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rDa$$achu$ett$ Commanderv 
 
 ct tbe 
 
 ikval Order of the iinited $ta(e$. 
 
flDaseacbusetts Commanberig 
 
 of tbe 
 
 IRaval ©rber of tbe XHniteb States. 
 
 1896. 
 

 Gift 
 
 Mtb, Julian Jamoe 
 1912 
 
 J^istorieal. 
 
 The Naval Order of the United Sjates developed from 
 an informal gathering, on July 4, 1890, of a few gentlemen in- 
 terested in naval history. A permanent organization was effected 
 Nov. 10, 1890, under the title Naval Co.mmandeI^v of ihe United 
 States. The membership was restricted to officers and enlisted 
 men of the navy, marine and revenue marine services and their 
 descendants, and was limited in number. This organization is 
 believed to be the first hereditary society in which eligibility was 
 dependent on purely naval service. 
 
 At the meeting of the Commandery, held Nov. 10, 1892, 
 action was taken to broaden the field of the organization by for- 
 mation of a central body with branches in the different states. 
 In connection with another society (since dissolved), a provisional 
 organization was effected on June 19, 1893, and at a special 
 Congress held Aug. 15, 1893, the General Commandery of the 
 Naval Order of the United States was fully constituted, the 
 parent body becoming the Massachuseits Commandery of the 
 Naval Order of the United States. A change was also made 
 in the eligibility clause of the Constitution, membership being 
 restricted to commissioned officers and their descendants. 
 
 Commanderies have since been instituted in Penns)'lvania, 
 New York, Illinois and the District of Columbia. 
 
 The Massachusetts Commandery was incorporated Dec. 14, 
 1894. 
 
prom tl^e Qopstitutiop. 
 
 PREAMBLE. 
 
 Whereas, Many of the principle battles and famous victories 
 of the several wars in which the United States has participated 
 were fought and achieved by the Naval forces, 
 
 Whereas, It is well and fitting that the illustrious deeds of 
 the great Naval commanders, their companion officers in arms, 
 and their subordinates in the wars of the United States should 
 be forever honored and respected ; — 
 
 Therefore, Entertaining the most exalted admiration for the 
 undying achievements of the Navy, we, the survivors and descend- 
 ants of participants of those memorable conflicts, have joined 
 ourselves together and have instituted the "Naval Order of the 
 United States," that we may transmit to our latest posterity 
 their glorious names and memories ; and to encourage research 
 and publication of data pertaining to Naval art and science, and 
 to establish libraries in which to preserve all documents, rolls, 
 books, portraits and relics relating to the Navy and its heroes at 
 all times. 
 
 ARTICLE III. 
 
 membership. 
 
 The Companions of the Order shall be of two classes. 
 
 FIRST class. 
 
 Commissioned officers, Midshipmen and Naval Cadets, or 
 corps or staff officers with relative rank as such, or appointed vol- 
 unteer officers in line of promotion, who were in actual service 
 in the Navy, Marine Corps or Revenue Ser\'ice under the authority 
 of any of the thirteen original Colonies or States, or of the Conti- 
 nental Congress during the War of the Revolution, or of the 
 United States during the War with France, the War with Tripoli, 
 
FROM THE CONSTITUTION. 
 
 the War of 1812, the War with Mexico, the Civil War, or in 
 face of the enemy in any engagement in which the Navy of the 
 United States has participated and who resigned, were discharged 
 with honor, or who are still in the service, or those who served 
 as aforesaid but in a grade below that of a commissioned officer, 
 Midshipmen, Naval Cadet, or corps or staff officer with relative 
 rank as such or appointed volunteer officer in line of promotion, 
 and who subsequently became a commissioned officer, regular 
 or Volunteer, in the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps or 
 Revenue Service : Provided however, that this clause shall not be 
 so construed as to include officers who at any time have borne 
 arms against the Government of the United States. 
 
 All male descendants of those who are eligible as above speci- 
 fied, or in default thereof, then one such collateral representative as 
 may be deemed worthy. 
 
