/13 /*? /5 Constitution OF THE Naval Order of the United States ORGANIZED JULY 4, 1890 ISSUED BY ORDER OF THE General Commandery 1913 %M. (^Jb-v(^KX^A^.j.,.j3L>^ ^Yk-W^ 'h\h l(o 'X^ Preamble Whereas, Many of the principal battles and famous victories of the several wars in which the United States has participated were fought and achieved by the Naval forces; Whereas, It is well and fitting that the illustrious deeds of the great Naval commanders, their companion officers in arms and their subordinates in the wars of the United States should be for- ever honored and respected; Therefore, Entertaining the most exalted admiration for the undying achievements of the Navy, we, the survivors and des- cendants of participants of those memorable conflicts, have joined ourselves together and have instituted the "Naval Order of the United States," that we may transmit to our latest posterity their glorious names and memories; and to encourage research and pub- lication of data pertaining to Naval art and science, and to estab- lish libraries in which to preserve all documents, rolls, books, por- traits and relics relating to the Navy and its heroes at all times. Constitution Adopted in Special Congress, August IS, 1893. Amended in Triennial Congress as follows: October 5, 1895; February 9, 1899; October 5, 1904; October 5, 1907. ARTICLE I. TITLE. This institution shall be known by the name, style and title of the "Naval Order of the United States." ARTICLE II. ORGANIZATION. The constituted bodies of this Order shall be designated as Commanderies, and shall consist of — A General Commandery, to be known as the "General Com- mandery of the Naval Order of the United States." State Commanderies to be known as the " Com- mandery of the Naval Order of the United States." ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP. The following shall be eligible to membership: Commissioned officers of the Navy and of the Marine Corps of the United States, whether of the regular or volunteer service, graduates of the Naval Academy, and commissioned officers of the Revenue Marine Ser- vice who have served under the orders of the Navy Department in time of war; and all persons who have held any such commis- sino under the authority of any of the thirteen original Colonies or States, or of the Continental Congress, or of the United States. Provided, that those who have left the service shall have resi ^ncd with honorable record or shall have been honorably discharged. And provided further, that no one who shall at any time have borne arms against the Government of the United States shall be eligible. All male descendants over twenty-one years of age of those who are eligible as above, or, in default thereof, one collateral repre- sentative. ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS. The officers of the General Commandery shall be a General Commander, three Vice-General Commanders, a General Re- corder, a General Treasurer, a General Registrar, a General Historian, an Assistant General Recorder, a General Judge Advo- cate, a General Chaplain, and a General Council consisting of nine Companions, of which General Council the other officers shall be members ex-oficio. They shall be elected triennially. Vacancies may, at any time, be filled for the unexpired balance of a term, by the General Council. The officers of the State Commanderies shall be a Commander, a Vice-Commander, a Recorder, a Treasurer, a Registrar, a Historian, a Chaplain, and a Council consisting of nine Com- panions, of which Council the other officers shall be members ex~ officio. They shall be elected annually as hereinafter provided. ARTICLE V. DUTIES OF OFFICERS. Commander. The Commander, or in his absence the Vice-Commander, or a chairman fro tempore, shall preside at all meetings of the Com- mandery and shall exercise the duties of a presiding officer under parliamentary rules, subject to an appeal to the Commandery, and he shall appoint all Committees. He shall have the power to convene special meetings of the Com- mandery or of the Council at his discretion, and shall convene the Commandery upon written request of ten Companions, and the Council upon written request of three of its members. Recorder. The Recorder shall keep a record of the proceedinj^s'bf the Com- mandery and of the Council. He shall conduct the general correspondence of the Command- ery, and shall keep a record thereof. He shall notify all applicants of their election or rejection. He shall give due notice of the time and place of all meetings of the Commandery and of the Council. He shall transmit to the Registrar all applications and proofs of eligibility of all persons admitted. He, together with the Registrar and Historian, shall have charge of all printing and publications directed by the Commandery or Council. He shall have charge of the seal, certificate of incorporation, records, b3Maws and all other documents other than those re- quired to be deposited with the Registrar or Historian, He, together with the presiding officer, shall certify all acts of the Commandery and of the Council, and, when required, authen- ticate them under seal. Treasurer, TheTreasurer shall receive all moneys payable to the Command- ery and shall pay out such sums as shall be ordered by the Com- mandery or the Council. He shall keep a regular account of all receipts and expenditures. For the faithful performance of his duty he shall give such se- curity as the Council may direct. Registrar. The Registrar shall receive from the Recorder, file and keep on record, all the proofs upon which membership has been granted. He shall keep a register of the Companions of the Commandery in which shall be recorded every material fact relating to thei membership. 