E462 
 
 .N69 E7 
 
 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 DD0D[3l4bT'=]S 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 • / 1 
 
 \<^ 
 
 
 
 • N 
 
 
 
RULES AND REGULATIONS 
 
 FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF 
 
 HENRY ENSIGN POST, 
 
 NO. 568, 
 DEPARTMEJN^T OF NEW YOIiK, 
 
 GRAND >RMY OF THE I[EPUBLIC, 
 
 OEOPSEYVILLE, N. Y. 
 
 ADOPTED AUGUST 21ST, 18S5. 
 
 TROY, ,N. Y. : 
 
 TROY J)AILY PRESS PRINTING IIOUSB, 225 RIVEE STREET. 
 
 /iSS6. 
 
RULES AND REGULATIONS 
 
 FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF 
 
 HENRY ENSIGN POST, 
 
 NO. 568, 
 DEPARTMENT OF NEW YORK, 
 
 GRAND jlRMY OF THE IjEPUBLIC, 
 
 OEOPSETVILLE, N. Y. 
 
 ADOPTED AUGUST 21ST, 1885. 
 
 TKOY, N. Y.: 
 
 TROY DAILY PRESS PRINTING nOUSB, 225 RIVER STREET. 
 
 1SS6. 
 
.1 
 
 
RULES AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 ARTICLE I. 
 
 Section 1. This Post having been duly constituted 
 and chartered on the 21st day of August, 1885, and 
 now known and entitled as Post Henry Ensign, 
 No. 568, Department of New York, G. A. R., does 
 hereby adopt the following Rules and Regulations 
 for the government and guidance of its members. 
 
 OBJECTS, 
 
 Sec. 2. To preserve and strengthen those kind and 
 fraternal feelings which bind together the soldiers, 
 sailors and marines, who united to suppress the late 
 rebellion. 
 
 To assist such former comrades in arms as need help 
 and protection ; and to extend needful aid to the 
 widows and orphans of those who have fallen. 
 
 To maintain true allegiance to the United States of 
 America, based upon a paramount respect for and 
 fidelity to the National Constitution and Laws; to 
 discountenance whatever tends to weakeiiMoyalty, 
 incites to insurrection, treason or rebellion, or in any 
 manner impair the efRcienc}^ and permanenc)^ of our 
 free institutions, and to encourage the spread of 
 universal liberty, equal rights, and justice to all men. 
 
 ARTICLE II. 
 meetings. 
 Sec 1. The Regular Encampments of this Post 
 shall be held on every first and third Saturday eve- 
 
nings in each month (unless otherwise ordered), the 
 Assembly to be sounded at 8 o'clock from the first 
 meeting in April until the first meeting in November, 
 and at 7.30 p. m. from said first meeting in Novem- 
 ber until the following April. 
 
 Sec. 2. The Post Commander shall call Special 
 Encampments when requested so to do, in Avriting, 
 by five Comrades qualified to transact business, set- 
 ting forth the object for which the Encampment is 
 called, and no other business than that set forth in the 
 call shall be transacted at such Special Encampment. 
 
 Sec, 3. No appropriations of the funds, or of the 
 charity funds of the Post, shall be made at a Special 
 Encampment, unless hj a two-thirds vote. 
 
 Sec. 4. Eight members qualified to transact busi- 
 ness shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the 
 Post. 
 
 ARTICLE III. 
 
 OFFICERS. 
 
 Sec. 1. The officers of this Post shall be a Post 
 Commander, a Senior Vice Post Commander, a Junior 
 Vice Post Commander, an Adjutant, a Quartermaster, 
 a Surgeon, a Chaplain, an Officer of the Day, an 
 Officer of the Guard, a Sergeant-Major, a Quarter- 
 master-Sergeant, and a Council of Administration, to 
 consist of five members, of whom the Senior Vice 
 shall be chairman, who shall also be Trustees. 
 
 Sec. 2. All members of the Post, in good standing, 
 shall be eligible to any office in the Post, 
 
 representatives. 
 Sec. 3. The Post shall elect at its first Stated En- 
 campment in December, as Representatives, in the 
 
ratio of one for every tifty nieiiibers in i^ood staiidiniLr, 
 and one additional nu-mber for a tinal fraction of 
 more llian half that nnniber to represent them in the 
 Department Eneami)nieiit. and an (Mjual number of 
 alternates, who shall be furnisjud with credentials 
 si^-ned by the Comniandcr antl Adjutant, a eojn' of 
 \\ lii< li -li.ill be fill wai'dcd iiniiiediately after election 
 to the A<sist;inl Adjutant General of the Department. 
 
 STAM)I.N(; ( OMMITTKKS. 
 
 Si;c. 4. There shall be appointed at the second meel- 
 mii: in January, a Conunitlee on Deconition, and a 
 Committee on Amusements, for the year, each to con- 
 sist of tive members, with powei' to increase their 
 numbers as may be necessary. All c(immittees to 
 make final rejioiM of any entertainmen! or occasion 
 where their services are required in the performance 
 of their duties, at the foiu'th meetinii; subseipient to 
 the date of such entertainment. 
 
 AUTICLK IV. 
 
 ELECTION OF ()I-KI( KKS. 
 
 Sec. 1. The Post officers (the Adjutant, Sergeant- 
 Major and (Juartermaster-Sergennt excej^ted), shall be 
 elected at the tirst stated meetinir in December, by 
 ballot, unless a ballot be dispensed with by unanimous 
 consent. They shall be installed into their respective 
 otlicesat the tirst stated meeting in January following. 
 
