The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-24
MILITARY SOCIETIES.

In organizing the Society of the Army of
Santiago the officers of General Skaters
army have followed the example of those
of all our armies since the foundation of the
government. The sentiment Of comradeship
among soldiers is one of the strongest
known among men, and a war is no sooner
ended than those who have fought it's bat
ties begin to plan for preserving the friend
ships formed in camp life and cemented by
the blood of comrades. The first of these or
CARNATIONS and the prototype of all others,
was the Society of the Cincinnati" formed
by officers in the revolutionary army after
the war had closed and before the army
was disbanded. Washington was chosen the
first president of the society and remained
president-general until his death. Under its
constitution the oldest male descendant of
an original member was entitle,. to become
member, and in halfway the order is still
original members, besides American off,
GERS, "all French officers who had served
in the cooperating army under Count d'Es-
taing or in the auxiliary army under Count
De Rochambeau, and held or attained the
rank of colonel for such services, or who
had commanded French fleet or ship of
war on the American coast" The society
meets once in three years, and the next
meeting will be held in the city of New
York IN May. 1S99 At the'last report it num-
bered 537 members. Membership in the So
ciety of the Cincinnati was confined to Off
GERS, and it is not known that the privates
in the revolutionary army ever formed any
organization. The society of the 'Sons of
the Revolution" is of modern origin, having
been organized in 1890. This society has
membership of about 5000, and another one.
similar in character. Sons of the American
Revolution" has a membership of about
5000. These societies. however, lack the ele-
ment of comradeship that pertains to actual
service. The Mexican war gave rise to the
aztec Club" formed in the City of Mexico
in 1S47. with a view to cherish the memo
ries and keep alive the traditions that clus-
ter about the names of those officers who
took part in the Mexican war" The first
president of this club was General Simon
B. Buckner, of Kentucky. It's membership
was confined to officers. but in due time the
men formed Mexican Veterans organ
ization of their own. The civil war gave rise
to the Military Order of the Loyal Legion"
embracing officers and their lineal descend
ants. and with a present membership of
nearly 10000; the Grand Army of the Re-
public including privates as well as off,
GERS, and numbering upwards of 100000
members; the National Associa ton of
Naval Veterans" including officers or en-
listed men of the navy marine corps; the
Regular Army and Navy Union," includ-
ing those who have served either in the
army or navy. Besides these there are So
cieties and the number is likely TO be in
corps with an aggregate membership of
many thousands. So ii will be seen the
country is well supplied with military
cieties and the number is likely TO be in
creased. For some time after the Society of
the Cincinnati was formed it excited con-
siderable jealousy and opposition. on the
ground that it aimed at establishing class
distinction and a race of hereditary mobiles
based on military service. There was more
of that sort of prejudice in the country then
THAI there is now. but it did not last long.
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