The Detroit times., 1908-07-09
KING EDS BOSTON
MILITARY co. IS
COMING
ANCIENT AND HONORABLE AR.
TiLLERY COMPANY. NOTED Or
oANlzATIoN, TO VISIT DETROIT
IN OCTOBER.

Oldest and. most celebrated CT all
military organizations on the American
continent Is the Ancient and Honor$
able Artillery company OF Boston,
which has practically decided TO hold
its annual fall field day in Detroit the
first Tuesday in October. Formed In
1886, IL received charter in 1888 and
has thus preserved an unbroken exist.
ence for 270 years. during which time
It's membership has included the great
est men OF the New England metrop
oils
A committee consisting OF Capt
James A. Davis, Adjatant William IL.
Cakes and Chief OF Stan Sidney NJ.
Hedges visited Detroit Wednesday TO
gather information regarding the ar
rangements which might be made.
The hearty welcome they received
moved them TO report favorably as to
coming here.
But once has the Ancient and Hon
orable Artillery gone SO far from Bos-
ton for its fall field day. That was In
1896 when the Ancients went to Lon
don TO visit the Honorable Artillery
company of that city, the parent or
ganiZation. They were received with
the greatest honors ever accorded a
foreign military company In England.
Queen Victoria reviewing them at
Windsor. King Edward, then Prince
OF Wales. entertaining Marlborough
House. and other festivities being held
which made every day of their stay
notable.
An international significance was
added to the visit from the fact that
President Cleveland had just issued
his Venezuelan message and the re-
sultant irritation was somewhat al
layed by the interchange OF courte-
sizes.
The Honorable Artillery OF London
came 10 Boston In 1903 and were TAX.
en- to New York. Washington. Niagara
Falls and Montreal by special trains
and boats as guest OF the Boston com
pany.
popularity of the company is
that Its members are not CARRIED alike.
Any member who has had previous
military service may wear the uni
form of rank to which he is entitled
A private In the Ancients may wear
the uniform OF brigadier general or
a Rough Rider. II 1t happens that he
has had military service emitting him
to the honor. The company's uniform
for those who have had no previous
military experience is a picturesque
one OF colonial style.
Diversity OF uniform is due to the
fact that the company was originally
training corps for officers OF the mil
tia companies. II furnished 144 of
ficers in the revolution and even more
in the civil war. Since that conflict,
its mission had been largely one Of
patriotism. its annual visits to vari'
Gus cities being made occasions OF his
torical commemoration.
The company now has about 600
members, divided into six companies
OF infantry and as many of artillery.
Its officers are chosen at drum-head
election on Boston Common and can
hold Office for but one year, going
back TO the ranks. Its headquarters
are in Faneuil hall, where a museum
IS maintained of It's relics. The mem
bers are chosen from the aristocracy
OF Boston and it's environs and are
mostly wealthy men.
King Edward is one OF the three
honorary members that the company
has chosen in its long life.
Assurances were given the commit
tee on Wednesday by Lieut.-Col. Bar
low that all the military organizations
OF Detroit will turn out as an escort
TO the visitors. After being enter
tanned at various clubs and touring
the city in an automobile the comr H.
tee of Ancients gave a dinner them
selves in the Pontchartrain. at which
the speakers were Mayor Thompson
Aid. Heineman, Thomas McGraw,
Thomas Wadsworth, Gen. w. q
Green. f. II. Schreiter. Frank T.
Lodge. Walter Barlow and George Il.
Woolley.
The mayor offered to make Capt
Davis mayor for the time OF the com