USA > Washington DC > Washington DC > The Society of the Sons of the Revolution in the District of Columbia > Part 4
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The Treasurer of the Society shall procure and issue the insignia to the members and shall keep a record of all issued by him.
Such insignia shall be returned to the Treasurer of the Society by any member who may formally withdraw or resign or be expelled, but otherwise it shall be deemed an heirloom.
No member shall receive more than one badge, unless to replace one, the loss or destruction of which shall first be satisfactorily estab- lished.
On occasions other than the meetings for any stated purpose or celebration, members may wear a rosette of the prescribed ribbon and pattern in the upper buttonhole of the left lapel of the coat. The Treasurer shall procure and issue the rosettes to members.
ARTICLE XI. ALTERATIONS AND AMENDMENTS.
No alteration nor amendment of the Constitution of this Society shall be made unless notice thereof shall be duly given in writing, signed by the member proposing the same, at a meeting of the Society, nor unless the same shall be adopted at a subsequent meeting, held at least thirty days after such notice by a vote of three-fourths of the members present.
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BY-LAWS
SECTION I.
INITIATION FEE, DUES AND CONTRIBUTIONS.
The initiation fee for resident and non-resident members shall be five dollars; the annual dues for the calendar year for resident mem- bers five dollars; for non-resident members three dollars, which shall be payable on or before the first day of january in every year. Neg- lect to pay the initiation fee or dues for three months after election shall make such election void.
Members admitted prior to July first shall pay dues for that year ; those admitted after that date shall not be required to pay dues for that year.
The payment at one time of fifty dollars shall thenceforth exempt the member so paying from the payment of annual dues; after ten years, twenty dollars; no dues after twenty years.
Members of the Sons of the American Revolution who join this Society will be exempt from the payment of an initiation fee.
Any member who may contribute one hundred and fifty dollars to the "Permanent Fund" of the Society shall be exempt from the pay- ment of annual dues, and this exemption shall extend in perpetuity to his lineal successors in membership from the same propositus, one at a time, who may be selected for such exemption by the Society.
The Secretary, Treasurer, and Registrar shall be exempt from pay- ment of dues during their term of service, and after a continuous term of five years they shall be exempt from further payment of dues.
SECTION II. PERMANENT FUND.
There shall be a "Permanent Fund" to be derived from contribu- tions and the initiation fees, the income only of which shall be ex- pended.
SECTION III. PRESIDENT.
The President, or in his absence the Vice-President, or in his ab- sence a chairman pro tempore, shall preside at all meetings of the Society and of the Board of Managers, and shall exercise the usual functions of a presiding officer, under general parliamentary rules, subject to an appeal to the Society, in proper cases under those rules. He shall have power to convene the Board of Managers and appoint the place of such meeting when called by him.
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He shall also perform such other representative duties on behalf of the Society, either personally or by correspondence, as it or the Board of Managers may find desirable or necessary, or as appertain to his office, and he shall enforce a strict observance of the Constitution and By-Laws of the Society.
In case of his decease, resignation, neglect to serve, or inability from any cause to act as President, the duties of the office shall devolve on the Vice-President, until the vacancy shall be filled, or until the inability shall cease.
SECTION IV.
SECRETARY.
The Secretary shall conduct the general correspondence of the Society and keep a record thereof. He shall notify all qualified and accepted candidates of their admission, and perform such other duties as the Society, or Board of Managers, or his office, may require of him. He shall have charge of the seal, certificates of incorporation, by-laws, historical and other documents and records of the Society other than those of the Treasurer; and access to all records of the Society, in- cluding those required to be deposited with the Registrar, all of which shall be kept in the office of the Society, and shall affix the seal to all properly authenticated certificates of membership, and transmit the same without delay to the member for whom it shall be issued or to his proper representative. He shall also notify the Registrar of all ad- missions to membership, and transmit to him the applications and proofs of eligibility of all persons so admitted. He, together with the presiding officer, shall, when necessary, certify all acts of the Society. and, in proper cases, authenticate them under seal. He shall have charge of all printing and publications directed by the Society or by the Board of Managers. He shall give due notice of the time and place of all meetings of the Society, and of the Board of Managers, and shall attend the same. He shall keep fair and accurate records of all the proceedings and orders of the Society, and of the Board of Managers, and shall give notice to the several officers of all votes, orders, resolves, and proceedings of the Society or of the Board of Managers, affecting them or appertaining to their respective duties; and, at the annual meeting, and oftener, if required, shall report to the Society the names of those candidates who have been admitted to membership, and also the names of those members whose resignations or voluntary with- drawals have been consented to and accepted, and also the names of those members who have been expelled or dropped for non-payment of dues, or for failure to substantiate claim of descent. In his absence from any meeting, a Secretary pro tempore may be designated there- for, unless the Assistant Secretary shall be present to act in such capacity.
