An attempt has been made to make the certificate large and attractive, and it is expected that the members will value it to such an extent that they will frame and hang it in a prominent place in the home, where it can be frequently seen, and that the sanitary maxims that it contains will be learned and followed.
In organizing the church league it is well to have a number of the certificates on hand to supply the members as soon as they pay their dues. The form of the certificate will be found in the plan of organization for these leagues. The certificate can be printed at a local printing office, but if this is not practicable, or it is preferred to buy them, very handsome certificates printed in black and red, with a large red seal, and the name of the state and church branch league, can be bought for about 6 cents each, by the hundred.
The amount of the annual dues to be paid by each member can be changed by each league to suit the necessities of the community. The dues should be so small that no one will be kept out of the league by not being able to pay them. However, as the dues will be the chief source of revenue with which the league expects to do its work, they should not be made smaller than is actually necessary.
The money paid into the league as dues goes to form a fund that is disbursed by the church league collecting it to help those of its members who contract consumption. How much this help will be will depend upon the amount of money the league has at its disposal and the needs of the individual. But whether this help is much or little the having the certificate of membership and belonging to the league will give information that will teach one to protect himself and his family from disease. This means less sickness, consequently less loss of time from work, therefore more money, more comforts, and more happiness for all concerned.
The vice-presidents and organizers should see that the four standing committees required by the by-laws of the church leagues are promptly appointed and that they understand their duties.
As the work of each church league will at first consist largely of educating its members as to the cause of tuberculosis and the way to live to keep from getting it, the committees, and especially the ones having charge of “sick,” “sanitation;” and “information” should be especially active. They should learn all that is possible about their respective subjects so that they can teach the other members.
In joining the church league one also becomes a member of the State Colored Antituberculosis League. Members of the state league and church branch leagues wear a button showing their connection with the leagues.
Membership.—Membership in the church leagues should not be confined to the members of the church organizing the league. As a rule it is better that the members of each church join their own church league, but if for any reason their church has no league there should be no objection to their joining the league of some other church. Those who are not members of any church should also be allowed to join the league.
Details of the work of a church league.—As soon as the church league is organized the president should appoint the four standing committees required by the by-laws to serve for one year, viz: “Finance,” “Information,” “Sick,” and “Sanitation.” The details of the work to be done may then be considered. One of the first of these is to ascertain how many of the members have or are suspected of having tuberculosis. This duty devolves upon the committee on the sick, which should get from the secretary a list of the members, giving the name and address of each. This list should be gone over and every member carefully considered. It is probable that the greater number of the members are personally known to the committee, and thus it can be told at once whether they are sick or well.
The committee is not expected to decide whether these members have tuberculosis. Their duty is to make out the list of the sick and ailing. The physician will decide the nature of the sickness.