Who Really Was Mrs May Banks Stacey (1846-1918)

A Quarterly Journal of Research Volume VI, No. 3 July 1996 ISSN 0951-497X

THEOSOPHICAL HISTORY A Q uarterly Journal of Research Founded by Leslie Price, 1985 Volume VI, No. 4 October 1996 EDITOR James A. Santucci C alifornia State University, Fullerton

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Robert Boyd John Cooper University o f Sydney April Hejka-Ekins C alifornia State University, Stanislaus Jerry Hejka-Ekins Nautilus Books Robert Ellwood University o f Southern C alifornia Joscelyn Godwin Colgate University J. Gordon Melton Institute for the Study of American Religion University o f California, Santa B a rba ra Leslie Price Former Editor, Theosophical History Gregory Tillett M acquarie University Karen-Claire Voss San Jose State University Theosophical History (ISSN 0951-497X) is published quarterly in January, April, July, and October by James A. Santucci (Department of Religious Studies, California State University, Fullerton, CA 92634-9480 U.S.A.) The journal consists of eight issues p e r volume: one volume covering a period o f two years. The journal’s purpose is to publish contributions specifically related to the modern Theosophical Move­ ment, from the time o f Madame Helena Blavatsky and others who were responsible in establishing the original Theosophical Society (1875), to all groups that derive their teachings— directly or indirectly, knowingly or unknowingly— from her or her immediate followers. In addition, the journal is also receptive to related movements (including pre-Blavatskyite Theosophy, Spiritualism, Rosicrucianism, and the philosophy of Emanuel Swedenborg to give but a few examples) that have had an influence on or displayed an affinity to modern Theosophy.

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Contents October 1996 Volum e VI, Num ber 4

Editor’s Com m ents James Santucci....................................................................................................................... 125 Fro m th e Archives The Letters of H.P. Blavatsky to W.Q. Judge Part XV: Letter Dated November 19, 1890 With Notes by Michael G om es......................................................................................... 129 Com m unications Response to Jerry Hejka-Ekins’ review of Psychic Initiation: Secrets o f 777 Mark MacDougall ................................................................................................................. 132 Reply by Jerry Hejka-Ekins................................................................................................................ 136 From the Internet................................................................................................................................. 138 A Communication from Jean Overton Fuller................................................................................138 Fro m th e Theosophical Jou rn als William Q. Judge Franz Hartmann (translation with notes by Robert Hutwohl).................................................................140 Articles Mrs. May Banks Stacey David T. R o ck s......................................................................................................................144 Book Reviews The White Buddhist: The A sian Odyssey o f H enry Steel Olcott Ananda W.P. G uruge.......................................................................................................... 151 M odern Esoteric Spirituality James Burnell Robinson......................................................................................................153 On th e cover: Franz Hartmann, M.D. Restored photograph courtesy of Robert Hutwohl.

Editor's C om m ents In This Issue One of my goals as editor of TheosophicalHistoryh&s been to broaden the range of subjects and to include discussions of philosophies and groups not directly connected with the modem Theosophical Move­ ment. Pre-Blavatskyite theosophy, the philosophy of Emanuel Swedenborg, and Rosicrucianism are three such examples of subjects that fit this description. I am therefore happy to announce the first article of a Rosicrucian topic: “Mrs. May Banks Stacey.” This is an important article because it presents evidence that the founder of AMORC (the Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis), Harvey Spencer Lewis, may have falsely given credit to Mrs. Stacey as being the co­ founder of AMORC. The author, David Rocks, has produced enough genealogical evidence to lead us to the inescapable conclusion that Mrs. Banks could not have been the agent whereby Mr. Lewis received the legitimate transmission of the “ancient”Rosicrucian lineage. The immediate lesson to be learned from articles such as Mr. Rocks’ is obvious: a healthy skeptical attitude must be taken when individuals claim direct descendency from traditional teaching lineages such as Rosicrucianism. Of course, one might assume the more extreme position of whether there was a traditional teaching lineage in the first place. This position will no doubt be very distasteful to those who accept the doctrines of the lineage, but it is certainly within the range of historical inquiry and of historical journals such as Theosophical History to raise such issues when necessary.