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SECTION V.
TREASURER.
The Treasurer shall collect and keep the funds and securities of the Society; and as often as those funds shall amount to one hundred dollars they shall be deposited in some bank in the City of Washington, which shall be designated by the Board of Managers, to the credit of the Society of "The Sons of the Revolution in the District of Colum- bia," and such funds shall be drawn thence on the check of the Treas- urer. Out of these funds he shall pay such sums only as may be ordered by the Society, or by the Board of Managers, and shall per- form such other duties as the Society, or Board of Managers, or his office, may require of him. He shall keep a true account of his receipts and payments, and, at each annual meeting, render the same to the Society, with a full statement of the financial condition of the Society, when a committee shall be appointed to audit his accounts.
For the faithful performance of his duty, he shall give such security as the Society, or Board of Managers in lieu of its action thereon, may from time to time require.
SECTION VI.
REGISTRAR:
The Registrar shall receive from the Secretary, file, and keep of record in the office of the Society, all the proofs upon which member- ships have been granted, declarations of members on admission of adherence to the Constitution and By-Laws of the Society, together with a list of all diplomas countersigned by him, and all documents, rolls, or other evidences of service in the War of the Revolution of which the Society may become possessed; and he, under the direction of the Board of Managers, shall make or cause to be made for file in said office, copies of such original or certified documents as the owners thereof may not be willing to leave permanently in the keeping of the Society.
SECTION VII. CHAPLAIN.
The Chaplain shall be a regular ordained minister of a Christian denomination, and it shall be his duty to open and close all meetings with customary services, and perform such other duties as ordinarily appertain to such office.
SECTION VIII. HISTORIAN.
The Board of Managers shall have power to appoint an Historian, who shall keep a detailed record, to be deposited with the Secretary,
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of all the historical and commemorative celebrations of the Society ; and he shall edit and prepare for publication such historical addresses, essays, papers, and other documents of an historical character, other than a Register of Members, as the Secretary may be required to pub- lish; and at every annual meeting, if there shall be a necrological list for the year then closing, he shall submit the same, with carefully pre- pared biographies of the deceased members.
SECTION IX. ASSISTANT SECRETARY.
The Board of Managers shall have power to appoint an Assistant Secretary, who shall assist the Secretary in the performance of such duties of that office as the latter may, from time to time, devolve upon him, and may, in such cases, give required notices, and certify, and authenticate, when necessary, any acts, documents, or records of the Society.
In case of the absence of the Secretary from any meeting of the Society or of the Board of Managers, or of his decease, resignation, neglect to serve, or inability from any cause to act in that capacity, the duties of the office shall devolve on the Assistant Secretary until the Secretary shall return, or until the vacancy shall be filled, or until the inability shall cease.
SECTION X. BOARD OF MANAGERS.
The Board of Managers shall judge of the qualifications of every candidate who shall make proper application for admission to the Society, and shall have power to admit him to membership therein, if found eligible under the Constitution of this Society. Three negative votes shall be a rejection of the applicant.
They may, through the Secretary, call special meetings of the Society at such times as they may see fit; and they may arrange for commemorative celebrations by the Society.
They shall recommend plans to the Society for promoting its pur- poses, and, when practicable, may digest and prepare business for its meetings, and shall supervise all publications issued in its name, and decide whether copies of record or other documents or papers may be furnished on request of any party, in cases not pertaining directly to the business of the Society, and the proper conduct of its affairs.