 At the installation of officers the Po.st Commander 
 shall ajipoint the Adjutant, and uiK)n the recommen- 
 dation of the Adjutant and Quartermaster respectively, 
 he shall also appoint the Sergeant-Major and-llie 
 (Quartermaster-Sergeant. They shall enter upon their 
 
6 
 
 duties at once, and all officers, whether elected or ap- 
 pointed, shall hold office until their successors are 
 
 installed. 
 
 Sec. 2. In case of a ballot for officers, a majority of 
 all the votes cast shall be necessary to a choice. If 
 there is no election on the first two ])allots, the name 
 of the Comrade receiving the lowest number of votes 
 shall be dropped, and so on in successive ballots, until 
 an election is made. 
 
 Sec. 3. Any vacancy in the offices may be filled at 
 any stated meeting, notice of such contemplated action 
 having been given at a previous meeting. 
 
 ARTICLE V. 
 
 DUTIES OF OFFICERS. 
 
 Sec 1 It shall be the duty of the Post Commander 
 to preside at all meetings of the Post ; to enforce a 
 strict observance of the rules and regulations and M 
 orders from proper authority ; to detail all officers 
 and committees not otherwise provided for; to approve 
 all orders drawn upon the Quartermaster for appro- 
 priations of money made and passed at a stated meet- 
 in - of the Post; to forward the returns required by 
 Chap Y Art. II, General Regulations ; and to per- 
 form such other duties as his charge may requn-e of 
 
 Tec '> The Vice Post Commanders shall perform 
 such duties as are required of them by the Ritual, and, 
 in the absence of the Commander, shall take hts place 
 in the order of their rank. If neither of tnem are 
 m-esent the Post shall elect a Commander pro tempore. 
 Sec 3 The Adjutant shall keep in books properly 
 prepared— The Rules and Regulations of the Grand 
 
Anuy of the Kcpuhlic .ind llic Rules aii<l H<L:ul!ilions 
 i>t ilic I'osi. to he sii:ii((l hy (Very Coiurailr on his 
 Ixcotniiiu a iiHinlur. A Descriptive H<»ok, rule«l to 
 eiulir.Kc every fact contained in the application, a^^ 
 well as the (late of acee|)tance and nwister, and a 
 ( oluinn for irenend reniarks. A .lournal of tlie pro- 
 (•eediniT'^ <»f the Post, after the same shall have been 
 corrected and approved. An Order Hook, in which 
 ^hall l>e recordecl all orders and circidar« issued l»y 
 ilie l*us| Conunander. A Letter Hook. An Indor>.<' 
 nient and .Memorandum Hook. A Hlack Hook, in 
 which shall he recorded all rejected candidates, and 
 also of ;dl meinlMi-^ of the (irand Army who have* 
 Iwen <li^honoraMy di-^cllaI■L^e(|. 
 
 He shall attest hy his siirnature all actions of the 
 I'ost. and draw all orders on tin- (Quartermaster, to 
 he a|)pro\(d hy the Post Conunander; shall n<»tify 
 in writim: newly elected meiidM-r^, an<i shall, under 
 direction of the I'ost Commander, prepare all r« [xtrts 
 .and reluiiiN i(Mpiin'(| of him. He sh.all |Mrform such 
 other dutie-N as appertain to his olMce. and ^hall 
 transfer to his successor. \vith<»ut delay all hook^. 
 papt'is and other proi>erty. For the faithful (lis 
 < hari;e of his duties he shall have his duos remitted. 
 
 St:( . 4. The (Quartermaster shall hold the funds, 
 •ecuritie^. \(tuchers and other projM'rty of the Post, 
 and fill all reijuisitions drawn hy the .Vdjutant and 
 approved hy the Post Conunander; lie sh.all coiled all 
 moneys du( the I*ost. iriving his receipt therefor ; ho 
 "hall keep an account with each memher, and notify 
 'dl Contrades in arrears ; he shall render a monthly 
 i>unl in wrilini,^ to the Post of its tinances. which 
 
8 
 
 shall be referred to the Council of Administration. 
 He shall make and deliver to the Post Commander 
 all reports and returns required of Post Quarter- 
 masters by Chap, v., Art. II., General Regulations, 
 and shall deliver to his successor in office, or to any 
 one designated by the Post, all moneys, books and 
 other property of the Post in his possession or under 
 his control. He shall give a bond in the sum of 
 $1,000, with sureties (to be appoved by the Council 
 of Administration), for the faithful discharge of his 
 duties. He shall file his bonds before entering upon 
 the duties of his office. He shall have his dues re- 
 mitted. Upon the accumulation of funds to the 
 amount of $500 in the hands of the Quartermaster, 
 unappropriated, the Post may, in its discretion, direct 
 him to invest in such securities or to deposit in such 
 savings bank as they may order. iVny interest or 
 dividends received from such investments shall be 
 paid into the funds of the Post, 
 
 Sec. 5. The Surgeon shall discharge such duties 
 in connection Avith his otfice as may be required of 
 him. 
 
 Sec. 6. The Chaplain shall officiate at the opening 
 of the Post and at the funeral of Comrades, when 
 conducted by the Post, and perform such other 
 duties in connection with his office as the Post may 
 require. 
 
 Sec. 7. The Officer of the Day and the Officer of 
 the Guard shall perform such duties as may be re- 
 quired by the Ritual or by the Post Commander. 
 
 Sec. 8. The Sergeant-Major and Quartermaster- 
 Sergeant shall assist the Adjutant and Quartermaster 
 respectively in their duties. 
 
9 
 
 ( (»rN( II, (»I- .\1),MIM>THATI«>N. 
 
