Military Order of the Dragon

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History

The Military Order of the Dragon was an exclusive fraternal order founded in 1900 by members of the China Relief Expedition, a U.S. military force that participated in the Boxer Rebellion in Imperial China.

Following custom, the officers of the China Relief Expedition assembled in Peking just prior to the reduction of the expeditionary force, an organization of a society to perpetuate the associations formed during the expedition was created. Meetings of officers were held October 1, 2, and 3, 1900, resulting in the adoption of a name for the society, a constitution, officers, etc.

It was expected that this society would, in years to come, have a standing and historical interest similar to the well-known Aztec Society and the Military Order of the Loyal Legion. Its alliance with other kindred societies of other nations would undoubtedly tend to preserve acquaintance and friendships, which might otherwise be lost, and keep open the door for very desirable friendly exchanges, of a social and professional nature, with foreign officers. Unfortunately, this was not the case and the society was soon nonexistent by the mid-20th century.

Officers within the order included several notable military men, such as Marine Corps Major General Smedley Butler, Son of President Rutherford Hayes and Brigadier General James W.C. Hayes, and 2nd Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army Lieutenant General Adna Chaffee.

Types of Membership

Active Members

All regular and volunteer commissioned officers of the United States Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Acting Assistant Surgeons and authorized Volunteer Staff Officers, who served as such, or as an enlisted man, in North China or in the Gulf of Pechili in connection with or as a part of any military operation and under the orders of the respective Army and Navy Commanders thereof between June 15 and December 31, 1900, and all members of the Diplomatic and Consular services of the United States in Tientsin and Peking during said period shall be eligible as Active Members in the Order, and shall become such upon payment of the fees and dues hereinafter provided.

Hereditary Members

The nearest male descendant, twenty-one years of age or over, of Active Members, may become Hereditary Members upon election by the Executive Committee and the payment of the fees and dues hereinafter provided. Hereditary Members shall not be entitled to vote or hold office. Upon the death of the Active Member from whom the Hereditary Member derives eligibility, such Hereditary Member shall become an Active Member by heredity, and shall be transferred to the active list, with all its rights and privileges.

Honorary Members

All members of the foreign diplomatic corps present on duty in Peking at any time during the period from June 15 to December 31, 1900, all military and naval commissioned officers of other services than that of the United States present in North China, or in the Gulf of Pechili, and engaged in the military operations thereat, between the dates above specified, may become Honorary Members upon application as hereinafter provided.

Honorary Hereditary Members

Male descendants of twenty-one years of age or over, of those eligible to Honorary Membership," may become Honorary Hereditary Members upon election by the Executive Committee as hereinafter provided. Honorary Hereditary Members will be charged no initiation fees or dues; they will not be entitled to hold office, except as hereinafter provided, nor to vote.

Please explore the following attachments for additional information:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Order_of_the_Dragon
• Bailey, Biddle & Banks. (1917). American Orders & Societies and Their Decorations. Digitized and distributed through Internet Archive.

For a list of eligible officers and dignitaries, as well as current members of the order as of January 1, 1912.

• Military Order of the Dragon. (1912). Military Order of the Dragon, 1900-1911. Library of Congress. Distributed through Internet Archive.