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M rs. M ay Banks S tacey 1 By David T. Rocks2

Manly P. Hall (1901-1990) believed that Rosicrucians actually existed; however, he also wrote that “the whole subject of Rosicrucianism has been intensely complicated by misrepresenta­ tion and imposture.”3As one of the most invidious critics of Rosicrucianism in America, Hall was convinced that the claims of “a number of modern organizations” were utterly false. Sim ilarly, in his analysis o f A m erican Rosicrucianism Arthur Edward Waite (1857-1942) wrote that the Societas Rosicruciana in America “obviously has no tradition, no claim on the past and no knowledge thereof.” Moreover, he con­ cluded that: It would serve no useful purpose to enlarge upon later foundations, like that of Dr. R. Swinburne Clymer, who seems to have as­ sumed the mantle laid dow n by [P.B.] Randolph, or Max Heindel’s Rosicrucian Fellow ship o f California. They represent individual enterprises w hich have no roots in the past.4

And, in spite of the fact that Waite’s assessment of American Rosicrucian groups did not include Harvey Lewis’ enterprise, it can n o t be in ferred that Lewis’ claims of authenticity were any more valid than the claims of his rivals. Harvey Spencer Lewis (1883-1939) was the founder of the Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis, established in New York City on April 1, 1915. Lewis introduced May Banks Stacey (1846-1918) as co-founder of his

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group in a biography written for the initial issue of AMORC’s5 official organ, The A m erican R osae Crucis.6 Approximately three years later, Lewis wrote a combination obituary-biography of Stacey together with a testimonial attributed to her in support of his claims.7 Finally, in 1927, Lewis condensed the data in both biographies and incorporated the fragments into his autobiogra­ phy, giving her some notoriety, albeit for his benefit. Lewis wrote that: he made his first contact with the work of the Rosicrucians through obtaining copies of the secret manuscripts of the first American Rosicrucians who established their headquar­ ters near Philadelphia in 1694. A member of the English branch which sponsored the first movement in America, Mrs. Colonel May Banks Stacey, descendant of Oliver Cromwell and the D’Arcy’s of France, placed in his hands such papers as had been officially transmitted to her by the last o f the first American Rosicrucians, with the Jew el and Key of au­ thority received by her from the Grand Master of the Order in India while an officer of the work in that country.8

On the face of it, the gesture of including Mary Stacey in his autobiography seemed to be a strategy for the reinforcement of Lewis’ claim to Rosicrucian authenticity. Although Lewis publicized her as the organization’s co-founder, Stacey never signed the group’s original charter.9 Moreover, evidence of Stacey’s membership in “the English branch which

Mrs. M ay Banks Stacey

sponsored the first [Rosicrucian] movement in America” remains to be discovered. In any case, only Lewis and Stacey knew for certain the reasons for, and, the extent of their association. Therefore, a biographical sketch, supported by sources out­ side of the Rosicrucian Order (AMORC), is essential to determine whether or not Mary Stacey could have functioned in the capacity ascribed to her by Lewis. Mrs. Stacey was born Mary Henrietta Banks in July 1846, in Hollidaysburg, Blair County, Pennsyl­ vania. The census of August 30, 1850 records Mary H. Banks, age 4, in the household of Thaddeus Banks.10 The exact day of her birth remains to be discovered. Additionally, records relevant to her formal education have yet to be located. However, available records disclose that her father was a Presbyterian11 and a Democrat.12Also, Thaddeus Banks was a well known attorney in Hollidaysburg, who in 1862 served in the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania.13Furthermore, he was the son of Judge Ephraim Banks of Lewistown, Pennsylvania14 and the grandson of James Banks Jr., a member of the State Legislature in 179015, as well as a Major General in the Pennsylvania Militia during the War of 1812.16 Mary’s earliest known immigrant ancestor, James Banks Sr., was born in Ayr, Scotland in 1732.17 He and his wife Anna sailed for America and landed at Christiana Bridge, Delaware in 1755. From Delaware they went to New London Crossroads, Chester County, Pennsylvania, where they made their first home in this country. In 1756, James Banks Sr. enlisted and served two years in the Indian campaigns with Captain Clinton’s Volun­ teers, who incidentally were under the command of Colonel George Washington. In 1758, he en­ listed in the army of General Forbes and marched against Fort Du Quesne in the French and Indian War.18Mary’s mother was Delia Cromwell Reynolds