 SECOND CLASS. 
 
 Enlisted men who have received the United States Naval 
 Medal of Honor for bravery in face of the enemy, may be enrolled 
 exempt from fees and dues by the Commanderies of the States in 
 which they reside ; such membership to be for life only. 
 
 ARTICLE IX. 
 
 ADMISSION OF COMPANIONS. 
 
 Any person above the age of twenty-one years, of good moral 
 character and reputation, desirous of becoming a Companion of 
 the Order, shall make application in writing, setting forth claims of 
 eligibility, and accompanied by proofs of the same, in which it 
 must be satisfactorily shown that the service of the participant was 
 other than shore duty, regularly performed in the United States 
 Navy or on an armed vessel in the service of the United States or 
 sailing under letters of marque and reprisal in time of war. 
 
 Said application, bearing the endorsement of two Companions, 
 and accompanied by an admission fee of not less than five (^5.00) 
 
FROM THE CONSTITUTION. 
 
 m 
 
 dollars, and the dues for the current year, shall be submitted to the 
 Committee on Membership, who shall present their report to the 
 Council of the Commandery. Upon a favorable ballot by that 
 body the applicant shall thereupon become a Companion of the 
 Order, 
 
 ARTICLE XIII. 
 
 INSIGNIA. 
 
 The Insignia of the Order shall consist of a gold Cross pattee, 
 one and one quarter inches in diameter, arms of blue enamel edged 
 with gold. 
 
 CROSS. 
 
 Obverse : In the center on a circle of red enamel five-six- 
 teenths of an inch in diameter, an eagle, wings extended, resting on 
 an anchor surrounded by thirteen stars of five points all of gold, 
 representing in substance the insignia of the Navy of the United 
 States ; the whole encircled by a band of white enamel one-eighth 
 of an inch wide, displaying in letters of gold the motto of the 
 Order, "Fidelitas et Patria." 
 
 Reverse : The Cross as above described. In the center on a 
 circle of red enamel five-sixteenths of an inch in diameter shall ap- 
 pear in gold the insignia of the United States Marine Corps, the 
 whole encircled by a band of white enamel one-eighth of an inch 
 wide bearing in letters of gold the legend, "Naval Order of the 
 United States." 
 
 The Cross shall be worn on the left breast suspended by a rib- 
 bon of heavy ribbed white silk one and bne half inches wide, with 
 a red center three-fourths of an inch wide, the whole an inch and a 
 half in displayed length, 
 
 ******** 
 
 When the Insignia is not worn, a rosette one-half of an inch 
 in diameter of the prescribed ribbon and pattern may be worn by 
 Companions in the upper button hole of the left lapel of the coat. 
 
(Jer^eral Ipj^ormatioQ. 
 
 The CoxsTiTUfED Bodiks of the Order are the General Com- 
 mandery and the State Commanderies. The legislative body for 
 the whole Order is the Congress, which, composed of the General 
 Officers and six Delegates from each Commandery, meets in regvilar 
 session every third year, on Oct. 5th, the anniversary oi the adopt- 
 ion by Congress, in 1775, of the resolutions formally authorizing the 
 fitting-out of the first ships of the Navy. It may meet in special 
 session upon the vote of the General Council. 
 
 The Council in either the General or a State Commandery 
 has the functions of a board of directors. 
 
 The Annual Meetlng of the Massachusetts Commandery is 
 held on Nov. loth, the anniversary of the establishment of the 
 Marine Corps in 1775. Special meetings are held from time to 
 time. 
 
 The Admission Fee is Five Dollars ; the Annual Dues are 
 Three Dollars and are payable in January of each year. 
 
