Faneuil Hall Oc-
casionally the company has e.ected honorary
member but not than half a dozen times IN
its history Two Presidents Of the United States
have thus been honorcd. James Monroe and Chester
A. Arthur Two British Princes have also received
this distinction the Prince Consort In 1851 and the
present Prince Of Wales. in 1878.
The company recognizes. and. indeed glories IN
the fact il Is direct onshoot of the Honourab bic
Artillery Company Of London. II regards the rec
ords OF the latter company, which have for more
than three and half centuries been made ilustrl-
Gus by the deeds ana words OF the greatest men OF
England a part of its own family history. The
when Henry VIII granted charter of Incorporation
10 it, 1t is thus by more than hundred years the
Oldest British military organization.
The roll Of members and officers OF the English |
company includes many distinguished men. Among
them are those Of James. Duke OF York the Prince
Regent. and King William ". The Prince Consort |
was captain general from ls3 to 1851 and the Prince
Of Wales succeeded that office In 1863 The diary
writer. samuel repys was a s,eward OF the com
member: John Wilkes was for some years an Of |
hcer. The company reglilariy maintains its or
with especial favor and pride upon the Boston /
company. There IL doubt that the coming visit !
OF the Boston company to London Will be an oc-
OF great socia interest and OF the expression
OF much good feeling between the two countries
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