Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-23
THE RICHMOND DISpATCH-TUEsDAY FEBRUARY 23 1897

Establishment OF tho order was propaDiy
Baron Steuben, at whose headquarters. III
the spring OF 1888, IN the historic reS1dehce
of Governor yerplanck, at Fishkili-oh-the-
Hudson, the first meeting OF the society
was held Here Major-GcneraI Knox,
Brigader General Huntington and cap
tain Shaw, acting az a committee sud-
mitted a plan Of organization, which was
received and adopted
General Washington was elected the
first president, and General Knox secre-
tary. The first general meeting was
held in Philadelphia, in 1884. Alexander
Hamilton succeeded to the presidency
after the death OF Washington.
At this time the following States were
represented: New Hampshire. Massa-
chusetts. Rhode Island. Connecticut. New
York. New Jersey Pennsylvania. Della
ware. Maryland. Virginia. North Caro-
lima, South Carolina, and Georgia.
At present the active societies are
eleven in number. as follows: Massa-
chusetts. organized June 3, 1888: New
York. organized June 9. 17s3; New Jersey
organized June II, 1883; Maryland. or
ganized November q, 1873; South Caro-
lima. organized August %. 17S3; Pennsyl-
vania. organized October 4. 1885,; Rhode
Island. revived in 1881; Connecticut. re-
vived in 1893; Delaware, revived In 1885,
Virginia. revived in 1896; North Carolina
revived I'm 1895. To these American States
must be added France, the land Of the
beloved Lafayette.
The small number Of societies existing
to-day is attributable chiefly TO the
prevalence and maintenance in the State
organizations Of the cast-iron rule Of
membership. which was one Of the earli-
est provisions I'm the institution OF the
society and which, following the English
law OF primogeniture. provides that only
the Oldest male descendant Of commits
stoned officer. I'm the male line, shall sue
coed 10 the inheritance
With some State societies. however.
this rule has been amended. so that de-
scendants i'm the female line are admis-
sib.e. provided, Of course, the male line
be extinct.
That once a year the men In whose
veins runs the blood OF staunch patriots
and builders Of this great nation should
meet I'm their various States 10 talk ar
dwell upon so great and honorable thing
as the foundation Of their own country
and the share their ancestors bore there
in. Is laudable and patriotic. Posterity
il is safe to say will cherish the society
with increasing appreciation.
societys activity is its provision for
countless benefciaries. to whom yearly
contributions are sent.
The president-g general Of the Society or
the Cincinnati is William Wayne. Esq
a descendant Of general Anthony Wayne
The ce-president-general is Winslow
Warren. Esq. a descendant Of General
Joseph Warren. the hero Of Bunker Hill.
1t may not be amiss TO mention here
the fact that the city Of Cincinnati,
O.. takes its name from this society
and was so chrstened by General Arthur
st. Clair and Colonel Winthrop Sergeant.
who were Governor and Secretary, re-
.pectively. Of the Northwestern Terri
tory. and were members Of the Cincinnati
Society.
In these days of general importation 1t
is well to encourage good Americanism-
that Americanism which, to use the
closing words Of the greatest speech that
that great American, Daniel Webster,
ever made. stands for Liberty and
Union. one and inseparable!