USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > An Historical sketch of the origin and progress of the Society of the Sons of St. George : also the charter, by-laws, and permanent resolutions, together with an alphabetical list of the members and associates, list of officers, etc., for one century, from April 23, 1772 to April 23, 1872, to April 23, 1897 > Part 12
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October 23d, 1883. Dr. J. W. Gadsden, on behalf of the Library Committee, reported a set of rules for the government of the library, which, after some alterations, were adopted.
At this meeting a further donation of 20 shares of the Hall stock was made from Wm. Massey, Esq., through Mr. Joseph Lees, making in all 100 shares, for which the thanks of the So- ciety was tendered. Also at this meeting Mr. Wm. Massey was nominated by Mr. Thomas M. Thompson to the honorary office of President emeritus of the Society, and elected by acclamation.
At the meeting held January 23d, 1884, the Stewards reported many interesting cases they had relieved during the past quar- ter, illustrating the good done by our Society, showing that 540 persons had received aid from the Society, and also made special mention of the kind co-operation of the Home Missionary So- ciety by its agent, Mr. Toland, in many cases of women and chil- dren.
Mr. John Sartain presented to the Society a fine steel engrav- ing of our late Chaplain, the Rev. William Suddards, D.D.
A stated meeting for the transaction of business was held at IO a.m., April 23d, 1884, at which time the usual reports were received from the Trustees, Treasurer, Secretary, and Stewards. From the Secretary's report we find the following donations have been made to the Society: John Lucas, $5; W. H. Lucas, $5; W. Waterall, $5; Robert Wild, $50; Thomas Wood, $30.
The Stewards reported 588 cases of relief, representing many more than that number of persons, as many families had been relieved.
The Library Committee reported as follows: The number of volumes now in the library by donation and purchase, 504. Cash donations, $403.17; cash expended, $391.24; balance in hands of Treasurer, $11.93.
The Secretary reported having received a letter from Henry Gilbert Grattan, alias the " Young Zephyr," asking information
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about the money held in trust for him by the Society. The mat- ter was referred to our Solicitor.
On motion, resolved that a vote of thanks be tendered to the Rev. Reese. F. Alsop, D.D., for his very instructive sermon preached at Grace Church on Sunday, April 20th, 1884 in com- memoration of the 112th anniversary of the Society, which was unanimously adopted.
The Auditing Committee reported having examined the books and accounts of the Society, and found them correct, and have seen the securities in the hands of the Trustees, amounting to $54,121.22.
At the stated meeting held July 23d, 1884, the Treasurer, Mr. William Underdown, reported that he had received on May 3d, 1884, from Israel H. Johnson, executor of the estate of the late Richard M. Wistar,
Mortgage $10,000
Cash 9,050
$19,050
being proceeds of a legacy of $20,000, less collateral tax, and paid the same over at the same time to William Massey, Esq., acting trustee. This legacy is to be kept intact, and not in any way mixed with any other funds of the Society.
The President, John Lucas, Esq., appointed Messrs. William Massey, Samuel Lees, and William T. Wilkins delegates to the eleventh convention of the North American St. George's Union to be held at Chicago in August next, and contributed $20 towards the expenses thereof.
At the meeting held October 23d, 1884, the Trustees reported having made the settlement with "Young Zephyr," as follows: Amount in the hands of the Society, $700; thirteen years' interest at 5 per cent., $455; total, $1,155.00.
The delegates to the convention of the North American St. George's Union reported that it was a success, and called atten- tion to copies of the printed reports that were on the table.
Mr. Thomas M. Thompson presented resolutions relative to the condition of Mr. Joseph Lancaster's health, etc., suggesting that an assistant be appointed for the balance of the year, or such other action as may be thought best.
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The President read a letter received by him from the St. George's Society of London, England, in reference to their pro- posed donation of the bust of Longfellow to our Society to be placed in St. George's Hall. Mr. Lucas was requested to send a letter of thanks to the London Society.
At the meeting held November 23d, 1885, a letter was read from Mr. Joseph Lancaster, stating that his increasing infirmities compelled him to resign the position of Messenger, with many thanks for the kindnesses extended to him.