 Applicaiion for Membership is made upon a Preliminary 
 Application blank. This must be filled in, signed by two Com- 
 panions, and sent to the Recorder together with the Admission 
 Fee, $5.00, and Dues for the current year, S3. 00, the latter being, 
 however, remitted between Nov. ist, and Jan. ist. Full Application 
 blanks will then be issued, which must be filled in and returned to 
 the Recorder before action can be taken by the Council. The Full 
 Application is in duplicate, one copy being for the General Com- 
 mandery, the other for this Commandery. Candidates are elected 
 by the Council after investigation by the Membership Committee. 
 In case of rejection all fees are returned. 
 
 Insignia. By the provisions of the Act of Congress of Sept. 
 25, 1890, officers and enlisted men of the different branches of the 
 services are permitted to wear the Insignia and colors on all oc- 
 casions of ceremony and when in full imiform. The cost of the 
 Insignia is $15.00 ; the Rosette costs 25 cents. 
 
 Any further information will be cheerfully furnished on appli- 
 cation to the Recorder, Amos Binney, 53 State St., Room 416, 
 Boston, Mass. 
 
officers of tl^e (jeperal Qofn/napdery. 
 
 1895-1898. 
 
 General Cominancier, 
 
 Rear Admiral John Grimes Walker, U. S. N. 
 Vice- General Cofnmanders 
 
 Rear Admiral Francis Asbury Roe, U. S. N. (retired.) 
 
 Chief Engineer George W. Melville, U. S. N. 
 
 Colonel John Biddle Porter. 
 General Recorder, 
 
 Captain Henry Hobart Bellas, U. S. A., (retired.) 
 Assistattt General Recorder, 
 
 Charles Frederick Bacon Philbrook. 
 General Treasurer, 
 
 Lieutenant Jarvis Bonesteel Edson, late U. S, N. 
 General Registrar, 
 
 Captain Charles Bunker Dahlgren. 
 General Historian, 
 
 Captain Richard Strader Collum, U. S. M. C. 
 General Chaplain. 
 
 Rt. Rev. William Stevens Perry, D. D., L. L. D., D. C. L., 
 Bishop of Iowa. 
 General Coiincillors, 
 
 Major Horatio Barnard Lowry, U. S. M. C. 
 
 Commodore Edward Eells Potter, U. S. N., (retired.) 
 
 Commander Felix McCurley, U. S. N. 
 
 Captain Norman H. Farquhar, U. S. N. 
 
 Lieutenant Loyall Farragut, late U. S. N. 
 
 Hon. John Hoffman Collamore. 
 
 Chief Engineer Louis J. Allen, IT. S. N. 
 
 Major Henry Chauncey, Jr. 
 
 Lieutenant Robert S. Critchell, late U. S. N. 
 
officers of /Hassaei^usetts QD/nmaipdery. 
 
 1896. 
 
 Commander, 
 
 Paymaster Theodore Strong Thompson, U. S. N. 
 Vice Commander, 
 
 Chief Engineer David Betton Macomb, U. S. N., (retired.) 
 Recorder, 
 
 Amos Binney, 53 State St., Room 416, Boston, Mass. 
 Treasurer, 
 
 Hosea ?hnery Bowen, 
 Registrar, 
 
 Franklin Thoraason Beatty, M. D. 
 Historiati, 
 
 William Lithgow Willey, S. D. 
 Ciiaplain, 
 
 Rev. Charles Langdon Tappan. 
 Councillors, 
 
 Lieutenant Commander William Melville Paul, late U. S. N. 
 
 Thomas Amory De Blois, M. D., late U. S. N. 
 
 Major William Boerum Wetmore, late U. S. A. 
 
 Charles William Galloupe, M. D. 
 
 Hon. John Hoffman Collamore. 
 
 Lieutenant Commander John Van Benthuysen Bleecker, U. S. N. 
 
 Lieut. William McCarty Little, U. S. N., (retired.) 
 
 Charles Frederick Bacon Philbrook. 
 Committee on Membership. 
 
 Lt. Com. John Van Benthuysen Bleecker, U. S. N., Chairman. 
 
 Franklin Thomason Beatty, AL D. 
 
 Amos Binney, Recorder, ex-officio. 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 011 460 836 1