7 He shall aid and co-operate with the Recorder and Historian in all printing and publications directed by the Commandery or Council. In the absence of the Recorder he shall officiate in his stead. Historian. The Historian shall keep a complete record of all historical and commemorative events of the Commandery. He shall, with the aid of the Recorder and Registrar, prepare for publication all such documents as the Commandery or Council may direct. He shall receive donations of documents, rolls, books, portraits and relics relating to the Navy, and shall make copies of such papers as the owners may not be willing to part v.'ith. He shall, at the annual meeting of the Commandery, submit carefully prepared obituaries of the deceased Companions, and shall keep a record describing as fully as possible their places of burial. General Judge Advocate. The General Judge Advocate shall be the legal adviser of the General Commandery and of the Order, and shall perform such duties as generally appertain to his office. Chaplain. The Chaplain shall be an ordained clergyman of a Christian church, and shall perform such duties as generally appertain to his office. Transfer of Rec&r-ds. Each officer shall transmit to his respective successor imme- diately upon the expiration of his term all records, books, papers and other property in his possession belonging to the Commandery or relating to its business and affairs. Council. The Council shall have control of the affairs and funds of the Commandery, and the power to call special meetings. S They sliall have the power to elect apphcants to mcml)cr.ship upon a favorable report of the Committee on Membership, and to accept the resignation of any enrolled Companion, and may also issue to any Companion in good standing upon his removal to another State a letter recommending his acceptance to member- ship in the Commandery of that State; and, on receipt of official notice of his election, he shall be recorded as having been trans- ferred. Such letter must be presented within one year from date. They shall issue to Companions a Visiting Card, to be ap- proved by the General Commandery, to be used when visiting the jurisdiction of other Commanderies. They may suspend any Companion for just cause, and may re- commend to the Commandery the expulsion of an}' Companion after due investigation of the charges preferred against him. They may direct the Recorder to drop from the roll the name of any Companion who shall be at least two years in arrears in the payment of his dues and who shall fail on proper notice to pay the same within sixty days: Provided^ that a Companion in the Navy or Marine Corps in foreign lands or on foreign service, which shall include the insular possessions of the United States, shall not be dropped until he shall be at least three years in arrears in the pay- ment of his dues. They may suspend any officer from office for cause, which sus- pension must be immediately reported to the Commandery and action taken on the same within twenty-one da3's, by which, after due investigation and by a two-thirds vote, such suspension may be confirmed, or annulled, and the officer restored to his position. They may fill all vacancies among the officers amd members of the Council. Provided, that the offices of Commander and Re- corder shall not be filled by the Council when the Vice-Com- mander or Registrar are competent to act. They shaU receive nominations for officers and shall prepare tickets for voting at the annual meeting of the Commandery, and shall at the said meeting present a repfjrt of their proceeding's for the past year. 9 They shall meet at least quarterl}^, and oftener should it be deemed necessary by the Commander. The absence of any member of the Council, other than an officer, from three consecutive meetings of the same shall be deemed a vacation of his membership of the Council; but such absence shall be deemed excused unless the Council elect his successor. Five Companions shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. ARTICLE VI. CONGRESS. The triennial Congress of the Order shall be held on the fifth day of October and in such place as the triennial Congress next preceding may appoint. In the event of failure of the proceding Congress to appoint such place, the General Council shall, at least six months preceding the Congress, choose and announce the place of meeting. The General Council may, for cause shown, change the place of meeting when appointed by a Congress. At such trien- nial Congress the general officers for the ensuing term shall be elected. Special Congresses may be called by the General Commander, when directed to do so by the General Council, and at such places as the General Council shall designate. The following shall be members of such triennial or special Congresses, and shall be entitled to vote therein: 1. The General Officers, the Past General Commanders, Past Vice-General Commanders, and the Past State Commanders. 2. Three delegates or their alternates from each State Com- mandery. 