 Sk( . !>. It -hall Ik- the tluty of tin- Coiuuii of 
 Adiiiiiiistranon to txainiiic all hills prt'scntod to the 
 I'ost, and, if found < ornct. he siLni(«l hv a majority 
 of viiid Council, and returned to the Adjutant; if not 
 correct, they vl,:dl report the fad- <.f their incorrect- 
 ness to the I'ost. They shall examine the 1 ks and 
 
 accounts of the l^uarterma^ter and Adjutant and 
 repoit to the l*o-t at the second meetim: in .January. 
 Ajiril. .Inly and < )clol>er. 
 
 alticij: \ I. 
 
 KI.HillWI.IlY TO MK.II-I K-IIIl'. 
 
 Soldiers and .siiih.rs of the I'nited States Army, 
 N.iVV or Marine Corps, who M-rved (hirini: the late 
 rebellion, and thos<' havin^^heen honorably dischari^red 
 therefrom after such service, shall he eli.irihle to 
 memiiership in the Crand Army of the Kepuhlic. 
 No |.er-on shall he eli,uil>le t(. membership who has 
 at anv time borne arms airainst the I'nited States. 
 
 AirrK i.i: vii. 
 
 AimissntN TO MKMnKKsnir. 
 Sk( . 1. Averv application for adiui«^sion to mem- 
 bership shall be in writin.ix.and shall be acc<.mpanied 
 by a proposition fee of out' dollar (which in case of 
 rejection shall be returned to the applicant), and 
 shall also <rive. in detail, upon the blanks furnished 
 by the National IIead(iuarter<. the .applicant's a.ire. 
 birthplace, residence, occupation, date and rank 
 when enterinir the service, and his r.iiik at the time 
 of hisdischar;:e (or if -till in the service his present 
 rank), the date and cause of hi- di-chari:e, the com- 
 
10 
 
 pany and regiment, or ship, to which he l)elongs or 
 belonged, the length of time he served; if wounded, 
 when, in what engagement, in what manner and 
 degree, and the fact of any previous application, and 
 to what Post it was made. 
 
 Sec. 2. The application shall be presented at a 
 stated meeting, and be recommended by a mem])er 
 of the Post, who shall vouch for the applicant s 
 eligibility; it shall then be referred to a committee of 
 three, of which number the member recommending 
 shall not be one, for investigation and report. 
 
 Sec. 3. The committee shall make careful investi- 
 gation of the facts set forth in the application ; they 
 shall see the applicant in person, and shall recom- 
 mend his election or rejection, at a meeting subse- 
 quent to their appointment, by endorsement upon 
 the application. Froridtd, Jiowtver, that the Com- 
 mander-in-Chief or a Department Commander may 
 grant a dispensation in writing to a Post, to waive in 
 any particular case the rule prohibiting an investiga- 
 tion committee from reporting upon an application 
 on the evening of their appointment. 
 
 Sec. 4. After the reading of the report, the Com- 
 mander shall give an opportunity to any Comrade 
 having objections to the election of the applicant to 
 state the same, after which a ballot with ball ballots 
 shall be had. If, on a count of the balls deposited, 
 it appear that not more than twenty are cast, and 
 two or more of them are black, the candidate shall 
 be declared rejected ; but if more than twenty are 
 cast, then an additional black ball for every addi- 
 tional twenty shall be necessary to reject. If a less 
 
11 
 
 iiunibcr of black balls than above provided be cast, 
 the candidate shall be declared elected, and no re- 
 consideration of a ballot shall be had after the Com- 
 mander has announced the result thereof. But 
 should the result of the ballot be luifavorable, and 
 the Commander suspect any mistake, he may, at his 
 discretion, before declaring a vote, order a second 
 ballot, the result of which shall be final. 
 
 Sec. 5. If an applicant be rejected, his admission 
 fee shall be returned, and he shall be forever after 
 ineligible for admission to any other Post of the Grand 
 Army of the Republic, without the consent, by a two- 
 thirds vote, of the Post rejecting him, and not again 
 eligible in the one in which he Avas rejected, until six 
 months after such rejection. A second, and all sub 
 sequent applications, shall be in the same form and 
 subject to the same conditions as the first. 
 
 Sec. 6. The name of a rejected applicant shall be 
 forwarded to National Headquarters, through the 
 proper channel. 
 
 Sec 7. Each applicant, upon his election, shall be 
 at once notified thereof in writing, and on presenting 
 himself for membership shall be properly mustered. 
 
 But unless he present himself for muster within 
 three months from the date of such notice, his elec- 
 tion shall be void, and all moneys which may have 
 Ijeen required by the Post to accompany the applica- 
 tion shall be forfeited to the Post treasury. 
 
 The Commander-in-chief, or a Department Com- 
 mander may, however, grant a dispensation in any 
 })articular case, to a Post, to muster a candidate, even 
 
12 
 
 though he has not i)reseiited himself for muster with- 
 in three months after notice of election. 
 
 Sec. 8. A member-elect shall pay, before enlistment 
 and muster, the balance of the admission fee, three 
 dollars. Upon muster-in he shall subscribe to a copy 
 of these Regulations. 
 
 Sec. 9. The Commander-in-chief, or a Department 
 Commander may, at pleasure, receive and muster in 
 an applicant for membership, or detail a Comrade 
 for that purpose, provided the person so received and 
 mustered in resides outside the proper territorial 
 limits of any Post. 
 
 Sec. 10. The applications for membership of per- 
 sons who were Comrades before the introduction of 
 the grade system, but who never took the obligation 
 of the third grade, shall be received and acted upon 
 the same as if the applicant had never belonged to 
 the Grand Ami}-. 
 
 ARTICLE VIII. 
 
 ADMISSION OF COMRADES FROM OTHER POSTS. 
 