Whereupon a series of resolutions were made and adopted, ex- expressive of the feeling of the Society towards Mr. Lancaster, which are spread in full on the minutes.
The President was authorized to appoint a Messenger for the balance of the year.
The committee appointed on resolutions of condolence to be sent to the family of our deceased fellow-member, Mr. Benjamin Gartside, reported having fulfilled that duty, and the copy of said resolutions was ordered spread on the minutes.
An adjourned meeting of the Society was held May 4th, 1885. The revised By-Laws, as presented at the adjourned meeting, February 4th, 1885, were acted upon in sections, and after some slight alterations and omissions, were adopted, as a whole, as follows:
Note: Before printing Article XIV. was amended, and printed as amended.
BY-LAWS OF THE SOCIETY OF THE SONS OF
ST. GEORGE.
ARTICLE I. Title.
The name and title of this corporation shall be, " The Society of the Sons of St. George," established in the City of Philadel- phia, for the advice and assistance of Englishmen in distress.
ARTICLE II. Object.
The object of the Society is to give relief and assistance to distressed Englishmen and their families, giving preference to members of this Society who may, by unavoidable misfortune,
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require aid and assistance, and to the immigrant and stranger who has been in the country but a short time.
ARTICLE III. Membership.
Citizens of English birth, their sons and grandsons, being citizens of these United States, shall alone be eligible for mem- bership, but Englishmen not citizens of these United States may be elected associates, and shall enjoy all the rights and privileges of members, except the right to vote and hold office; and on becoming citizens and notifying the Secretary of the fact, they shall be declared members without motion or ballot.
ARTICLE IV.
All nominations for membership or associate membership shall be in writing, signed by the proposer and applicant, and shall state whether the applicant is a citizen, son or grandson of an Englishman, the town and shire of his nativity, his residence, vocation, and place of business. All applications shall be ac- companied by the application fee of ten dollars. .
ARTICLE V.
Nominations for membership or associate membership may be made at any stated or special meeting, or by the request of any three members not less than thirty days preceding a stated meet- ing; said application shall be first handed to the Secretary, and by him referred to the President, or in his absence to the Vice- President, who shall have authority to appoint an investigating committee of three on the petition of the applicant, provided that none of the committee shall consist of any of the members making the request, and who may report at the next succeeding stated meeting.
ARTICLE VI.
All nominations for membership or associate membership shall be referred to a committee of three appointed by the Presi- dent, not more than one of whom shall be an officer of the So- ciety; and if a majority of the committee report favorably there- on, a ballot shall be had, and unless there are three black balls cast thereat, the applicant shall be declared elected. Should the committee fail within six months to report, the nomination shall
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THOMAS M. THOMPSON
Steward, 1874 to 1876. Vice-President St. George's Hall Association, 1875 to 1890
President St. George's Hall Association, 1891 to 1897
be considered withdrawn, or if not elected he shall not be eligible for membership until twelve months after such rejection.
ARTICLE VII.
Honorary members may be elected at a stated meeting by a majority vote of the members present without ballot; they shall not be entitled to vote or hold office in the Society.
ARTICLE VIII.
Any member or associate member may be expelled and his rights forfeited for conduct injurious to the honor, peace and in- terest of the Society, but any motion for expulsion shall be re- ferred to a committee of three for investigation; no action shall be taken on their report until the next stated or special meeting suc- ceeding their appointment, when the Society may, by a majority vote of those present, expel said member. The Secretary shall give not less than thirty days notice, and a copy of the charges to the member or members against whom charges are preferred, said notice to be sent to his or their last P. O. address.
ARTICLE IX.
Any resignation of membership or associate membership shall be made in writing, and if all dues are paid to the date of said resignation the same may be accepted, but no resignation shall be accepted if there are any arrearages of dues unless the same shall first be remitted by the Society.
ARTICLE X. Meetings.
The stated business meetings of the Society shall be held on Jan. 23d, April 22d, July 23d, and Oct. 23d, and the anniversary of the Society on St. George's Day, April 23d, except when either of these days falls on a Sunday, then the meeting appointed for April 22d shall be held on the 21st, and the others on the 24th.
ARTICLE XI.