3. Ex-officio, the Commander, Vice Commander and Recorder of each State Commandery. ARTICLE VII. GENERAL COMMANDERY. The General Commandery shall have the power to authorize and constitute a Commandery of the Naval Order of the United 10 States in any State or Territory in which no such Commandery exists, when formally petitioned to do so by ten or more Com- panions of the Order residing in said State or Territory, and on receipt of the prescribed charter fee. The fee to the General Commandery for chartering a State Commandery of the Order shall be twenty-five (325) dollars. The Charter of a State Commandery shall be of the form follow- ing: Naval Order of the United States. GENERAL COMMANDERY. Be IT KNOWN that Companions having made application in proper form for the institution of a Com- mandery of the Order in the State of and the same being approved, a Commandery is hereby authorized, instituted and established, to be known as the Commandery of the Naval Order of the United States. In testimony whereof, the Seal of the Order is hereunto affixed, and the hand of the General Commander, at the day of in the year thousand hundred and , and of the Independence of the United States of America the and of the Order the Attest: General Commander. No General Recorder. It shall issue all Diplomas of Membership and the Insignia of the Order. The General Council shall meet at least semi-annually, and oftener should it be deemed necessary by the General Commander. 11 ARTICLE VIII. STATE COMMANDERIES. Each constituted State Commandery of the Order shall regu- late its own affairs, and shall have the power to adopt by-laws for its own special government: Provided, that the same do not in any way conflict with this Constitution, and shall pay annually to the Treasurer of the General Commandery a per capita tax of fifty cents upon each and every Companion in good standing, as reported upon the first day of January of each year; and shall pay from each admission fee received after March 1, 1899, the sum of one dollar to the use of the General Commandery. The stated meetings of the several State Commanderies shall be held monthly, unless any Commandery by a two-thirds vote shall otherwise direct; Provided, however, that every Commandery shall hold a meeting in the month of November of each year for the election of officers. Ten Companions of a Commandery shall constitute a quorum at any meeting at which business is to be transacted. The actual fares of the Commander, Vice-Commander, Re- corder and the three delegates, or their alternates, to and from the place of meeting of a triennial or special Congress of the Order shall be paid by the State Commandery which they represent. ARTICLE IX. ADMISSION OF COMPANIONS. Any person above the age of twenty-one years, of good moral character and reputation, desirous of becoming a Companion of the Order, shall make application in writing, setting forth claims of eligibility, and accompanied by proofs of the same, in which it must be satisfactorily shown that the service of the participant was regularly performed in the United States Navy or on an armed vessel in the service of the United States, or sailing under letters of marque and reprisal in time of war. Said application, bearing the indorsement of two Companions, and accompanied by an admission fee of not less than five (35) 12 dollars and the dues for the current year, shall be submitted to the Committee on Membership, who shall present their report to the Council of the Commandery. Upon a favorable ballot by that body, the applicant shall thereupon become a Companion of the Order. The application of the persons claiming the eligibility through Naval service, whether rendered personally or by an ancestor, which do not appear to come within the specifications of Article III of this Constitution must first be referred by the Council of a State Commandery to the General Recorder for his decision and bear his indorsement, before the applicant can be elected to mem- bership in the Order. ARTICLE X. DIPLOMA OF MEMBERSHIP. Every Diploma of Membership shall be authenticated by the General Commander and General Recorder, and by the Seal of the Order affixed thereto. The Diploma shall be of the form following: Naval Order of the United States GENERAL COMMANDERY. Be it known that was received as a Companion of the Naval Order of the United States^ on the day of Anno Domi^ii thousand hundred and , and is entitled to all rights and privileges thereto belonging. In testimony ivhereof, the Seal of the Order is hereunto affixed, and the hand of the General Commander, at the day of in the year thousand hundred and and of the Independence of the United States 13 o/ America the a7id oj the Order, the General Commander. Attest: General Recorder. No The numbers on Diplomas of Membership and Insignia shall be consecutive, commencing with No. 1, and shall in all cases cor- respond; they shall be assigned to Companiojns by the GeneralRe- corder in the order in which Companions have joined, or may join, the Naval Order, and shall be officially known as Insignia numbers. An Insignia number shall never be issued a second time except in the case of a re-issue to the original holder thereof. ARTICLE XL IMPEACHMENT OF COMPANIONS. If the conduct or character of any Companion of the Order shall be impeached, the accusing Companion shall prefer his charges in writing to the Council of the Commandery, who shall notify the accused of the same, and if, after due investigation, the Council consider the charges to be sustained, whether the accused be present or not, he may, by a majority vote, be suspended, or, on their recommendation, expelled by a vote of two-thirds of the Companions present at a meeting of the Commandery. The dismissal or dishonorable discharge from the Military or Naval service of the United States, or the conviction in a court of justice of any infamous offense of any Companion of the Order, shall constitute ipso facto expulsion. A Companion who has been expelled shall not be reinstated unless it be clearly proved that the charges upon which he was convicted were false, in which case he shall comply with the re- quirements governing the admission of Companions. 