 Sec. 1. A Comrade having a valid transfer card 
 may be admitted to any Post, or re-admitted to the 
 Post which granted the transfer card, by a two-thirds 
 vote after his name has been proposed, referred and 
 reported upon, as in case of an applicant for member- 
 ship; or he may be admitted a charter member of a 
 new Post. 
 
 Sec. 2. Each Post may establish such admission 
 fees, to be paid by Comrades joining by transfer, as 
 they may think proper, not exceeding the amount re- 
 quired from recruits. 
 
13 
 ARTICLE IX. 
 
 LEAVES OF ABSENCE, TllANSFERS AND DISCHARGES. 
 
 Sec. 1. Any Comrade applying therefor in person, 
 or by letter, shall be granted a leave of absence by the 
 Commander, attested by the Adjutant, for a specitied 
 time, not exceeding twelve months, commending him 
 to the good offices of all Comrades, provided he has 
 faithfully discharged all duties enjoined upon him, 
 and has paid in advance all dues for the time speci- 
 fied in the leave of absence. Any Post giving relief 
 to a visiting Comrade shall endorse the amount upon 
 his leave of absence, and shall also notify the Post of 
 which he is a member. 
 
 Sec. 2. Any Comrade against whom no charges 
 exist, and who has paid all dues, shall receive upon 
 verbal or written application to the Commander, at a 
 meeting of the Post, a transfer card, attested by the 
 Adjutant. Upon presentation of it to any Post with- 
 in one year from the date of its issue, he may be ad- 
 mitted in the manner prescribed in Section I, Article 
 YIII. In the meantime he shall remain for purposes 
 of discipline only, under the jurisdiction of the Post 
 granting the transfer card. If at the expiration of the 
 year, he has not been admitted to membership in any 
 Post, the transfer card shall be void, and the holder 
 be considered honorably discharged from the Order. 
 
 Sec 3. Any Comrade in good standing, on appli- 
 cation to the Post Commander at a regular meeting, 
 shall receive at some subsequent meeting, an honor 
 able discharge, signed by the Post Commander and 
 attested by the Adjutant: Provided, that at the time 
 of such application there are no pecuniary charges 
 
14 
 
 against him on account of the Post, A Comrade thus 
 discharged can be received again only in the same 
 manner as an applicant for original membership — but 
 upon his election he may be admitted, without 
 muster, on taking anew the obligation. 
 
 Sec. 4. Members of disbanded Posts, who were in 
 good standing at the time of such dissolution, shall 
 receive from the Assistant Adjutant General of the 
 Department, transfer cards which shall have full 
 force. 
 
 ARTICLE X. 
 
 ARREARAGES. 
 
 Sec. 1. Any member of this Post who is six months 
 in arrears in the payment of his dues shall be pro- 
 hibited from voting, shall be ineligible to any office 
 in the Grand Army of the Republic, and shall be re- 
 ported "suspended" in the quarterly reports to De- 
 partment Headquarters, until such dues are paid. 
 While so suspended, the Post shall not be subject to 
 the pel' capita tax on such member, and he shall not 
 be coimted in the representation of the Post in the 
 Department Encampment, nor of the Department in 
 the National Encampment: Protided, however, that 
 when a Comrade is unable, by reason of sickness or 
 misfortune, to pay his dues, they may be remitted by 
 a two-thirds vote of the Post. In remitting dues, a 
 separate vote shall be taken on each Comrade. 
 
 Sec. 2. If a Comrade shall be one year in arrears, 
 he shall be dropped from the rolls, and reinstated 
 only through the Post of which he was a member, by 
 a vote of the Post, at a regvdar meeting, upon pay- 
 ment of dues to the time of being dropped. 
 
15 
 ARTICLE XL 
 
 SECRECY. 
 
 Sec. 1. The Ritual and unwritten forms of the 
 Grand Army of the Republic, the names of personf 
 causing the rejection of candidates for membership 
 or any information as to the cause or means of sucl 
 rejection, shall be kept secret ; Init any part of th( 
 proceedings of Post Encampments may be publishec 
 if ordered by a vote of the Post, approved by the De 
 partment Encampment. 
 
 Sec 3. Any Comrade convicted of divulging an^ 
 of the private affairs of the Grand Army of the Re 
 public, or of violating any of the provisions of thi; 
 article shall be dishonorably discharged. 
 ARTICLE XIL 
 
 POLITICS. 
 
 No officer or Comrade of the Grand Armj' of tli( 
 Republic shall in any manner use this organizatioi 
 for partisan purposes, and no discussion of partisai 
 (juestions shall be permitted at any of its meetings 
 nor shall any nomination for political office be made 
 ARTICLE XIII. 
 
 RELIEF FUND. 
 
 A relief fund for the assistance of needy soldiers 
 sailors and marines, and widows and orphans of de 
 ceased soldiers, sailors and marines, shall be estab 
 lished by this Post, and any donations to this func 
 shall be held sacred for such purposes. 
 ARTICLE XIV. 
 
 APPEALS. 
 
 All members of this Post shall have the right o 
 appeal through the proper channels from acts of th 
 
16 
 
 Post or Post Commander, to tbe Department Com- 
 mander, and through him to the Commander-in-Chief, 
 whose decisions shall be final, unless reversed by the 
 National Encampment; but all decisions appealed 
 from, shall have full force and effect until reversed 
 b\^ competent authority. 
 
 ARTICLE XV. 
 
 PENALTIES. 
 
 Any Comrade elected to any office, or detailed for 
 any duty, or anj^ Comrade appointed by the Post to 
 perform an}' duty therein, should he neglect or re- 
 fuse the same, he may be punished by court-martial, 
 as provided for in Article VI., P. and R. of the 
 G. A. R. 
 
