BY-LAWS.
(1) The initiation fee shall be three dollars. The annual membership fee shall be three dollars, payable not later than the first day of February in each year.[[1]]
[1]. Amended so that annual membership fee is now $5.
(2) Payment of fifty dollars in advance at one time shall constitute a life membership. Life members shall be exempt from further dues.
(3) The Executive Council shall provide for each regular meeting of the Society an address, essay or paper dealing with some topic in the Society’s line of work.
(4) A copy of all original productions read before the Society shall be requested for deposit in the Society’s archives.
(5) The annual field-day program shall include an oration, poem and dinner. Other features of an appropriate nature may be added.
(6) A fraternal spirit shall be cultivated with other American historical bodies. The Society shall also keep in touch with historical organizations in Ireland, France and other countries.
(7) Any person elected to membership in this Society who fails to pay his initiation fee within one year from the date of his election shall, having been duly notified by the Secretary-General, be considered as having forfeited his right to membership and his election shall be cancelled.
(8) A member neglecting for two years to pay his annual fee shall be notified of such omission by the Secretary-General. Still neglecting for three months to pay the dues such delinquent member shall be dropped as no longer belonging to the Society.
(9) The stated meetings of the Society shall be held in January, April, July and October. The President-General, upon receiving a request in writing, signed by ten members, asking for a special meeting, shall cause the said meeting to be convened forthwith.
(10) Ten members shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Society, except stated meetings, when fifteen members shall be necessary.
(11) The general order of business at meetings of the Society shall be as follows:
(a) Minutes of previous meeting. (b) Report of Executive Council on candidates for membership. (c) Balloting on candidates for membership. (d) Reports of officers and committees. (e) Unfinished business. (f) New business. (g) Adjournment.
(12) When not otherwise provided, Cushing’s Manual shall be the authority on points of procedure at meetings of the Society.
(13) No part of these by-laws shall be amended, altered or repealed unless proposition is submitted in writing covering the proposed amendment at least thirty days before the meeting when it is to be acted upon, when, if two thirds of the members present and voting express themselves in favor of the change, the same shall be made.
MR. THOMAS HAMILTON MURRAY.
One of the Founders of the Society, and its First Secretary-General, serving from 1897 until his decease June 5th, 1908.
It has been deemed necessary that a revision of the above be made in order to make them conform to the present needs of the Society, and a committee consisting of Michael J. Jordan, Esq., Hon. Patrick J. McCarthy, Joseph T. Ryan, Esq., John E. O’Brien, Esq., and the Secretary-General, appointed by the President-General at Washington, D. C., January 17, 1909, has the revision in charge.