The news & observer., 1897-02-21

SIlip
COMMA RELTNQUIT SnRYARE
RnMPUBLICAM"
This historic and patriotic society was
founded, i'm May, 1873, through the m
str,lmentality of General Henry Knox,
of Washington's staff, by the officers
of the Continental Army then IN canton
mcRt AT Ncwburgh, n, Y, Gu the dud-
SON River. Gen. Baron de Steuben pre-
sided at tls. meeting called for the pur-
uose and In forming the society Ut WAS
declared as follows:
SIT having pleaScd the Supreme Gov
errnr OF the universe IN the disposition
sr human affairs, 60 cause the separation
AZ fhe Oaionss,s of North America from
fh@ domination OF Great Britain and, af-
trr bloody cmiisct of eight years, TO es-
esalSSh them free, independent and so
yereigl States, Connected. by slllances
eowns2x~i on reciprocal advantages, with
sense az she great princes and powers
Of the earth,
esfSa perIsg4,la4e. therefore as we'll the
rememhrsacyaS of this vast event, as the
xnu,yal friendship which have been form
ed under the pressure of common dan
ger. and sn many instances cemented by
sAe HOOD of the parties, the officers Of the
AnersSxan array do hereby, in the most
sosegnn manner. associate, constitute and
s>eSasssne themselves into one Society of
Friends. 10 endure as long as they shall
ensggre. or any of their eldest male pos
sersty and. in failure thereof. the collat-
e~al branches, who may be judged worthy
ss becoming its supporters and members.
sSTNhe officers of the American army.
having generally been taken from the
cstsxcnS OF America. possess high venera-
ten for gle character Of that illustrious
ROMAN, LUCIUS QUINTUS ClNCIN-
EATUS: and, being resolved to follow
his example hy returning bo their cit-
xensfEp, they think they may, with pro
pri~ty. ienominate themselves THE so
CIETY OF THB CINCINNATI.
'sThe following principles shall be ina
mutabIe and form the basis of the So
ciety of the Cincinnati;
"An ineessant attention TO preserve in
violate those exalted rights and liberties
Of hstnran nature, for which they fought
and bled and without which the high
rank of rational being is a curse in
stead of blessing.
aAn unaIterable determination to pro-
mote and cherish, between the respective
States, that union and national honor 30
essentially necessary to their happiness
and the future dignity OF the American
Empire
ssTo render permanent the cordial af
fection subsisting among the officers.
This spirit will dictate brotherly kindness
i'm all things and particularly extend to
the most substantial acts OF benefcence,
according to the ability of the society, to-
wards those officers and their families
who, unfortunately, may be under the
necessity of receiving it"
an order 10 form funds which may be
respectable and assist the unfortunate,
each officer shah deliver to the treasurer
of the State Society one months pay,
which shall remain forever TO the use OF
the State Society; the interest only of
which, if necessary, TO be appropriated
10 the relief of the unfortunate"
"All the officers OF the American army,
as well as those who have resigned with
honor after three years service in the
capacity OF officers, or who have been
deranged by the resolutions of Congress,
upon the several reforms of the army, as
those who shall have continued to the end
Of the war, have the right to become
parties in this institution; provided that
they subscribe one months pay and sign
their names to the general rules, IN
their respective State Societies those
who are present with the army, imme-
aia tely, and others within six months af
ter the army shall be disbanded, extra
ordinary cases excepted.
and as a testimony of af-
fection to the memory and the offspring
OF such officers as have died in the SER
vice, their eldest male branches shall
have the same right of becoming mem
bers as the children Of the actual mem
bers of the Society"
"And as there are, and will mt all
times be, men in the respective States,
eminent for their abilities and patriotism,
whose views may be directed to the same
iaudable objects with those OF the Gin
cinnati, it shall be a rule to admit such
characters as honorary members of the
Society, for their lives only; provided al
ways, that the number Of honorary MEM
bers in each State does not ecxeed ratio
of one to four Of the officers or their des-
eendants"
Gen. Washington was the first Presi-
dent General OF the General Society and
20 continued until his decease in 1900.
He has been succeeded in that office by
the following:
1900 Major General Alexander Hamil-
ton, OF New York.
1905 Major General @. Cotesworth
Pinckney, of South Carolina.
1895 Major General Thomas Pinckney,
of South Carolina.
1929 Major General Aaron Ogden, of
New Jersey.
1899 Major General Morgan Lewis, Of
New York.
1914 Brevet Major William Popham, of
New York.
1S4S Brigadier General III. A. Scam
nell Dearborn, OF Massachusetts.
1874 Honorable Hamilton Fish, of
New York.
1896 Honorable William Wayne, OF
Pennsylvania.
Tho Soeiety was divided info State So