 ARTICLE XVI. 
 
 DISCIPLINE. 
 
 Sec. 1. Offences cognizable by the Grand Army 
 of the Republic shall be: 
 
 1. Disloyalty to the United States of America, or 
 any other violation of the pledge given at tbe time of 
 muster. 
 
 2. Disobedience of the Rules and Regulations or of 
 lawful orders. 
 
 3. The commission of a scandalous offence against 
 the laws of tlie land. 
 
 4. Conduct unbecoming a soldier and a gentleman 
 in his relations to the Grand Army of the Republic. 
 
 5. Conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline. 
 Sec. 2, Penalties shall be as follows: 
 
 1. Dishonorable discharge from the Grand Army 
 of the Republic. 
 
 2. Degredation from office. 
 
3. Suspension from membership for a specified 
 period. 
 
 4. Fine, or 
 
 5. Reprimand, 
 
 at the discretion of the Court, subject to the review 
 of the proper officer. 
 
 Sec. 3. All accusations shall be made in the form 
 of charges and specifications, and shall be tried by 
 court-martial. Courts-martial may be ordered by 
 Commanders of Posts or of Departments, or by the 
 Commander-in-chief, for the trial of alleged offenders 
 in their respective jurisdiction. 
 
 Sec. 4. Courts-martial shall be governed in their 
 mode of proceeding and rules of evidence by the Re- 
 vised United States Army Regulations, and estab- 
 lished military usage, and such orders as may be is- 
 sued from headquarters; Provided, however, that in 
 the wilful absence of the accused, after due notice of 
 the time and place of trial has been given to him^ 
 or left at his usual place of abode, the Court may 
 proceed in all respects as if he were present and had 
 pleaded not guilty. 
 
 Sec 5. All members of the G. A. R , when sum- 
 moned, shall attend as witnesses before any court- 
 martial, and their testimony shall be taken on their 
 honor as Comrades. The evidence of persons not 
 members shall be taken under oath, when not incon- 
 sistent with the law of the place where the Court is. 
 held. Where such extra judicial oaths are forbidden 
 by law, evidence of witnesses not members of the G. 
 A. R. may be received, in the discretion of the Court,, 
 on their honor as men; and the fact that they have 
 
18 
 
 not been sworn shall be considered by the Court in 
 deciding upon their credibility. 
 
 Sec. 6. No sentence of a court-martial shall be car- 
 ried into execution until after the whole proceedings 
 shall have been laid before the officer ordering the 
 same, or his successor in office, for his confirmation 
 or disapproval, and orders in the case; and no sen- 
 tence of dishonorable discharge from the Grand 
 Army of the Republic, except by a court-martial con- 
 vened by order of the Commander-in-chief, shall l)e 
 carried into execution until after the whole proceed- 
 ings shall have been laid before the officer next su- 
 perior to the one ordering the court, for his confirma- 
 tion or disapproval and orders thereon. 
 
 Sec. 7. An}^ Comrade ordered for trial l)efore a 
 Post court-martial may request, in writing, to be 
 tried by a general Court, assigning his ol)jections to 
 a trial by the Post Court. On receiving such request, 
 the Post Commander shall forward the same to the 
 Department Commander, with such endorsement as 
 he shall see fit to make, together with the charges 
 preferred. If the objections appear to be valid 
 and well-grounded, the Department Commander 
 ,shall order a general court-martial for the trial of the 
 •case; but if, in his opinion, they should be insuffi- 
 <"ient, he shall return the request, with an endorse- 
 ment to that effect, and the trial shall proceed as if 
 no exception had been taken. 
 
 Sec. 8. When charges are preferred against any 
 Comrade holding office, the Department Commander 
 or Commander-in-Chief, in their respective jurisdic- 
 tions, may suspend the accused from office. During 
 
19 
 
 I he suspension of a Post Commander or Department 
 Commander, the office shall be filled by the Senior 
 Vice-Commander. 
 
 ARTICLE XVII. 
 
 DUES AND REVENUE. 
 
 SKf. 1. The fee for admission to membership in 
 tliis Post snail be two dollars, of which sum fifty 
 cents shall accompany the application, and the re- 
 mainder before muster-in of recruit. 
 
 Sec. 2. The fee for re-admission shall be one year'* 
 dues, but a Comrade so re-admitted shall not be en- 
 titled to relief until he shall have been a member for 
 one year. 
 
 Sec. 8. The fee for admission by transfer shall be 
 the same as for recruit. 
 
 Hec. 4. Traveling and transfer cards, twenty-five 
 cents each. 
 
 Sec, 5. The yearly dues shall be two dollars, pay- 
 able ((uarterly, to wit : March 31st, June 80th, Sep- 
 tember 30th, December 31st. 
 
 Sec. 6. No funds belonging to this Post shall be 
 loaned to any person or persons for any purpose 
 whatsoever. 
 
 Sec. 7. On the death of a Comrade of this Post^ 
 there shall be an assessment of fifty cents made on 
 each member in good standing who shall fail to at- 
 tend the fimeral of a Comrade after notice of such 
 death and time of funeral shall have been published 
 in at least two daily papers. If said assessment shall 
 remain unpaid for thirty days from date of such 
 funeral, the Comrade or Comrades so in arrears shall 
 l)e precluded from receiving any money benefit from 
 
20 
 
 this Post until the same shall be paid, and a farther 
 time of thirty days from sueh payment. The pro- 
 ceeds of above assessment to be used to pay the 
 funeral expenses of Comrades of this Post. Any 
 balance remaining shall be transferred to the relief 
 fund. 
 