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of Cecil County, Maryland, daughter of Reuben Reynolds and Henrietta Maria Cromwell.19In short, since Mary Banks was a fifth generation American on both sides of the family, her reported member­ ship in an English branch of Rosicrucianism could serve only to obscure the issue of her origin.20 Meanwhile, Mary Henrietta Banks married Captain May Humphreys Stacey on December 9, 1869, at her father’s home in Hollidaysburg, Penn­ sylvania. The ceremony was performed by Rever­ end William Preston, Rector of Saint Andrew’s [Episcopal] Church of Pittsburgh.21 Captain Stacey was an adventuresome choice as a husband. In 1857 he crossed the plains to California with Lieutenant Edward F. Beale, who was surveying a wagon route between Alberquerque, New Mexico, and the Colorado River. The only camels that ever crossed the continent were taken by Lt. Beale’s party.22After reaching California, May Stacey stayed for over a year, then returned home on a merchant ship via Calcutta and the Cape of Good Hope. In 1859 he was appointed Master’s Mate of the United States steamer Crusader. Soon afterwards, Stacey joined the United States Coast Survey steamer Corwin where he remained until his appointment as first lieutenant in the Union Army.23 He was promoted to captain Twelfth Infantry August 19, 1864 and was three times breveted for distinguished services.24 Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, Captain May Stacey and his bride Mary became the parents of a daughter and two sons: Delia Van Dycke Stacey born at Hollidaysburg, November 9, 1870; Aubrey Banks Stacey, born at Angel Island, California, February 29, 1872; and, Edward Cecil Cromwell Stacey, born at Camp Halleck, Nevada, February 14, 1876.25 The Staceys were stationed at the most deso­ late outposts the Army had to offer between 1869 and 1882. According to data in his personnel file

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Captain Stacey served as commanding officer at the following posts: Fort Grant, Fort Lowell, Fort Mojave, and Fort Thomas, Arizona; Camp Reynolds on Angel Island and Fort Yuma, California; Camp Halleck and Fort McDermit, Nevada. Finally, the Staceys spent their last four Army years at Plattsburg Barracks, and Fort Ontario, New York.26 Captain Stacey died at Fort Ontario on February 12, 1886 from paralysis caused by the wounds he received in the Civil War.27 In a short time, May H. Stacey Post No. 586, Grand Army of the Republic was chartered in his honor at Oswego, New York.28 Captain Stacey was buried in Chester, Pennsyl­ vania. Afterward, affidavits obtained by Mary Stacey to secure her widow’s pension indicated that she and her children lived with in-laws in Chester during the period 1886-1887, and with her sister’s family in Baltimore from 1887 to 1891. The report submitted to Congress by Mr. Brady of the committee on pensions stated that Captain Stacey’s death left Mrs. Stacey and three children in needy circumstances.29 Hence, the necessity of living with relatives was evident. Initially, her pension was $20.00 per month, plus $2.00 per month for each child under sixteen years of age. Three years later, the United States Senate approved a pension of $30.00 per month.30 Supplemented by financial assistance from her children, she lived on that amount for the remainder of her life. Clearly, times were hard. From 1892 to 1897, Mary Stacey lived in a boarding house at 139 West 41st Street, New York City. Her landlord, Fred Stanley Betts, complained to the War Department that “Mrs. Stacey, the mother of Lieutenant Stacey was $450.00 in arrears for her board bill.” Betts wrote that “she and her son signed a note payable, then moved.”31 Further proof of her sorry financial circumstances may be inferred from a letter writ­ ten to President McKinley. Of her youngest son, she wrote, “He is my main support. . . . I have no

