Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-03-12

the original organization and Baron voh steuben
was its first grand master.
All original members were required to have served
at least three in the Revolutionary unless
earlier honoraby discharged for disability incurred
during time of service, The membership was at first
limited to such officers and their descendants in the
direct male line although a provision made for
their descendants through the direct female line In
default Of male descent and to collateral branches If
judged acceptable to the society. At its beginning,
the Cincinnati was vigorously opposed organl-
cation by many classes Of American citizens. the
ground that it would tend promote class distinction
and form aristocracy The very idea of primogen-
iture, introduced in the provisions that the
bership should descend from father son, pro-
nounced un-American.
All of the Revolutionary chiefs who had not been
in the army objected the organization. Frank
lin Norris and jefferson spoke publicly in opposition
to the Society of the Cincinnati and the legislatures
of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island
passed resolutions censurng governor of South
Carolina wrote a special message to legislature
censuring it, and Justice Burke wrote a pamphlet
signed "Cassus in which he stated in the strongest
terms that the organization Of society whose
bership based upon heredity would tend to undo
all the good work accomplished by the Revolution.
This pamphlet was translated into French and used by
Mrabeau in arousing enthusiasm for equality in
France several years later.
Even the fact that washington was the president
general of the society did max its existence
ular AT the hrst general meeting, held in the City
Tavern. Philadelphia, in 1884, Washington endeavored
to broaden the heredity limits of the membership
vision, but this did change public sentiment
ward the society and no action taken by Washington
during his public obnoxious many
American citizens his Endorsement of the Cncnna.
washingtons interest in the Cincinnati was heart
felt however, and in letter written to Rochambeau
dated october o. 1884 he expressed the hope that the
new order founded in America would bind in closest
ties the who had risked their lives together in the
founding Of the new republic
Washington continued as president general of the
cincinnati until the day OF his death, and was sue
tie advance. however. comparatively few outside
of the original members induced join. When
the only surviving major general enthusiasm
in welcoming him. the Americans lost sight of
he unit.d the American officers by fraternaI
bonds The opposition to the organization
pletely overcome and for short period it
popular.
When the last survivor of the original organiza-
ton, Burnett died in New York in 1854 there
were only nominal Organizations in three or fo,r
states, and it looked though the society Washington
had such interest in founding likely to become
extinct In the latter part of the nineteenth century
however, a movement to revive the Cincinnati became
popular, and reorganizations in each of thirteen
original states effected within years, Con-
necticut, the first one, being formed in 1ssS and
Georgia, the last, in 1902. The membership require
stin very rigid, and a man who is a member
of Cincinnati requires no other genealogical rec
ord, and his son is eligible his fathers record
The order is based upon the story of Csncnnatus
the Roman general left pow when his country
needed him, returned to again
longer required. The emblem of the society
is practically the originally adopted. 1t
consists of bald eagle in gold suspended blue
ribbon with white borders, signfying the unity
tween France and the United States. the eagles
breast is Cincinnatus receiving a from
senate his wife standing the door of their cottage
with the pillow and other agricultural implements in
the background Below two hands supporting a
heart and the words. "Esta Perpetual"
side is shown Fame browning Cincinnatus with
laurel wreath The design Of this emblem made
by Major L'Enfant.
Tammany has been always social and charitable
organzaton-nominally at least-and has
may ont even use Tammany hall for meeting place
without its permission Still, organization has
had great indirect political Influence than
century, while the Society Of the Cincinnati which
it started to oppose waned power influ-
ence until it was almost unknown
Now, however, the Cincinnati rising again and
bids fair to become all that its hoped for
While it is. in sense, a purely social organization
toward the highest ideals citizenship It's
, members include men of the highest various
professions. To a large o interest
in the Society of the Cincinnati may traced 70 a
newly awakened genealogical interest country
It's recent growth in membership has been stimulated
it is said. by the feminine organizations upon
ancestry which have strong during the past
Admiral Dewey and Generals Miles -Chaffee are
honorary members of the Cincinnati, s also ex-
President Loubet Presidents Harrison
Grant, Mckinley and Cleveland honorary men,
bers, President Monroe original and President
Pierce hereditary member. There is an organf-
cation known the Daughters of Cincinnati
based descendants of the original founders
Ia tn Fa1l