 ARTICLE XYIIT. 
 
 RELIEF. 
 
 Sec. 1. The Junior Vice, Surgeon and Chaplain 
 shall constitute a Relief Committee. 
 
 Sec 2. Every Comrade of this Post who shall not 
 fail to pay his dues within three months after they 
 become due, and who shall, by reason of sickness or 
 other disability (except disability produced by in- 
 toxicating liquors), be unable to pursue his usual 
 avocation, shall, as hereinafter provided for, be en- 
 titled to receive from the funds of this Post, not 
 otherwise appropriated, the sum of two dollars per 
 week, to be paid to him uiK)n the order of the Relief 
 Committee, as hereinafter provided for. 
 
 Sec. 3. Such payment to continue during such 
 disability or sickness, but not to exceed in any case 
 the sum of two dollars per week for twelve consecu- 
 tive weeks, after which a term of three months shall 
 <^lapse beforo such Comrade shall be entitled to far- 
 ther relief, unless by a unanimous vote of the mem- 
 bers of the Post present at a regular encampment 
 thereof. 
 
 Sec 4. There shall be required in case of sickness 
 or disability, that such sickness or disability shall 
 have continued for the space of one week before any 
 payment shall be made therefor, and when made. 
 
21 
 
 such payments shall be for the. second week thereof, 
 and shall continue thereafter weekly for the amount 
 and period aforesaid only upon the following condi- 
 tions : 
 
 Sec. 5. The Comrade suffering from disease or 
 disability shall cause to be made out, and presented 
 to a member of said Relief Committee, a certificate 
 signed by some reputable physician or surgeon, such 
 certificate to be in the following form, and none other 
 shall be accepted or acted upon by said Committee : 
 
 188.. 
 
 I hereby certify, upon my honor as a physician (or 
 surgeon), that I am in professional attendance upon 
 
 of the 
 
 of N. Y., and that I have been 
 
 in such attendance for days. That 
 
 the disease or disability from which said 
 
 is suffering is and he is thereby pre- 
 vented from attending, either in whole or part, to 
 his ordinary vocation. 
 
 I further certify, that in my opinion such disease 
 or disability did not arise nor was it occasioned by 
 the use of intoxicating liquors. 
 
 Signed, 
 
 Sec. 6. It shall be the duty of said Relief Com- 
 mittee, or a majority thereof, within twenty-four 
 hours after the receipt of such certificate by one of 
 said committee, to personally visit such Comrade, 
 and if, in their opinion, the facts stated in such cer- 
 tificate are true, they shall after the time aforesaid, 
 viz : not less than one week nor more than two weeks 
 after such sickness or disability occurred (provided 
 
22 
 
 the Comrade is not under any of the restrict ions 
 aforesaid, or hereinafter provided for), make and de- 
 liver to the said Comrade, or to the Quartermaster of 
 this Post, an order in the followini^ form : 
 
 Relief Committee, 
 Post Henry Ensign, No. 568, G. A. K. 
 Quartermaster : — 
 
 You are hereby directed to pay to Comrade 
 
 the sum of two dollars, the same being a sick benetit 
 
 for him, for the week ending 188. . We, 
 
 upon our honor as Comrades, certifying that he is 
 entitled thereto under the Rules and Regulations of 
 the Post. 
 
 Dated Cropseyville, N. Y 188. . 
 
 Sec. 7. Such visits of said committee shall be 
 made to such Comrade by such committee, or a ma- 
 jority thereof, weekly, and such order so issued by 
 them shall not be made until after each of such 
 visits, and the first of such orders shall be accom- 
 panied by such certificate of the attending physician 
 or surgeon, as aforesaid. 
 
 Sec. 8. Upon the death of any Ctmirade, who shall 
 not have failed to pay his dues within three months 
 after they have become due, there shall be paid by 
 the Quartermaster to the widow of such C'omrade 
 him surviving the sum of ten dollars. In case said 
 Comrade shall leave him surviving no widow, then 
 said sum of ten dollars shall be paid to the legal rep- 
 resentatives of such Comrade, unless such Conu-ade 
 shall otherwise direct. 
 
 Sec. 9. In case the death or disability or sickness 
 of a Comrade shall have been caused or precipitated 
 
23 
 
 l)y the use of intoxicatini^ beverages, then, and in 
 such ease, the above provisions shall have no appli- 
 eation to him, and in all cases the report and order 
 of the Relief Committee shall be final as to the pro- 
 priety of such payments as aforesaid. Nor shall such 
 pajnients or relief be ordered given or paid unless 
 the said member shall have attended at least one- 
 quarter of the regular meetings of this Post for six 
 months immediately preceding such sickness, death 
 or disability, unless excused from such attendance by 
 the Commander of this Post. 
 
 Sec 10. No relief shall be granted by this Post to 
 any person, except as herein provided for, unless by 
 a unanimous vote of the Post. 
 
 ARTICLE XIX. 
 
 AMENDMENTS. 
 
 These Rules and Regulations shall not be altered 
 or amended unless thirty days' notice has been given 
 to the Post, in writing, at a regular meeting, and the 
 proj)osed alterations or amendments have been re- 
 ferred to a committee, appointed for that purpose, 
 for investigation. 
 
 ARTICLE XX. 
 
 All standing resolutions and amendments hereto- 
 fore adopted by this Post, and in conflict with this 
 Code of Rules and Regulations, are hereby repealed. 
 
Rules of Order. 
 
 1. All Comrades entering the Post after opening cere- 
 monies will advance to near the Altar, and salute the 
 Commander before being seated; and all Post Comman- 
 ders and other high officers, or past officers visiting the 
 Post, will be invited to seats on the right of the Comman- 
 der, one pace to the rear. 
 
