The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-21

side. The sermon
will be delivered by the chaplain,
Rev. DR.. Leighton Wilson Eckard of
Easton, Pa.
At the Court House tomorrow, at
noon. the annual meeting of the So
ciety will be held, and officers will be
elected for a year. At the De Soto
in the evening the annual dinner will
be given, at which time topics Of in
terest to the members of the organiza-
ton will be discussed.
The following out-of-tow MEM
bers of the society are ex-
nected to attend the celebration:
Francis Apthorp Foster, treasurer,
of Boston; William Hall Milton of Ma
rianna, Fla; William Alexander Ten
mile of East Orange, N. j.; Joseph
Hallett Burroughs of Norfolk, and
Thomas Savage Clay of New York
The Society of the Cincinnati was or
ganized in the state of Georgia in Sep
TENDER, 1888. On May Is, 1888, Cont
mental officers of the army met at the
Verplank House. near Fishkill-on-t the
Hudson, to organize a military order
to commemorate the securing of peace
and independence to the United States,
and to form a tie of friendship among
the DfOL0eC Objects, TIE IlSnI VI lliCIll-
bership to descend to the eldest son.
The constitution which was then
adopted has never since been changed,
defines its objects and the right to
membership. The preamble reads:
Purpose of the Societies.
1T having pleased the Supreme
Governor of the Universe, in the dis
position of human affairs to cause the
separation of the colonies of North
America from the domination of Great
Britain, and after a bloody conflict of
eight year, to establish them free, in
dependent and sovereign states, con-
nected by alliance founded on recipro-
cal advantages, with some of the great
est princes and powers of the earth"
Then follows: "To perpetuate. there
fore, as well the remembrance of this
vast event as the mutual friendships
which have been under the pressure of
common danger and in many instances
cemented by the blood of the parties,
the officers of the American army do
hereby, in the most solemn manner, as
sociate, constitute and combine them
selves into one society of friends to en-
dure as long as they endure, or any of
their eldest male posterity, and in fail
ure thereof the collateral branches who
may be judged worthy of becoming it's
supporters and members"
The officers of the American army
having generally been taken from the
citizens of America, possess high ven
GRAFTON for the character of that illus
trious Roman. Lucius Kuintus Cincin-
natus, and being resolved to follow his
example by returning to their citizen
ship they think they may, with pro-
priety denominate themselves.
The Society of the Cincinnati, the in
stitution then went on to say: IAN in
cessant attention to preserve inviolate
those exalted rights and liberties for
which they had fought and bled-are
unalterable determination to promote
and cherish between the respective
states that union and national honor
so essentially necessary to their
happiness and the future dignity of the
American empire. To render perma-
nent the cordial affection subsisting
among the officers. This spirit will die
tate brotherly kindness in all things
and particularly extend to the most
substantial acts of benefcence, accord
ing to the ability of the society to-
wards those officers and their fami-
lies who unfortunately may be under
the necessity of receiving it.
Who the Members Are.
"All the officers of the American
army, as well as those who have re-
signed with honor after three years
service in the capacity of officers or
who have been deranged by the resolu-
tlon of Congress upon the several re-
forms of the army, as those who shall
nave continued to the end of the war
nave the right to become parties to this
institution, provided, that they sub
scribe one months pay and sign their
names to the general rules
Where the institution speaks of the
American army it means the officers
or the Continental army
There were thirteen state societies,
one in each of the original states, and
one in France.
In 1884 the French naval officers sent
Gen: George Washington the insignia
OF the order, set in diamonds. This has
been worn by each of the president
generals.
In 1854 the society decided to admit
as members the proper descendant OF
continental officer who had right
70 become an original member, but who
ala not, upon the payment of certain
sum to be fixed by each state society.
mus in Massachusetts, the amount re-
Iulred is 500, while in Rhode Island,
New York, Pennsylvania and New Jer-
sey it is $500.
How Members Are Selected.
The honor of membership from an
original member descends to the eld-
est lineal male descendant at common
Jaw of such propositions. The heredi-
tdrlly entitled applicant must, how
ever, apply to the Standing Commit
Zee and be found worthy. otherwise
ne may be excluded and the next in
succession taken, such election would
not however, exclude the proper heir
subsequently born of the eldest line
on the happening of a vacancy where
me direct male line of an original
member is extinct-and there are de-
Scendants through intervening female
descendants. each state society claims
me right of selection where there are
no descendants of an original member
men the collateral branches judged
worthy is accepted, and the general
rule in such cases is to take the eld-
esq direct male descendant of the eld-
gat brother, although this rule is not
imperative. The same rule of descent
opply in cases where the applicants
ancestor was not an original member,
put was entitled to have been one or
uled IN service, or was killed or NOR
ally wounded In action.
mere Is no charge for admission TO
.le deseendapts OF an original MEM
Der OF the Georgia Society.
me following have been the preBi-
tents general since the society was or
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