The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-11
The Origin of the Celebrated Society of
 Cincinnati.

The Origin of the Celebrated Society of
 Cincinnati.
 Tn A beautiful isolated spot about rnlia from the east bank or the Hud- son, and two miles northeast Of Fisn- kin landing. stands the residence own ed hy Samuel Verplanck, Esq, during the Revolution. It is approached from the highwa by winding carriage way. which traverses broad undulat- ing lawn. shaded by venerable trees. The old mansion Is of stone. q story and a half high. with dormer win dows, and in the style of the best class of Dutch built houses erected over hundred years.
 This house is remarkable as the headouarters of the Baron Steuben, when the American army was en- camped in the vicinity of Newburgh, and also as the place wherein the celebrated Society of the Cincinnati was organized in 17S3. The meeting for that purpose was held In the large square room on the north side of the passage. This room Is carefully pre- served in It's original style. While contemplating a final separation Of the officers of the army, the tenderest feelings of the heart had their af1ict- ing operation. At the suggestion, or General Knox and with the approval of Commander in Chief Washington,
  hope was entertained that their long cherished friendship and sweet inter course might be perpetuated and at future periods they might annually communicate and revive recollection of the bonds by which they were con nected. Pursuant to these suggestions the officers held a meeting, Among those present to establish the Society l of Cincinnati were Major Generals Ba- ron de Steuben, Howe, Knox; Brigadler l Generals Patterson, Hand, Huntington, | Putnam; Colonel Webb, Lieutenant Colonel Huntington, Major Pettenglll, Lieutenant Whiting, Colonel II. Jack son. Captain Shaw, Lieutenant Colonel Hull and Maxwell and Colonel Cour- ant.
 Al committee consisting of Generals Knox. Hand. Huntington and Captain l Shaw was appointed to revise the l proposals of the meeting.
 | Another meeting was held. May lS, l lTS3, in this home, when the commit tee reported. plan was adopted and | the society organized, opening with resolutions in part, these words: "It having pleased the Supreme Governor | of the Universe in the disposition oe human affairs, to cause the separation | of the Colonies of North America from | the domination of Great Britain, and after bloody conflict of eight years to establish them free, independent l sovereign States, connected by allt- ances. founded on reciprocal branches.
 with some of the greatest princes and | mowers of the earth; to perpetuate,
 therefore. as well the remembrance of this vast event, as the mutual friend
 ships have been formed under the pres
 sure of common danger, and, In many instances, cemented by the blood or the l parties, the officers of the American
 army do hereby. in the most solemn manner. associate, constitute, and com
 bina themselves into one society of
 friends to endure, so long as they
 shall endure. or of any of their eldest
 male posterity, and in failure thereof,
 the collateral branches. who may be
 judged worthy of becoming It's sup
 porters and members"
 The officers of the American army
 having been generally taken from the
 citizens of America, possess high ven
 eration for the character of that illus trious Roman, Lucius Quintius Ctncin-
 natus. and being resolved to follow his example by returning to their citl' zenship. they think they may with pro piety denominate themselves the So- ciety of the Cincinnati. Their principles
 were strong and immutable. The cer' ! tifcate of membership were thirteen inches and a half wide, and twenty inches in length. and printed on hn' vellum. The design represents Ahleti can liberty as a strong-armed man bearing in one hand the Union flag and the other sword. Beneath hii feet are British flags and a broker smear shield and chain. Towering D. his side is the eagle. our national em
 blem, from whose talons the lightning
 of destructon is flashing upon thu
 British lion. Britannia, with thu crown falling from h CT head. is hasten ing toward a boat to escape to g flee
 which denotes the departure of th' British power from our shores. Upor l a cloud. on the right. an angel Is blow
 ing trumpet, from which futters ;
 scroll. On the scroll are sentences | "Tndenendenra Declared A. D. 1776