 2. Visiting Comrades will be announced by the Officer 
 of the Guard, standing with them near the Altar. 
 
 3. Comrades when addressed or addressing, and when 
 retiring, will first salute the Commander, as upon enter- 
 ing; and will not retire during the ceremonies without 
 sufficient rea«!ons, and at no time while the Commander 
 is engaged in speaking or putting a question. 
 
 4. The Junior Vice Comnnnder will see that the above 
 rules are complied with. 
 
 5. Ail Comrades will be required to make proper re- 
 sponses and to observe suitable solemnity during the 
 ceremonies. Music, vocal or instrumental, may be intro- 
 duced as a part of the ceremonies, according to the will 
 of the Comrades. 
 
 6. Officers of the Post will provide themselves with 
 swords, belts and gloves. 
 
 7. One rap of the gavel calls to order and seats the Com- 
 rades; three raps calls up tlie Post. 
 
 b. The Officer of the Day will see that officers are in 
 their proper places, and if any are absent, will provide 
 substitutes before opening. 
 
 9. The Officer of the Guard will detail guards under di- 
 rection of the Officer of the Day. Guards for outposts 
 may be permanently detailed under direction of the Com- 
 mander, and receive such compensation as the Post may 
 direct. 
 
25 
 
 10. Every Comrade present, who is in g-ood standing-, is 
 entitled to vot", and shall vote upon ail questions, unless 
 excused by a vote of the Post. 
 
 11. The Commander shall preserve order, and announce 
 the decisions of the Post on all subjects. He may speak 
 to points of order, and shall decide questions of order 
 without debate, subject, however, to an appeal to the Post 
 by any member, Avhen the question before the Post shall 
 be, "Shall the cecision of the Chair stand as the judg-- 
 ment of the Post?" which question shall be put without 
 debate, except that the Commander shall have the rig-ht 
 to present his reason for such decision, contining- himself 
 strictly to the (juestion upon which his decision was made; 
 he shall not have the rig-ht to speak upon the merits of 
 any question or motion before the Post, except for an 
 explanation. 
 
 12. Before putting- a question, the Commander shall ask, 
 " Is the Post readj' lor the question ?" If no one arise to 
 speak, he shall arise and put the question to the Post, and 
 after he has risen to put a question, none shall be per- 
 mitted to speak upon it. 
 
 13. If two or more Comrades rise to speak at the same 
 time, the Commander shall decide which is entitled to 
 the tloor. 
 
 14. When the [.Commander is addressing- the Post, or 
 putting a question, silence shall be observed in the En- 
 campment, and dui-ing a count no Comrade shall be per- 
 mitted to leave his place. 
 
 15. A Comrade speaking- to any question shall stand and 
 respectfully address the Chair, confine himself to the 
 question under debate, and avoid all personalities, inde- 
 corous or sarcastic languag-e. 
 
 16. A Comrade shall not be interrupted while speaking-, 
 except to call him to order, or for the purpose of expla- 
 nation. 
 
 17. If any Comrade, in speaking-, transg-resses the rules 
 of the Post, the Chair, or any Comrade, may call him to 
 order, in which case the Comrade so called to order shall 
 
^6 
 
 immediately sit down, and shall not rise unless to explain 
 or proceed in order. 
 
 18. A Comrade shall not speak more than five miniites 
 at one time, nor more than twice on the same subject or 
 question until all who wish to speak shall have had an op- 
 portunity to do so, nor more than twice without permis- 
 sion from the Post, and every Comrade speaking shal 
 designate the officer or Comrade spoken of by his proper 
 rank or title. 
 
 19. Any Comriide may call for adlvisloilof the (luestion 
 Avhen the sense will admit of it, buta motion to strike-out 
 and insert shall be indivisible^ except at the option of the 
 mover. 
 
 20. A question shall not be subject to debate until it has 
 been seconded and stated from the Chair, and it shall be 
 reduced to writing- at the request of any two Comrades. 
 
 21. When a question is before the Post, no motion shall 
 be in order except to lay on the table; to adjourn; for the 
 previous question; to postpone indefinitely; to posti)one 
 for a certain time; to divide; to commit or to amend; 
 which motions shall severally have precedence in the or- 
 der herein arranged. The first four of which shall be de- 
 cided without debate or amendment. 
 
 22. On the call of a majority debate shall cease, and a 
 vote be taken on the motion or question under debate. 
 
 23. A Comrade may at any time moAC the previous cpies- 
 tion. When the previous question has been moved, no 
 debate or amendment or any other motion shall be in 
 order until it is decided. The question shall be as follows: 
 " Shall the main question be now put?" The main ques- 
 tion shall been the passage of the matter under consid- 
 eration, but when amendments are pending, the question 
 shall first be taken on such amendments. 
 
 24. On a call of a majority of the Comrades present, the 
 ayes and nays shall be taken, and when the ayes and nays 
 are ordered, every Comrade present shall be re<iuired to 
 vote, and his name entered upon the minutes as voting 
 aye or nay, unless excused from voting by a vote of the 
 Post, 
 
27 
 
 25. A motion to close shall always be in order, (after the 
 vefe'ular Post business is gone through with,) which mo- 
 tion shall be decided without debate; but if decided in the 
 affirmative, it is no adjournment until the Post is closed 
 in due form. 
 
 36. A motion for a reconsideration shall not be received 
 unless n\ade at the same or next succeeding' stated meet- 
 ing-, and must be made by a Comrade who voted with the 
 majority in the first instance. A motion for reconsidera- 
 tion being- put and lost, shall not be renewed, nor shall 
 any vote be a second time reconsidered without the con- 
 sent of two-thirds of the members present. 
 