Special meetings shall be held by order of the President, or by written request of nine members of the Society in the absence of the President; or he declining to call a special meeting upon re- quest, then the Vice-President, or Secretary shall call said meet- ing. No business shall be transacted at a special meeting ex- cept that for which the meeting has been specially called, which
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shall be made known in the call for such meeting by the Sec- retary.
ARTICLE XII.
Thirteen members shall constitute a quorum for the transac- tion of business.
ARTICLE XIII. Dues.
Members and associate members (except those exempt under . these By-Laws) shall pay or contribute five dollars per annum, payable on April 23d of each year, the dues dating and to be com- puted from the date of the election of the applicant, and on the 23d of April bills to be made out for the previous year or frac- tion of a year.
ARTICLE XIV.
" The payment of fifty dollars with the application for member- ship, or by a member at any time within ten years after election, or twenty-five dollars after ten years, shall constitute a life mem- bership, all dues being first paid up to the last St. George's Day."
ARTICLE XV.
A member or associate member who has been such for not less than ten years, having first paid all dues, due and accrued, may become a life member or life associate member by the pay- ment of twenty-five dollars in one sum into the permanent funds of the Society.
ARTICLE XVI.
The Stewards, Treasurer, Secretary, Physicians, Chaplains, and Solicitors shall be exempt from all dues during the term for. which they are elected to their respective offices.
ARTICLE XVII.
Should any member or associate member be in arrears for two years, the Secretary shall notify him of the fact, and furnish him with a copy of this Article, and if such arrears remain unpaid for six months after sending such notice thereof, he shall be liable to suspension or expulsion; should the Secretary be unable to ascertain his residence, such notification may be dispensed with. The Society may, by a majority vote, remit any or all arrearages. No suspended or expelled member shall be eligible to member-
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ship unless all dues are paid in full to the date of such suspen- sion, when a petition must be presented and a ballot had, the same as for a new applicant.
ARTICLE XVIII.
The officers of the Society shall be a President, Vice-Presi- dent, Treasurer, Secretary, three Trustees, eight Stewards, two Chaplains, two Counsellors, three Physicians, and other officers as the Society may desire.
ARTICLE XIX.
Nominations for officers shall be made at the quarterly meet- ing in October by the members and associate members then present. The Secretary shall provide tickets, with the names of persons nominated, for the use of the members at the stated meeting in January.
Nominations for officers shall not be considered closed until the night of the election, to be held at the quarterly meeting in January.
ARTICLE XX.
At the quarterly meeting in January of each and every year, all elective officers of the Society shall be elected by ballot, ex- cept in case of the President, when by unanimous consent he may be elected by acclamation, their term of office commencing the night of their election.
ARTICLE XXI.
The President, Treasurer, and Secretary, in conjunction with the elected Stewards, shall appoint a Messenger, whose duties are hereafter defined. Said Messenger shall be subject to the or- der and under the direction of the President, Treasurer, Secre- tary and Stewards. He may be dismissed or discharged from his office by a majority vote of the above-named officers. The President shall have the right to suspend the Messenger for dereliction of duty until such time as the officers can meet.
ARTICLE XXII. Duties of Officers.
PRESIDENT.
The President shall preside at all meetings and entertainments of the Society. It shall be his duty to preserve order and to ex-
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ercise a general supervision over the interests and welfare of the Society; he shall call special meetings whenever he may deem it expedient, or when requested in writing by nine members of the Society, they stating the object of the meeting. He shall sign all certificates of admission to the Society and certificates of life membership. He shall have the custody of the " Charter " and such other documents not otherwise provided for.
He shall appoint all committees not appointed by the Society, and at the stated meeting in January he shall appoint a com- mittee of three to audit the accounts of the Treasurer, Secretary, Trustees, Stewards, Messenger, and all other officers. The committee shall not consist in any part of any member or officer whose books are to be audited. He shall be ex-officio a member of all committees, and shall sign all orders on the Treasurer for such moneys as shall be ordered to be paid by the Society.
ARTICLE XXIII. Vice-President.
