Article I. This Society shall be called “The American Missionary Association.”
Art. II. The object of this Association shall be to conduct Christian missionary and educational operations.
Art. III. Members may be constituted for life by the payment of fifty dollars into the treasury of the Association, with the written declaration, at the time or times of payment, that the sum is to be applied to constitute a designated person a Life member; and such membership shall begin sixty days after the payment shall have been completed.
Churches, which have within a year contributed to the funds of the Association, and State Associations or Conferences of Churches, may appoint delegates to the Annual Meeting of the Association, each of such Churches and Associations or Conferences to be entitled to two delegates; such delegates, duly attested by credentials, shall be members of the Association for the year for which they were thus appointed.
Art. IV. Members shall be entitled to vote by ballot in the election of President, five Vice-Presidents, the Board of Directors, and on Amendments to the Constitution; and they shall be entitled to be present at all meetings of the Board of Directors, and to take part in the proceedings, but not to vote.
Art. V. The Annual Meeting of the Association and of the Board of Directors shall be held in the month of October or November, at such time and place as may be designated by the Executive Committee.
Art. VI. The Board of Directors shall consist of fifty persons, of whom fifteen shall constitute a quorum. They shall be chosen by ballot, the votes of absent members being receivable under such safeguards as may be prescribed in the By-Laws of the Association. At the first election of this Board, ten persons shall be elected for the term of one year, and a like number for terms of two, three, four, and five years respectively; and each year thereafter ten persons shall be elected for the full term of five years, and such others as may be needed to fill vacancies.
If any Director shall fail to attend two annual meetings in succession, and to report the reason for such non-attendance, his place on the Board shall be regarded as vacant.
Art. VII. The Board of Directors shall elect Secretaries of the Association, Treasurer, Auditors, and an Executive Committee of fifteen members, shall ordain By-Laws, and in general shall direct and control the operations of the Association.
Art. VIII. The powers and functions of the several officers shall be prescribed in the By-Laws.