Norwich bulletin., 1921-01-12
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERICAN
 HISTORY
THE OLDEST MILITARY
 ORGANIZATION IN AMERICA

The Ancient and Honorable Artillery company of Massachusetts, the oldest mil- itary organization in America, is the off, spring of the Honorable Artillery com pany of~London, the oldest military or ganizatien in the world. The latter was incorporated by King Henry VIII in 1537.
 When the American branch was organ ized it adopted not only the plan and pur- pose of it's famous prototype but also and Honorable Artillery company of Massachusetts was founded in a manner 1 characteristically American. At the close of the first Indian war in which Massachusetts engaged-that short and bloody conflict with the Pequods-the rulers of Boston feasted the victorious l militiarnen. Some of the soldiers, and a few merchants and gentlemen" of the infant colony, former members of the Honorable Artillery of London, suggested a military organization, the aim of which should be to instruct men in the art of war and introduce better and uniform system of military tactics After shaping l the new company they peitioned the gem eral court for a charter.
 At first the council. considering "how dangerous it might be to erect a standing authority of military men, which might easily, in time, overthrow the civil power thought fit to stop it betimes.' The goV- ernor however, soon perceived that such l a company would strengthen his power and through his influence the charter was finally granted.
 Il On. the 17th day of March, 1888, the much discussed petition was approved by order of the general court. At the time T this charter was granted Boston was rather a village than town. The first charter granted by the general court of the Massachusetts Bay was to the Cor poration Of Harvard College" The sec , ond, and the only other granted for 100 l years, was the charter of this ancient ar tillery company. The document reads as follows: Whereas, divers gentlemen and others
 out of their care of the public veal and , safety. by the davaneement of the mili- tary art, and exercise<of arms, have de. ? sired license of the court to join them. selves in one company, and to have the } liberty to exercise themselves at sucf f times as their occasions will permit ana that such liberties and privileges might be granted them as the court should thnl
 meet, for their better encouragement ana
 furtherence in SO useful an employment 0 which request of theirs being referred b, | the court unto us of the Standing Coun q cil, we have thought fit, upon serioz - consideration and eenfe. rncr with diF : t of the principal of them, to set down sl 4 order herein as folfowe':
 A 'Imprints. We d- pr Ter that R1br '. Keayne, merchant; Ettltn:si Dsrc1r
 merchant; Robert Se'igw.ck, gcntleiran bWilliam Spencer, lner.lel+, and spc1
 others as they have already joined wit
 them, and such as they skail frlm t:m y to time take into their coin0aHv, shall I 1T called the Military Company If Massa
 chusetts.''
 The charter then goes on to state tn p privileges granted the company, many c ', which were most remarkable The frs
 election of officers was held on the fir:
 Monday in JCle, 1889, somewhat mor
 than a year after the granting of tn en charter. the first Commander chosen bein of Robert Keayne.
 The first period of the artillery con
 pany's history extends from the date r.. it's charter to 1886. when its meeting nh were suppressed by Governor Andro
 From the first the company seemed
 realize the design of its founders by trail
 ing men to be efficient officers in a tn branches of the service 30 when the fir ly real organization of the scattered milit
 companies was effected, in 1s44, many
 the officers were chosen from it.
 in As no high sounding titles were telera 1. ed, so no military regalia was alIowe " and even as late as 1775 the officers wo
 only knots of ribbon of different eolers
 insignia of their rank
 me The company was dispersed by t ost Revolution, few of the members remai
 ing firm in their loyalty to the crown,
 by far the greater number were active
 striving to maintain the rights of the e 0f- Dnists. In spite of the wars between [ lh- United States and England. very frieh |. ly sentiment has always existed betwe
 the oldest military organizations of the ,r two countries. in The anniversary of the organization ,a,, this company the first Monday of Jul -S' is still celebrated by an annual parade.
 sermon is preached to the company i;
 dinner is eaten in Faneuil hall a ave speeches listened to, and then follows the march to the Common. where the gov the nor delivers to the newly elected offic
 their commissions (running for one ye
 enly), and the insignia of their offices. ..;, (Terncrrow: Last O. the Fighting Wa Heti ingtons.)