Americans have always liked societies and there are many of them, which cover almost every aspect of the life and history of our country. The honor of being the oldest of all belongs to the Society of the Cin- cinnati. It was not only the first patriotic society, but the first veterans’ organization as well. When an officer became a member, he was required to subscribe one month’s pay "to maintain the Society and aid members in need." Thus four ~gars before the convention of 1787 met at Philadelphia to draft a constitution for the United States, a society of officers was founded and dedicated to the perpetuation of the friend- ships and the ideals for which they had fought through long years of war.

In 1783, when the officers of the Continental Army were about to be dispersed and return to their homes, they had little certainty as to what the future would hold for them. They knew that they had won a war, but they could not yet foresee the consequences of victory° They were in- sistent that the ideals for which they had fought and the friendships which they had made and tested in the crucible of battle should be pre- served°

The idea of forming a society of officers who had fought together in the War of Independence seems to have occurred first to Major Gen- eral Henry Knox. Knox was an interesting man. He had o~ned a book store in Boston and became Chief of Artillery in the Continental Army. In 1789 he became Washington’s first Secretary of War. He first spoke of his idea of his idea of an organization or society after the war at meeting of officers held near White Plains in 1776. John Adams at-

tended this meeting and later wrote of Knox’s suggestion in a letter to Thomas Jefferson. Seven years after this meeting, when the Continental Army was in its last cantonment, encamped in log huts above the Hudson River near the modern New Windsor, General Knox wrote down his proposals for the creation of "a society to be formed by the American officers and to be called the Cincinnati."

These proposals were circulated to the various regiments, each of which was instructed to appoint an officer, who would meet with the general officers to consider the proposals. After discussion and a number of changes, the proposals were resubmitted on May 13, 1783 at General yon Steubenls headquarters, and the "Institution," as it was called, was adopted. At the same time the name of the Society was a- greed upon, its insignia was adopted, and the decision was made to re- cognize as members the officers of the French navy and army who had served in America. It was also unanimously resolved to ask that great- est of Virginians, George Washington, to become the first President Gen- eral of the Society.

The name chosen was taken from that of the Roman general, Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus. According to Livy, who left us the story, Cin- cinnatus was plowing in his field when word was brought to him that Rome had been invaded and that the Roman Senate had named him dictator for the purpose of expelling the invader. History records that he did just that, and then, after he had won a great victory for Rome, refused all the honors thrust upon him by his grateful nation, and returned home to finish his plowing, With this act, he has given himself to history for all time as the perfect example of the citizen-soldier.

It was entirely fitting that Washington should have been chosen the first President General of the Society, for no one else so fittingly filled the role as did he of whom Lord Byron wrote "There is but one, the first, the last, the Cineinnatus of the West, the glorious Washing- ton."

The Institution adopted by the Society at its inception has re- mained unchanged through the years. It is a noble expression of the ideals of the Society, and is read at the commencement of every meeting while the members stand:

The following principles shall be immutable, and form the basis of the Society of the Cincinnati: An incessant attention to preserve inviolate those exalted rights and liberties of human nature, for which they have fought and bled, and without which the high rank of a rational being is a curse instead of a blessing. An unalterable determination to promote and cherish, between the respective States, that union and national honor, so

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essentially necessary to their happiness, and the future dignity of the American empire. To render permanent the cordial affection subsisting among the officers. This spirit will dictate brotherly kindness in all things, and particularly extend to the most substan- tial acts of beneficence, according to the ability of the Society towards these officers and their families who un- fortunately may be under the necessity of receiving it.

There was immediate and violent objection to the Society, especial- ly by those who had not been officers in the Revolution and were conse- quently not eligible for membership. Although it was clearly stated that the most junior subaltern was equal in the Society to the Commander- in-Chief, the fact that membership was hereditary, and that European noblemen such as the Marquis de Lafayette and the Baron yon Steuben were included in its membership, caused some to consider it to be the "begin- ning of an aristocratic order founded on European models obnoxious to popular liberties."

The legislatures of Rhode Island and Massachusetts adopted measures condemning the Society. Judge Aedanus Burke of South Carolina denounced it. Thomas Jefferson expresses his fears that the organization might develop into a hereditary order of nobility. Benjamin Franklin ridi- culed it, but afterwards accepted honorary membership. John Adams delved into history and claimed that even Cincinnatus was overrated.

Largely because of these attacks, Washington as President General proposed at the first meeting of the General Society that hereditary succession be abolished. This proposal was not acceptable to the Soci- ety as a whole, which after considerable debate and shifting back and forth, rejected it. However, the Virginia delegation supported the pro- posal, and the Virginia Society maintained its decision to abolish here- ditary succession. I1 thereby signed its o~n death warrant, although by 1800 almost all opposition to the Society had come to an end.

Washington always took the greatest interest in the Society, and signed all its official doe~nents as long as he lived. On his death in 1799, he was succeeded as President General by Alexander Hamilton, who in turn was followed by Charles Cotesworth Pinekney of South Carolina, to whom was attributed the famous slogan "millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute." Some of his descendants are now residents of Virginia.

Because the Virginia Society adhered to the resolution not to a~nit hereditary members, it became dormant in 1824, and did not exist as an organization for the next 65 years. During this interval many descend- ants of original Virginia members were admitted to the Maryland and South Carolina Societies, which have had continuous existence. On May i0, 1899 the Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Virginia was for- mally readmitted to membership and full standing in the General Society. Since that time it has flourished and, having at last agreed to heredi- tary membership, is now the largest of all the State Societies.

Membership in the Cincinnati depends not on the residence of a living member, but on that of the Revolutionary officer whom he repre- sents. A prominent member of the Virginia Society has long been a re- sident of Baltimore, whereas members of the Maryland Society have for several generations lived in Richmond. A member of any State Society is also a member of the national organization. There are fourteen chap- ters or branches, one for each of the original thirteen States, and one for France.

Many prominent Virginians have been members of the Society. Of the fifteen Presidents of the United States who have belonged, five were Virginians. One of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, three signers of the Constitution, two Secretaries of State and one Chief Justice of the Supreme Court have all been members of the Virginia Society. The current President of the Virginia Society is Dr. Carting- ton Williams of Ricl~nond and the Secretary is Robert B. Rawles, also of Richmond.

It perhaps seems strange that an organization whose membership has been prominent as this Society’s should have no headquarters in Vi~ and own no property there. Indeed the fact that the Society’s headquar-i~