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political influence, but I have given both my boys to the country. My eldest boy is in Cuba.” 32 In another letter on behalf of her youngest son, Mary Stacey also revealed information about her personal life. On April 26, 1898, she wrote, “I am the First Vice President of [the] New York Women’s Republican Association, and worked hard in the Presidential campaign. My son is a New York soldier, so I write to you as our Senator, begging you to use your influence with the President and Secretary of War, to appoint Sergeant Stacey as Second Lieutenant.”33Also, February 25, 1898, a friend of the family, Thomas F. Reed, Surveyor of Customs, Port of New York, wrote to General Alger of the War Department on behalf of Sergeant Stacey. Likewise, his letter revealed information about Mary Stacey’s private life. Of Mrs. Stacey, he wrote, “With the prominence and loyalty of his father we can add the distinguished and energetic life and labors of his mother Mrs. May Banks Stacey, who is engaged in duties on the rostrum, in our schools, and before societies, teach­ ing the young those lessons of patriotism, which makes our Republic the great and growing power of the world.” 34 Mary Stacey had been teaching at the Charlier Institute, a private school, on Sixth Avenue at Fifty-ninth Street, opposite Central Park.35 Her brother-in-law, Professor Elie Charlier was the founder of the Institute and a French Episcopal minister as well. Moreover, he was Jeannette Stacey’s husband. Consequently, working for her in-laws proved beneficial for Mary Stacey. In addition to the extra income, she found plenty of time to actively campaign for Cromwell’s promotions. Eventually, her efforts were successful. Cromwell was ap­ pointed second lieutenant of Infantry at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on July 15, 1898.36 During the Spanish American War, he distinguished him­ self in Puerto Rico and a few years later in the Philippines,37 while his older brother, Aubrey, never rose above the rank of Sergeant.38 The

Mrs. M ay Banks Stacey

following extract is from one of Mary Stacey’s letters to Secretary of War, Elihu Root:

On the whole, sources outside of the Rosicrucian Order (AMORC) pointedly suggest the following:

You will see I am with the 19th U.S. Inf. now at Camp Meade, [Middletown] Pa., with my son Cromwell, 1st Lt. but who has acted Captain all through the Porto Rican Campaign. You may have seen how he covered himself with glory by capturing the famous brigand [Estaban] Garcia. The New York papers [New York World, April 16, 1899] gave Cromwell’s picture and a full account taken from the Porto Rican papers, in which they said Lt. Stacey deserved great things for thus saving the lives and property of the people.

1. Although some of Mary Stacey’s relatives were wealthy, her immediate family lived mod­ estly. And, in spite of hardships, Mary Stacey was always completely devoted to her family. When she died she was living with her daughter in Evanston, Illinois, and her youngest son Cromwell was stationed at nearby Fort Sheridan. It seems unlikely that she would have forsaken her chil­ dren to embark upon an arduous and expensive journey to India. Consequently, evidence of Stacey’s service as an officer of the Rosicrucian Order in India remains to be discovered. Likewise, it is unclear how Mary Stacey could have been “a member of the English branch which sponsored the first [Rosicrucian] movement in America.” 2. Finally, Lewis benefitted from their relation­ ship in ways that were obvious. In contrast, one can only speculate concerning the benefits to Mary Stacey. Therefore, the claims of Harvey Spencer Lewis pertaining to the degree of Stacey’ s involve­ ment with his organization must remain question­ able. And, since that is the case, it would appear that Lewis’ claims of Rosicrucian authenticity were just as incredulous as the claims of his rivals.

Most important, Cromwell’s military service reports made it possible to accurately document his mother’s places of residence.39 Therefore, this information combined with the knowledge of her financial circumstances would seem to preclude the notion that Mary Stacey served as an officer of the Rosicrucian Order in India. In fact, existing records support the contention that her personal and financial circumstances made it all but impos­ sible for her to travel anywhere other than from relative to relative. Indeed, Mrs. Stacey prepared a holographic will while residing with her daughter in Atlantic City, New Jersey. She described the extent of her wealth as: “all personal property, viz., jewelry, clothes, bric-a-brack, books, mining shares, and whatever I may possess at death............”40 Mary Stacey died41 on January 21, 1918, and her daugh­ ter filed the will at the Circuit Court of Cook County, Probate Division, on March 11, 1918. Assets in the estate were about $100.00.42 Sexton’s records from Graceland Cemetery and Cremato­ rium, 4001 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois, confirm that Mary Stacey was cremated and her ashes scattered.

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Notes

1Mrs. May (Banks) Stacey was Mary Henrietta Banks, the wife o f May Humphreys Stacey. The reference to May Banks Stacey was a gender role stereotype whereby her identity was defined by the relationship to her husband. 2Mr. Rocks is a former member o f AMORC and currently the head o f Rocks and Associates (Orange, California). As a historian, he is the author o f W.C. Fields—A n A n n otated G uide: Chronology, B ibliographies, Discography, Film ographies,

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Press B ooks, Cigarette Cards, F ilm Clips, a n d Im person ators (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarlane, 1993). Mr. Rocks is also the author of two bibliographies of Orange County (California) history: “A Contribution Towards a Bibliography of Orange County, California, Local History, Together with a Checklist of the Publications o f the Fine Arts Press of Santa Ana, California” (1971) and O range County L o c a l History, 1 869-1971: A P re­ lim in a ry B ib liog rap h y (1972). 3Hall, Manly P. The R id d le o f the R o sicru cian s (Los Angeles: Philosophical Research Society, 1941), 2, 14-15. 4Waite, Arthur Edward. The B ro th er h o o d o f the Rosy Cross (London: Rider & Co., 1924), 615-16. 5AMORC is an acronym for the Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis.

9 Lewis, Ralph M. R o sicru cian D ocu m en ts (San Jose: Supreme Grand Lodge of AMORC, Inc., 1975), 6. Photograph of the Pronunciamento [charter] issued and signed on the occasion of the first meeting of the American Supreme Council o f the AMORC in New York City, April 1, 1915. Mary Stacey was not one o f the several wom en who signed the document. 10United States. Census. Schedule I. Hollidaysburg, Blair County, Pennsylvania. August 30, 1850. F am ily o f T h ad d eu s B a n k s, House 53, Family 62, page 195. 11Letter to the author from James M. Hanly, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Hollidaysburg, PA, dated 16 September 1985. “Thaddeus Banks united with this church in January 9, 1864. . . .”

6Lewis, H. Spencer. “Mrs. May Banks Stacey Matre, Rosae Crucis America.” The A m erica n R o sae Crucis. Vol. 1, No.1 (January, 1916): 16-17.

12Davis, Tarring S. and Lucille Shenk. A H istory o f B la ir County, P en n sy lv an ia (Harrisburg: National Historical Association, 1931), II-168. “He [Thaddeus Banks] was the Democratic candidate for judge against Dean and Taylor in 1871, but was defeated.”

7_____ . “The Supreme Matre Emeritus Raised to the Higher Realms.” Crom aat. D (1918): 26-27. [E d itor’s note: D refers to vol. 4 of the issue.]

13Wiley, Samuel T. and W . Scott Garner. B io g ra p h ic a l a n d P ortrait C yclopedia o f B la ir County, P en n sylvan ia. (Chicago: Gresham Publishing Co., 1892), 92.

8_____ . R o sicru cian M an u al. AMORC. (Charleston, W. Va.: Lovett Printing Co., 1927), 13, 128. Lewis claimed that the German Pietists were the first American Rosicrucians. See Julius F. Sachse, The G erm an Pietists o f P ro v in c ia l P en n sy lv an ia, 1694-1708. (New York: AMS Press, 1970), iv, 37. Manly P. Hall, C o d e x R o s a e C u c is . (Los Angeles: Philosophi­ cal Research Society, 1974), 33-38 contains a complete descrip­ tion of the so-called secret manuscripts o f the first American Rosicrucians. Mrs. Stacey fervently believed that she was a lineal descendant of Oliver Cromwell. However, famed genealogist Francis B. Culver was the first to discover the erroneous Cromwell connections. “Unfortunately, every Cromwell who emigrated to Maryland claimed descendance from the Protector, but, no one has proven a relationship.” Additionally, the eminent Maryland genealogist Harry Wright Newman, wrote that “after studying the foregoing [genealogical] outlines, it shows conclusively that the Maryland Cromwell’s are not descended from Oliver the Puritan, unless they be from his son and namesake, Oliver, who is supposed to have died without issue at the age of twenty-one.” See Newman’s A n n e A ru n del Gentry. A G en ealog ical History o f Twenty-Two P ion eers o f A n n e A ru n d el County, Md., a n d their descen dan ts, (n.p.: Maryland Pioneer Series, 1933), 4-5.

l4H istory o f th a t p a r t o f th e S u sq u eh a n n a a n d J u n ia t a Valleys, E m b r a c e d in the C ou n ties o f M ifflin, J u n ia t a , Perry, Union a n d S n y d er in th e C o m m on w ealth o f P en n sy lv a n ia . In Two Volumes. (Philadelphia: Everts, Peck & Richards, 1886), vol. I, 467-68.

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Ephraim Banks was a native of Lost Creek Valley (now Juniata County); was born January 17, 1791. He came to Lewistown in 1817, and was appointed prothonotary of Mifflin County in 1818 by Governor Freedley. After studying law, was admitted to practice in 1823: was a member of the Legislature in 1826-7-8; a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1837; was elected auditor-general of the State in 1850, and re-elected in 1853. In 1866 he was elected associate judge of Mifflin County, which position he held at the time of his death, in January, 1871.

15Jordan, John W. A H istory o f the J u n ia t a Valley a n d Its People. Volume I. Illustrated. (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1913), 115. 16Montgomery, Thomas Lynch. P ennsylvania Archives, Sixth Series. Volume VII. (Harrisburg: Harrisburg Publishing Co., State Printer, 1907),937. “A general return of the Militia of Pennsylvania for the year 1812. Names of Major Generals: James Banks.” 17Note that Jam es Banks Sr. was born 38 years after the German Pietists settled near Philadelphia.

Mrs. M ay Banks Stacey

1BH istory o f th at p a r t o f the S u sq u eh a n n a a n d J u n ia t a Valleys e m b r a c e d in the Counties o f Mifflin, Ju n ia ta , Perry, Union a n d S n y d er in the C om m on w ealth o f P en n sylvan ia. I: 824-31. Note: Captain Clinton was also Banks’ landlord.

2SB o y d ’ s O sw ego City D irectory, 1 8 9 5 -9 6 , 75. The original Post Charter and the m em bership register is in the archives o f the New York State Library at A lbany. Note: The Grand Army of the Republic was a Civil War veteran’s organization.

19The B io g ra p h ic a l C y clop edia o f R epresen tative M en of'M ary­ la n d a n d D istrictofC olu m b ia. (Baltimore: National Biographi­ cal Publishing Co., 1879), 556-57.

29United States. Cong. House. R eport on M ay H. Stacey by Mr. Brady, from the committee on pensions. 49th Congress. 2nd Session. House Report 3694. January 20, 1887.

20The English branch of AMORC was established in 1921. See the R o sicru cian Forum , 26-4 (February 1956): 95.

30United States. Cong. Senate. R eport o n M ay H. Stacey by Mr. Paddock from the committee on pensions. 50th Congress. 2nd Session. Report 2560. February 8, 1889.

21Stacey, Mary H. A ffid av it o f M arriag e to M ay H. Stacey, dated February 26, 1886. Thomas Dees, Clerk of Orphan’s Court, Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. 22Fowler, Harlan D., C am els to C aliforn ia. (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1950),46-67, 92-93. Also see Stacey, May Humphreys. Uncle S a m ’s Camels: The Jo u r n a l o f M ay H um phreys Stacey, S u p p lem en ted by the Report o f E d w a rd F itz g era ld B eale, 1 857-1858, edited by Lewis Burt Lesley. (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1929). 23Martin, John Hill. C hester a n d I t ’s Vicinity, D ela w a re County in P en n sy lv an ia; w ith G e n e a lo g ica l Sketches o f S om e Old Fam ilies. (Philadelphia: n.p., 1877), 47. 24United States. Cong. House. Report on M ay H. Stacey by Mr. Brady from the committee on pensions. 49th Congress. 2nd Session. House Report 3694. January 20, 1887. Note: A brevet is a commission giving a military officer higher nominal rank than that for which he receives pay. However, such a commission, carries no right of command. It may be conferred by the President of the United States by and with the consent of the Senate upon officers of the Army and Marine Corps for distinguished conduct and public service in the presence o f the enemy. 25Stacey, Mary H. A ffid av it o f B irth a n d B aptism o f C hildren o f C ap tain a n d Mrs. Stacey, dated March 8, 1886. J. N. Shanafelt, City Recorder, City o f Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylva­ nia. All three o f the Stacey children were baptized by Episcopal ministers.

31Betts, Fred Stanley. B ills O w ed by Mrs. M ay B a n k s Stacey since May 1, 1898. Letter to War Department, dated May 1, 1899. Betts wrote, “Since that date I have heard not a word from either o f them, and it seem s to me that I have been done out o f my money, unless the department in some way induces Lieutenant Stacey to uphold the honor o f a United States Army Officer by m eeting his just obligations.” 32Stacey, Mary H. Letter to P resident M cKinley re: Promotion of Cromwell Stacey, dated [illegible], 1898. Her statement, “Again, Mr. President, I beg as a soldier’s widow, as a Grand Army woman, and as a Mason [?], for your help.” This is puzzling. Since women were not allowed into the fraternity proper, she may have meant a women’s masonic auxiliary, which would imply that Captain Stacey was a Mason. To be sure, she did not mean Co-Masonry because it was not established in America until 1903. 33Stacey, May Banks. Letter to [New York] S en ator concerning promotion o f Cromwell Stacey. April 26, 1898. Name o f Senator covered by transmittal notation to the Secretary o f War. 34Reed, Thomas F. Letter fr o m O ffice o f the Surveyor o f Customs, P ort o f N ew York to G en era l Russell A. Alger, W ar D epartm en t concerning Cromwell Stacey. February 25, 1898. 35Eyre, Lawrence. F am ily R ecords o f the Stacey F am ily a n d their C onnections. (n.p., n.p., [1936]), 32-33. 36 Stacey, Cromwell. O ath o f Office. July 15, 1898.

26United States. Adjutant General’ s Office. P erson n el F ile 2930, M ay H. Stacey. 124 leaves.

37United States. Army. Headquarters Philippines Div., Manila, P. I. January 26, 1906. General Orders No. 6. C o m m en d ation o f C rom w ell Stacey.

27United States. Cong. House. R eport o n M ay H. S tacey by Mr. Brady from the committee on pensions. 49th Congress. 2nd Session. House Report 3694. January 20, 1887.

38United States. Army. R egister o f Enlistment, A u brey B. Stacey. May 7, 1904, Entry 1487, page 188. May 22, 1908, Entry 1353, page 102. February 7, 1911, Entry 618, page 240.

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39United States. Adjutant General’ s Office. P erson n el F ile 9250, C rom w ell Stacey. Microfilm, 1204 frames. Extracted from O fficer’ s In d iv id u a l Service Report: 1898-1899 101 W est 40th Street, New York City 1899-1902 137 W est 67th Street, New York City 1902-1903 47 W est 63rd Street, New York City 1903-1904 160 St. Charles Place, Atlantic City, NJ 1904-1905 816 11th Street, NW, Washington, D. C. 1906-1907 Hotel Fredonia, Washington, D . C. 1908-1910 160 St. Charles Place, Atlantic City, NJ 1911-1917 26 East 25th Street, Baltimore, MD 1917-1918 1003 Davis Street, Evanston, IL 40Stacey, May Banks. The Last Will & T estam ent o f M ay B a n k s Stacey, Atlantic City, New Jersey, February 16, 1904. 1 leaf. 41C ertificate o f D eath, State o f Illinois, Bureau o f Vital Statistics. Mary B. Stacey. Date o f Death: January 21, 1918. Filed: February 5, 1918. 42Naramore, Milton O. A ttorney f o r D elia (Stacey) Muller. Letter to B u r ea u o f P ensions, dated June 6, 1918. “There was no property left by the widow except a few personal effects contained in trunks which are in storage in New York City.”

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Mrs. M ay Banks Stacey