They shall generally superintend the interests, and shall have the control and management of the affairs and funds of the Society. They shall also perform such duties as may be prescribed by the Constitution and By-Laws, or required by any Standing Rule or Resolve of the Society ; provided, however, that they shall at no time be required to take any action nor contract any debt for which they shall be jointly
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or severally liable. They shall be competent to consent to and to accept the resignation from membership of any enrolled member of the Society.
They may require the attendance of any member of the Society, or any official or Committee thereof, at any meeting, for consultation and advice.
The Board of Managers shall meet as often as they may desire, or at the call of the President, or upon the written request of any three members of the same, addressed to the Secretary.
Five members of the Board of Managers shall be a quorum for the transaction of business.
At every annual meeting they shall submit to the Society a general report of their proceedings during the year then closing, and at such other time as may be required by the Society.
SECTION XI. EXPULSION AND SUSPENSION.
The Board of Managers shall have power, by a two-thirds vote of their total number, to expel any enrolled member of this Society, who, by a conduct inconsistent with a gentleman and a man of honor, or by an opposition to the interests of the community in general or of this Society in particular, may render himself unworthy to continue a member, or who shall persistently transgress, or, without good excuse, wilfully neglect or fail in the performance of any obligation enjoined by the Constitution or By-Laws or any standing Rule of this Society. Provided, that such member shall have received at least ten days' notice of the complaint preferred against him, and of the time and place for hearing the same, and have been thereby afforded an oppor- tunity to be heard in person.
Any person expelled shall have a right of appeal to the next annual meeting of the Society, but he shall not be restored to membership un- less by a vote of three-fourths of the members present on that occasion or at a subsequent meeting to which the consideration of the appeal may have been specifically postponed.
Whenever the cause of expulsion shall not have involved turpitude or moral unworthiness, any member thus expelled may, upon the unanimous recommendation of the Board of Managers, be restored to membership by the Society at any meeting.
The Board of Managers shall also have power to drop from the Roll the name of any enrolled member of the Society who shall be at least two years in arrears in the payment of dues exclusive of the cur- rent year, and who, on notice to pay the same shall fail and neglect to do so within ten days thereafter, and upon being thus dropped, his membership shall cease, but he may be restored to membership at any time by the Board of Managers, upon the payment of all such arrears and of the annual dues from date when he was dropped to the date
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of his restoration. The Board of Managers may also suspend any officer from the performance of his duties for cause, which proceeding must be reported to the Society and acted upon by it within thirty days, either by rescission of the suspension or removal of the suspended officer from office, or otherwise the suspension shall cease.
SECTION XII. VACANCIES AND TERMS OF OFFICE.
Whenever an officer of this Society shall die, resign, or neglect to serve, or be suspended, or be unable to properly perform the duties of his office, by reason of absence, sickness or other cause, and whenever an office shall be vacant, which the Society shall not have filled by an election, the Board of Managers shall have power to appoint a mem- ber to such office pro tempore, who shall act in such capacity until the Society shall elect a member to the vacant office, or until the inability shall cease. Provided, however, that the office of President or Secre- tary shall not thus be filled by the Board of Managers, when there shall be a Vice-President or Assistant Secretary to enter upon the duties of those offices respectively.
The Board of Managers may supply vacancies among its members, other than an officer, when any member shall be absent from three consecutive meetings of the same, then or in case of death or resigna- tion of any member, his place may be declared vacant by the Board of Managers and filled by the Board by an appointment which shall continue in full effect until the Society shall elect a successor.
Subject to these provisions, all officers of the Society, and the mem- bers of the Board of Managers, shall, from the time of their election or appointment, continue in their respective offices until the next annual meeting.
SECTION XIII.
RESIGNATION.
No resignation or voluntary withdrawal from membership of any member enrolled in this Society shall become effective as a release from the obligations thereof, unless consented to and accepted by the Board of Managers.
SECTION XIV. DISQUALIFICATION.
No person who may be enrolled as a member in this Society shall be permitted to continue in membership where the proofs of claim of qualification by descent shall be found to be incorrect and insufficient to substantiate such claim, or not properly authenticated. The So- ciety, or the Board of Managers, may, at any time after thirty days'
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notice to such person to properly substantiate or authenticate his claim, require the Secretary to remove his name from the list of mem- bers, and such person shall thereupon cease to be a member. Pro- vided, he shall have failed or neglected to comply satisfactorily with such notice.
Where the Board of Managers shall direct the removal of a per- son's name for a cause comprehended under this section, such person shall have a right to appeal to the next annual meeting of the Society ; but he shall not be restored to membership unless by a vote of three- fourths of the members present on that occasion, or at a subsequent meeting to which the consideration of the appeal may have been speci- fically postponed.
SECTION XV. ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETINGS.
The Society shall hold an annual meeting in the City of Washing- ton, on the second Tuesday of December in every year, at which a general election of officers and managers, by ballot, shall take place.
At the next annual meeting preceding the Triennial Convention of the General Society, there shall be elected the delegates, and alternates, who shall represent the Socity at the meeting of the General Society.
Stated meetings shall be held in January, April, and November in each year, at such time and place as the Board of Managers shall determine. At these meetings no business shall be considered or transacted, unless a special call be issued, in which event the business to be transacted shall be specified, but historical papers may be pre- sented and social intercourse promoted.
Special meetings shall be held by direction of the Board of Mana- gers, or upon the written request of ten members of the Society, at such time and place as said Board may direct. At such special meeting no business shall be transacted except such as shall be specified in the notice therefor.
One week's notice of time and place of annual or special meetings shall be given by mailing through the Post Office in said city a written or printed notice to every member of the Society.
At all meetings of the Society twenty-five members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
The meetings of the Society for business shall be generally con- ducted according to Parliamentary Law, and the following Order of Business shall, as far as the same may be applicable, be followed :
Order of Business.
1. Meeting called to order by Presiding Officer.
2. Prayer by Chaplain.
3. Reading of Minutes of prior meetings not previously acted upon.
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4. Election of officers and managers, when necessary.
5. Communications from or Report of Board of Managers.
6. Reports of Officers.
7. Reports of Special Committees.
8. Unfinished Business.
9. Written Communications requiring action of the Society.
10. Specially noticed business.
11. Notices of motion for subsequent meeting.
12. Miscellaneous business.
All resolutions shall be submitted in writing by the mover; all Reports of Committees shall be in writing.
SECTION XVI. SERVICE OF NOTICES.
It shall be the duty of every member to inform the Secretary, by written communication, of his place of residence and of any change thereof and of his post-office address.
Service of any notice under this Constitution or By-Laws upon any member of the Society, addressed to him at his last recorded place of residence or post-office address, and forwarded by mail, shall be deemed sufficient service of such notice.
SECTION XVII. RECOMMENDATION OF CANDIDATES.
No member shall approve an application for membership in this Society unless he shall know the candidate to be worthy, and shall have satisfied himself by due examination of proofs that such candidate is eligible, and will, if admitted, be a desirable member.
SECTION XVIII.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE AND QUALIFICATION OF VOTERS.
A Nominating Committee, to be chosen by the Board of Managers at a regularly appointed meeting, not less than thirty days before the date of every annual meeting, shall nominate candidates for the offices provided for by the Constitution, and within ten days after its appoint- ment shall report the names of such nominees to the Secretary, who shall, not less than five days before the date of the annual meeting, communicate the names of the candidates to all members of the Society. All members of the Society shall have the right to make other nomi- nations for any office in open meeting.
No member who is in arrears for dues shall vote or be eligible for election to any office.
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The term of service of the Managers shall be three years, one-third of the whole number to be elected annually ; Provided, That where a vacancy in the Board may have been filled at an election by the Board of Managers, such appointment shall continue in effect only until the next annual election.
SECTION XIX. DECEASE OF MEMBERS.
Upon the decease of any member residing within the District of Columbia, notice thereof, and of the time and place of the funeral, may be given by the Secretary by publication, and it shall thereupon become the duty of the members, when practicable, to attend the obsequies.