The Vice-President shall perform all the duties in the absence of the President. He shall have the custody of the paintings, pictures, busts, vases, flags and banners; and also of the com- mon seal of the Society, which he shall affix to the certificates of admission, and to such other instruments only as the Society may direct; and shall report in writing the depository and condi- tion of each item at the quarterly meeting in January of each year; and he shall not loan any of the Society's property except upon a vote of a meeting of the Society or the written consent of the President.
ARTICLE XXIV. Treasurer.
The Treasurer shall keep a correct and regular account of the receipts and disbursements of the Society, and submit his ac- count thereof to the inspection of any committee appointed to examine and audit the same, and at such quarterly meeting he shall report in writing an itemized account of his receipts and disbursements. At the quarterly meeting in January he shall report, in writing, the receipts and disbursements during the pre- ceding year; he shall pay all orders drawn on him by the Presi- dent, and attested by the Secretary, and Stewards, by virtue of the power herein given them, or by virtue of a regular vote of
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.
the Society. He shall execute a bond for the faithful perform- ance of his duties in the sum of one thousand dollars, with se- curity, to be approved by the Trustees, and which bond shall remain in force as long as he may continue in office, and he shall deliver to his successor in office all moneys, books, papers and other property belonging to the Society.
ARTICLE XXV. Secretary.
The Secretary shall keep correct minutes of the proceedings of all meetings of the Society. He shall keep an account with each member, and make out all bills for the collection of annual dues and contributions, and pay all moneys upon receipt thereof to the Treasurer, taking his receipt therefor. He shall report in writing at each quarterly meeting the amount received by him from whatever source, and the amount paid by him to the Treas- urer, and at the annual meeting in January he shall report the amounts received and disbursed during the year, the number of members and associate members on the roll, the number of mem- bers and associate members elected during the year, and also the number stricken from the roll by death or otherwise. He shall issue and send by mail to each member and associate mem- ber a notice of each stated and special meeting, briefly noting therein the subject-matter to be acted on at such meeting. He shall keep a book wherein shall be entered a copy of the Charter, By-Laws, Rules and Regulations of the Society, and alterations and amendments thereto, and a register in which shall be en- tered the election, resignation, death or expulsion of every mem- ber and associate member. He shall make out and countersign the certificates of admission, also all orders on the Treasurer for such moneys as shall be ordered to be paid by the Society, and shall appoint the hour and place of quarterly and special meet- ings, subject to the direction and approval of the President or Vice-President. He shall, immediately after each quarterly meeting, furnish the several committees to whom have been re- ferred applications for relief, with orders on the Treasurer for the respective amounts appropriated. He shall have the cus- tody of all books and papers belonging to the Society, except such as are by these By-Laws otherwise directed to be kept, and he shall deliver to his successor in office all and whatever books and papers belonging to the Society, then in his possession or
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under his control. For such services he shall receive a salary of one hundred dollars per annum, payable semi-annually, or such sums as the Society may direct.
He shall furnish the chairman of each committee with the names of his committee, with a copy of the resolution under which he was appointed, and perform such other duties as ap- pertain to the office.
ARTICLE XXVI. Trustees.
The Trustees shall have charge of the muniments of title to all investments belonging to the Society, the bond of the Treasurer, and shall invest all funds which may, from time to time, be placed in their hands for that purpose, but they shall not dispose of any investment except upon the order of the Society, or when the same may, in their judgment, be in danger of depreciation from actual or threatened monetary revulsions, or other causes, and, in such cases, the proceeds of any and all disposed of invest- ments shall be reinvested in such securities as our Courts are wont to approve, or the Society may direct, and a report thereof shall be made to the Society at its quarterly meeting then next ensuing. They shall collect the interest, dividends, profits or in- crease which shall grow out of and accrue upon the investments of the Society, and upon the receipt thereof pay the same to the Secretary, and take his receipt therefor. They shall make a re- port of all the transactions at each quarterly meeting, and at the annual meeting in January of each year they shall report to the Society a complete list of the investments held by them as Trus- tees, and the value thereof respectively, together with an account of their transactions in relation thereto.
ARTICLE XXVII. Stewards.