 27. The Comrade first named on a Committee shall act 
 as Chairman until another is chosen by the members of 
 the Committee. 
 
 28 Any Comrade may be excused from serving on a 
 Committee if, at the time of his appointment, he is a mem- 
 ber of two other Committees. 
 
 29. All Special Committees shall report their final pro- 
 ceedings in writing-, and shall not be discharg-ed until all 
 the debts contracted by them shall have been paid. After 
 making their report they shall return all papers relating 
 thereto to the Adjutant. 
 
 30. When a blank is to be filled the question shall be 
 first taken upon the smallest sum or number, and the 
 longest and latest time proposed. 
 
 31. When a Comrade is called to order for words spoken, 
 the objectionable Avords shall, if required, be taken down 
 in writing by the Adjutant. 
 
 32. No Comrade shall be present when a question con- 
 cerning himself is under discussion; nor is any Comrade 
 to speak to the merits of the case until the Comrade with- 
 draws; but the Comrade concerned may be permitted to 
 speak in his own defense before leaving the room, and 
 have the perusal of all papers relating to the matter in 
 question. 
 
 33. When the reading of any paper or other matters are 
 called for, and the same be objected to by any Comrade, 
 it shall be determined by a vote of the Post. 
 
28 
 
 3t. A Comrade rising to make a motion may preface it 
 with a few remarks bearing distinctlj' upon the question 
 he desires to bring before the Post. 
 
 35. Not more than two amendments to a proposition 
 shall be entertained at the same time, and the question 
 shall first be taken upon the last amendment. 
 
 36. A motion to reconsider a motion to lay on the table 
 is not in order. 
 
 37. Any Comrade violating any of the obligations, laws, 
 rules and regulations of the G. A. It ; disregarding the re- 
 (luirements of the Constitution; disclosing the secret 
 transactions of the Post; divulging the nanie of Com- 
 rade who has reported unfavorably on an application, or 
 opposed his becoming a member; or feigning himself sick 
 or disabled; practicing, aiding or abetting any other mis- 
 representations, false pretense or fraud; guilty of habitu- 
 al drunkenness, gambling, immoral or criminal conduct 
 of any kind; entering the Encampment in a state of in- 
 toxication; using profane or other improper language; 
 wilfully i)ersisting in disturbing the peaceful and harmo- 
 nious workings of the Post, or refusing to obey the Com- 
 mander after having been called to order by that officer, 
 maybe placed under arrest. The adjutant shall make 
 out charges against the Comrade, which shall be signed 
 by the Officer of the Day, and he be tried by court- 
 martial. 
 
 38. All (juestions of order not provided for by these rules 
 must be determined by Cushing's Manual. 
 
Order of Business. 
 
 1. Opening. 
 
 2. Roll-call of officers. 
 
 :]. ]\Iinutes of last stated and all intervening En- 
 campments. 
 
 4. Reading orders or communications. 
 
 5. Is any Comrade sick or in distress ? 
 
 0. Has any Comrade died since our last encamp- 
 ment ? 
 
 7. Reports upon applications. 
 
 8. Ballot on the same. 
 
 9. Muster in. 
 
 10. Payment of dues. 
 
 11. Reading new applications. 
 
 12. Reports of Committees, by seniority. 
 
 13. Unfinished business. 
 
 14. New business. 
 
 15. Good of the organization. 
 
 16. Quartermaster's receipts. 
 
 17. Roll-call. 
 
 18. Closing. 
 
ROSTER OF OFFICERS. 
 
 Past Commander HULBERT, R. 
 
 Senior Vice Commander FILIEAU, J. 
 
 Junior Vice Commander FILE, P. A . 
 
 Adjutant KING, L. 
 
 Quartermaster GREEN, W.D. 
 
 Surgeon DANIELS F. 
 
 Chaplain NEWCOMB, C. W. 
 
 Officer of the Day SCHOOLCRAFT, J . 
 
 Officer of the Guard BRIMMER, J. H. 
 
 ROSTER OF MEMBERS. 
 
 Agan, C. E. 
 
 B 
 Bassett, J. 
 Bonesteel, G. E. 
 Bonesteel, T. 
 Boomhower, P. 
 Bull, P. 
 
 C 
 ■Campbell, A. H. 
 Campbell, J. G. 
 Clark, H. N. 
 Cooradt, J. H. 
 Coonradt, W. A. 
 Ooonradt, W. H. 
 Coons, J. 
 
 D 
 Dick, C. 
 Dunham, H. 
 
 G 
 Oarner, C. F. 
 Gibbs, Z. 
 Ooyer, G. 
 Goyer, N. 
 
 H 
 
 Hayner, H. 
 
 H 
 Hofmelster, J. 
 
 J 
 Jones, P. H. 
 
 M 
 McChesney. T. 
 
 P 
 Peckham, B. H. 
 
 R 
 Rawlins, R. N. 
 Roberts, N. S. 
 Rogers, T. E. 
 Russell, G. W. 
 
 S 
 Simmons, N 
 Smith, J. L. 
 Smith, G.H. 
 
 T 
 Trumbull, C. H. 
 
 W 
 Wag-ar, S. 
 Wagar, H. N. 
 Wagar, C. L. 
 Wagar, P. S. 
 Wagar, J 
 
 iO Ud 
 
 <» 
 
^^' % WW/ ^^' \ 
 
 
 O • A 
 
 .0^ 
 
 ^ ^^6^ -' 
 
 N • 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 .:((\Va\\^^' 
 
 •iJj^il^^ 
 
 / .♦^■V. 
 
 P 
 
 
 
 '\?: