The New York State Society of the Cincinnati held its Annual George Washington Commemorative Dinner at Sherry's Restaurant on February 22, 1900. This bronze commemorative medal was embedded into the cover of the dinner program.

Medal embeded into the 1900 Annual Dinner Program
New York State Society of the Cincinnati
(Obverse). Hume #4.5.

At the meeting of the Rhode Island Society of the Cincinnati on July 4, 1901, it was made known that Mr. William Watts Sherman, a member of the Society, had donated a gold medal and cash prize of $500 to be awarded by the Society for the most suitable musical composition for the well-known lines, "My Country 'Tis of Thee." It was felt that the tune to which the lines are ordinarily sung, being that of "God Save the King", was inappropriate for one of the national anthems of the Republic. It might have been added that this tune is also that of the anthems of a number of other countries.

A committee of the Society was therefore appointed to act with a board of judges chosen from the leading members of the musical profession in this country. These judges were Dudley Buck, Samuel P. Warren, Horatio Park, G. Edward Stubbs and Albert R. Gallatin. The Committee reserved the right to reject all compositions should none be deemed of sufficient excellence to merit the award.

The committee issued a circular inviting composers to compete, in response to which no fewer than 517 compositions were received, representing some of the most noteworthy musical talent in the land. The number of manuscripts submitted, and the widespread discussion by the press, demonstrated the great interest aroused among musicians and the general public. All the compositions received were submitted independently to the musical committee, the names of the composers having been previously removed and numbers substituted.

On June 25, 1903, a meeting of the special committee was held, at which the communications of the musical advisers were considered, and their elections and a great number of others were examined and tried over. After mature deliberation the committee finally selected the composition of Mr. Arthur Edward Johnstone. The formal presentation of the prize and medal took place at the meeting, at the Old State House, Providence, Rhode Island, on July 4, 1903, and on this occasion the song was sung to the new music for the first time. The composer and the son of Samuel Francis Smith, author of the words, were both present and addressed the meeting.

Medal awarded by the Rhode Island Society of the Cincinnati
for new music to the hymn America, 1902.
(Obverse). Hume #5.

Medal awarded by the Rhode Island Society of the Cincinnati
for new music to the hymn America, 1902.
(Reverse). Hume #5.

The medal (Hume #5), which was struck by Tiffany & Company, of New York, after the designs of Mr. Whitehouse, chief designer of the firm, is of gold and measures 2½ inches in diameter. The obverse bears the Eagle of the Cincinnati in high relief, with the legend near the margin: Society . of . The . Cincinnati . in . the . State . of . Rhode . Island. Below is the date: 1783. The reverse bears two branches of oak leaves, joined at the bottom and with a lyre superimposed. Within this wreath is the inscription: Awarded to A. E. Johnstone For the Best Musical Composition Adapted to S. F. Smith's "America" 1902.

There is a raised rim which protects the designs of both the obverse and reverse of the medal. The music was published by G. Schirmer, of New York, in 1903.