It shall be the duty of the Stewards to give such advice and assistance to Englishmen in distress as the needs of the applicant may require, and the funds of the Society will warrant, and to record in a book provided for that purpose, all sums of money expended by them in the discharge of their duty, and mention of other means of relief afforded, with the names and circumstances of the parties relieved. They shall draw orders upon the Treas- urer for such amounts as may be required for distribution, not
I66
exceeding, however, the appropriation made therefor, and shall, at each quarterly meeting of the Society, report their doings in this behalf. Immediately after the election in January of each year, the Stewards shall apportion the year into quarters, and form themselves into four committees of two, and appoint to each committee a quarter in which to act as almoners, and for the quarter in which each committee shall agree to serve, it shall be regarded as the duty of such committee to be in attendance at the time appointed by them for granting relief.
ARTICLE XXVIII. Applications for Relief.
All applications for relief between the quarterly meetings shall be investigated by the Messenger, when considered necessary by the Stewards, who shall grant such assistance as they may deem proper. All applications for relief at the quarterly meetings must be in writing, signed by the petitioners.
ARTICLE XXIX. Messenger.
The Messenger shall collect the annual contributions and other dues when required by the Secretary or Treasurer, and shall pay the same over to the Secretary on Saturday in each week, or whenever his collections amount to $100. He shall, as assistant almoner, be in attendance at the room of the Society daily from four to six p.m., or at such hours as the acting Stewards may from time to time direct. He shall have power to give tickets and orders for lodging and meals, entering the same in a book provided for that purpose; but, in all cases where money is needed, he shall appeal to the acting Stewards. Notwithstand- ing the power hereby given to the Messenger to relieve appli- cants, it is to be understood that he is, at all times (so far as the giving of relief and the visiting of applicants is concerned). to be subject to the direction of the acting Stewards for the time being. It shall be the duty of the Messenger to see that a no- tice of the times of meeting for the giving of relief is posted on the door of the room. He shall devote his time, during reason- able business hours, to the promotion of the interests of the So- ciety and its work of charity, and shall be in attendance at all its stated and special meetings; and for his services shall be paid an annual salary of four hundred dollars, payable quarterly, and
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a commission of ten per cent., or such sum as the Society may direct, on all bills for dues given him for collection, whether collected by him or paid to the Secretary. He shall execute a bond for the faithful performance of his duties in the sum of five hundred dollars, said bond to be approved by the Trustees.
ARTICLE XXX. Appropriations for Stewards.
A sum not exceeding three hundred dollars shall be appropriated to the Stewards for distribution in charity each quarter, from 23d of April to 23d of October, and five hundred dollars each quarter, from 23d of October to 23d of April. Should it become necessary and advisable, by acting Stewards, that such appropriations should be increased, the President, Vice-Presi- dent and Treasurer, at the written request of the acting Stewards, are empowered to appropriate an additional sum not exceeding five hundred dollars.
ARTICLE XXXI. Expense of Meetings.
At each anniversary meeting one hundred and twenty-five dol- lars, and at each quarterly meeting twenty-five dollars shall be appropriated to defray the expenses thereof, the balance, if any, to be paid into the treasury of the Society, and the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary and Stewards shall make the necessary arrangements for the anniversary celebrated on St. George's Day.
ARTICLE XXXII. Rules of Order.
The order of business at each quarterly meeting shall be as follows, viz .:
I. Reading of minutes of last meeting.
2. Reports of committees on applications for relief.
3. Report of Trustees.
4. Report of Secretary.
5. Report of Treasurer.
6. Report of Stewards.
7. Applications for Relief.
8. Election of members and associates.
9. Nominations for membership or associate membership.
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DR. JOHN W. GADSDEN
Vice-President, 1889, and 1892 and 1893 President, 1894 and 1895
10. Reports of special committees.
II. Unfinished business.
12. New business.
13. Report of Auditing Committee.
14. Good of the Society.
All resolutions proposed for adoption at any meeting shall be in writing, and signed by the mover thereof, if requested.
ARTICLE XXXIII.
A division of the yeas and nays may be called upon the request of any two members.
The President shall decide all points of order, but any member may appeal from his decision.
ARTICLE XXXIV.
Amendments or alterations of the By-Laws proposed in writ- ing at a quarterly meeting may be adopted by a majority of the members present at the next stated meeting.
The Secretary shall notify every member of any change or al- teration proposed to be made in this Constitution and By-Laws.
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