14 ARTICLE XII. DEATH OF COMPANIONS. Upon notice of the death of any Companion, it shall be the duty of all Companions to attend the funeral ceremonies, and, if agree- able to the family of the deceased, see that the coffin is draped with the Union Jack, and the pall supported by Companions of the Order, when practicable. ARTICLE XIII. INSIGNIA. The Insignia of the Order shall consist of a gold Cross pattee, one and one-quarter inches in diameter; the arms of blue enamel edged with gold. CROSS. Obverse: In the center on a circle of red enamel five-sixteenths of an inch in diameter, an eagle, wings extended, resting on an anchor surrounded by thirteen stars of five points, all of gold, representing in substance the insignia of the Navy of the United States; the whole encircled by a band of white enamel one-eighth of an inch wide, displaying in letters of gold the motto of the Order, "Fidelitas et Patria." Reverse: The Cross as above described. In the center on a circle of red enamel five-sixteenths of an inch in diameter shall appear in gold the insignia of the United States Marine Corps, the whole encircled by a band of white enamel one-eighth of an inch wide, bearing in letters of gold the legend, "Naval Order of the United States." The Cross shall be worn on the left breast, suspended by a ribbon of heavy ribbed white silk, one and one-half inches wide, with a red center three-fourths of an inch wide, the whole an inch and a half in displayed length. Oflficers of State Commanderies shall wear the Cross suspended by the ribbon of the Order around the neck. 15 STAR. Officers of the General Commandery shall wear on the left breast a Star of Silver of two and one-quarter inches diameter, on which shall rest the obverse of the Cross, as above described, surmounted by a Naval crown of gold and enamel, and the Cross, suspended by the ribbon of the Order around the neck. Past officers of the General Commandery may wear the Star on the left breast. When the Insignia is not worn, a rosette one-half of an inch in diameter of the prescribed ribbon and pattern may be worn by Companions in the upper buttonhole of the left lapel of the coat. The Insignia shall never be worn as an article of jewelry, and upon the resignation or expulsion of a Companion it shall there- upon be returned to the Commandery and the amount paid for such Insignia shall be refunded to the said Companion by the Treasurer, In case of the death of a Companion, the same shall be con- sidered an heirloom. In no case shall a duplicate Diploma or Insignia be issued except on the recommendation of the Council of the Commandery of which the applicant for same is a Compan- ion, based on his statement upon honor that the original was either lost or destroyed; Provided, that a Companion receiving such du- plicate shall pay the same price as for the original. ARTICLE XIV. SEAL. The great Seal of the Order shall be one and seven-eights inches in diameter; in the center a capstan on which is displayed the American eagle, wings extended, bearing on its breast the National shield; at the right an anchor, and at the left cannon and shot; the whole encircled by a band one-fourth of an inch wide and thereon the legend, "Naval Order of the United States — General Com- mandery, 1891." Each State Commandery shall have a seal one and three- fourths inches in diameter, including the border, which shall bear the date of its charter, together with the legend, "Naval Order of the United States Commandery." 16 AR rici.E XV. AM K NOME NTS. Amendments to this Constitution may be made at any Congress of the Order by a two-thirds vote, provided that the amendment shall have been proposed by a State Commandery, and that notice in writing of the proposed amendment in form shall have been sent by mail to the General Recorder and to the several State Comman- deries not less than sixty days prior to the date of meeting at which such proposed amendment is acted upon. 17 Naval Order OF THE United States Gold Insignia, with solid gold ring, bar and ribbon 315^ Gold Insignia, with spring ring, necessary for officers who wear Insignia with neck ribbon 16.j Officer's Plaque, made of gold and silver combined 20j Neck Ribbon for officers, with gold hook 2. New Gold Spring Ring 1. Changing Solid Ring to Spring Ring 1. New Ribbon for Insignia lO New Ribbon for Insignia and sewing to bar .tS Rosettes .25 Morocco Box for Insignia llOO The Bailey, Banks & Biddle Co. is the sole authorized maker of the Insignia, but can only deliver it to members on receipt of an order from the General Recorder. Companions desiring to purchase Insignia are requested to remit the price, together with ten cents for registered mail, to the Re- corder of their State Commandery; to be forwarded by him to the General Recorder. 18 CREATHEAD I'RINT PHILA. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 011460 325 9 ^