Any member, upon being informed of the decease of a member, shall make it his business to see that the Secretary is promptly notified of the fact, which fact shall, also, in due time, be communicated to the Society.
SECTION XX. CERTIFICATE OF MEMBERSHIP.
Every member shall be entitled to receive a certificate of member- ship, which shall be authenticated by the President and Secretary, and countersigned by the Registrar of the Society, and to which the seal of the "Sons of the Revolution" shall be affixed. The family of every deceased member shall be furnished with said certificate by the Secretary upon application.
SECTION XXI.
COMMITTEE OF HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS AND ENTERTAINMENTS.
The Board of Managers of the Society shall yearly appoint a Com- mittee on Historical Documents and Entertainments, to consist of five members of the Society and the Historian ex-officio, whose duty shall be the preservation and collection of Historical Documents and the charge of and arranging for the meetings provided for in Section XV of the By-Laws.
SECTION XXII. MARSHALS AND STEWARDS.
The Board of Managers of the Society may, from time to time, in their discretion, designate a member to act, under direction of the President as Marshal for the Society in its commemorative celebra- tions, parades, and other meetings, and to perform such duties as usually appertain to such a position.
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The Board of Managers shall also yearly appoint a Committee of five Stewards, who shall have charge of the banquets of the Society.
SECTION XXIII.
ALTERATIONS AND AMENDMENTS.
No alterations or amendments of the By-Laws of this Society shall be made unless notice thereof shall be duly given in writing, signed by the member proposing the same, at an annual or special meeting of the Society, nor unless the same shall be adopted at a subsequent meeting, held at least thirty days after such notice, by a vote of two-thirds of members present.
GEORGE RICHARDS
BRIGADIER-GENERAL, U. S. MARINE CORPS PRESIDENT OF THE SONS OF THE REVOLUTION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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ADDRESS
Delivered on March 15, 1918, at the meeting of the Sons of the Revo- lution in the State of Maryland, in Baltimore, Maryland, by Brigadier-General George Richards, U. S. M. C., President of the Sons of the Revolution in the District of Columbia.
Mr. President and Members of the Sons of the Revolution in the State of Maryland :
I wish to thank you one and all for the honor you bestow on the Sons of the Revolution in the District of Columbia, in whose behalf I am asked to say a word. Our Society is bound to yours by a tender tie. Our first President and founder was likewise your first Presi- dent. I refer to John Lee Carroll, of Maryland, the great grandson of the immortal Charles Carroll of Carrollton, a Signer of the Dec- laration of Independence. Also, let me say, when the General Society, Sons of the Revolution, was brought forth, John Lee Carroll became the first General President of our national organization. Governor Carroll's attachment to our Society arose from the fact that our birth preceded your own and from the circumstance that his winter resi- dence at the time was in the city of Washington. But when the Society of the Sons of the Revolution in the State of Maryland came into existence we promptly recognized his feelings, for we appreciated that he, as a native son of Maryland, belonged more properly to your organization. We regretfully accepted his resignation that he might answer your unanimous choice and serve you as President of the Society in Maryland, the State of which he was a native and a citizen. In his attachment to you, to us, and to the General Society as well, John Lee Carroll will be remembered always as a patriotic gentleman of high and lofty ideals to whom we shall forever pay a tribute of respect and affection. He was of ancient lineage, heroic name, assured station; he truly exemplified the purpose for which our So- cieties were founded. He knew that we were not brought forth to dream of an heroic past, but to act in a crying present. The Sons of the Revolution is not a family living alone on the former greatness of its ancestors, without plan or strength for the future. We wear a button or badge that tells the world what manner of men we sprang from, but it should not be forgotten that we stand today for what they stood, for freedom, for love of country and of law, and for equal opportunity to all. Ours is the most fortunate of all generations of Americans ; a priceless privilege has been afforded us in these times. In this great cataclysm that convulses the world, men are groping for some immutable rock of refuge, for some rule of life that will save them and all that has been accumulated by their sweat since the Dark Ages. Where is that rock to be found? What is that immutable rule? Americans know in their hearts that the
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