BY-LAWS 
 
 OF 
 
 THE SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI 
 
 IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. 
 
 ADOPTED AT A 
 
 SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY 
 
 HELD IS 
 
 RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, 
 
 December 15, 1905. 
 
 h'oTK.— At uie above meeting there were present twenty-five members in person and by 
 proxy, which is the largest meeting held by the Virginia Cincinnati Society for a period of 
 more than one hundred years. 
 
BY-LAWS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Virginia. 
 
 ADOPTED AT RICHMOND, VA., 
 December 15, 1905. 
 
 ARTICLE I. 
 
 OFFICERS. 
 
 Section i. The ofiBcers of this Society shall be a President, a Vice- 
 President, a Secretar5', a Treasurer, and an Assistant Treasurer, all of whom 
 shall be elected by ballot at the annual meeting on the 4th of July in each 
 year and shall hold office for one year or until their successors are elected 
 and qualify. Each oflBce shall be held by a separate member of the Society 
 and no two of the above offices shall ever be held by one member. 
 
 Section 2. The Society may elect a Chaplain from among its members 
 
 at each annual meeting on July 4th. It may also at such times elect an 
 
 assistant to the Secretary. 
 
 f 
 
 ARTICLE II. 
 
 ANNUAL STATED AND SPECIAL MEETINGS. 
 
 Section i. The annual meeting of the Society shall be held on the 
 4th day of July, and a stated meeting on the loth of May (the anniversary 
 of the Society and to be termed " Cincinnati Day ") in each year. Should 
 either of these days fall on a Sunday, the meeting shall be held on the 
 following day. 
 
 Section 2. Special meetings shall be called by the President or by 
 direction of the Standing Committee or upon the request in writing of five 
 (5) members of the Society. At such special meetings no business shall be 
 transacted except such as shall be specified in the notice therefor. 
 
 Section 3. At least fifteen (15) days' notice of time and place of all 
 meetings of the Society shall be given by the Secretary by mail to every 
 member of the Society at his last recorded address. 
 
Section 4. The place of meetiugs of the Society shall be determined 
 by a majority vote of members present and voting at the annual or stated 
 meeting and in case such determination shall not be made, the Standing 
 Committee shall designate the place. 
 
 ARTICLE III. 
 
 QUORUM. 
 
 Five (5) members shall constitute a quorum of the Society ; but a 
 smaller number present at any annual meeting, stated meeting, or special 
 meeting shall have power to meet for the purpose of having the proceedings 
 and reports read, accepting the same for future action, and formally 
 adjourning. 
 
 ARTICLE IV. 
 
 STANDING COMMITTEE. 
 
 Section i. The Standing Committee .shall consist of the five officers 
 and four members of the Society, to be elected annually on July 4, and hold 
 office until their successors are duly elected and qualify. 
 
 Section 2. The Standing Committee shall have charge of the welfare 
 and general concerns of the Society as well as all other matters committed 
 to it. It shall hold meetings at such times and places as it may determine, 
 but at least once a year. It shall, from the income of the Permanent Fund 
 of the Society, aflord relief to members or their families or descendants of 
 deceased members whom it may deem worthy, subject in this respect to such 
 limitations or directions as the Society at any meeting may from time to 
 time resolve. It shall consider all applications for admission to the Society 
 and recommend the election of such applicant as it deems entitled and 
 worthy. It shall make a written report to the Society at each annual meet- 
 ing on July 4th of all applications for membership, whether approved or 
 disapproved, for such final action in each case as the Society may determine. 
 It shall appoint annually a sub-committee of three of its members to examine 
 the Treasurer's accounts and make report thereon to the Society at its 
 annual meeting on July 4th. It shall keep a record of its proceedings, 
 which shall be open to inspection by any member of the Society, and shall 
 be read, if desired, to the Society at its annual meeting on July 4th, or its 
 stated meeting on May loth, and be subject to such action as the Society 
 may decide. It shall see that the Treasurer's bond is sufficient, and direct 
 him in the exchange, sale or purchase of stocks, bonds or other securities of 
 the Society. Grant orders on the Treasurer for the payment of such 
 expenses and accounts as are not otherwise authorized by the Society. 
 Appoint proper persons from among the members to fill any offices or places 
 which shall become vacant by death, resignation or otherwise, such appoint- 
 
ments to continue until the office or place be filled by the Society at an 
 annual meeting on July 4th. But should the delegate who has been desig- 
 nated a member of the General Society Committee on Nominations of Gen- 
 eral Officers, fail to attend the meeting of the General Society, the remain- 
 ing delegates shall select one of their number to serve on that Committee. 
 Three (3) members of the Standing Committee shall constitute a quorum at 
 any meeting of the Committee for the transaction of ordinary business, but 
 no appropriation of money shall be made unless five (5) members be present. 
 
 Section 3. Special meetings of the Standing Committee may be called 
 at any time by direction of the President, or shall be called upon the request 
 in writing of three (3) members thereof, of which at least ten (10) days' 
 notice shall be given by the Secretary. 
 
 ARTICLE V. 
 
 NOMINATING COMMITTEE. 
 
 Section i. A committee of three (3) members shall be balloted for 
 and elected at the Annual Stated Meeting on May loth, to serve for the 
 ensuing year, whose duty it shall be, upon the call of its Chairman, to con- 
 vene and nominate a ticket for the respective offices of the Society, including 
 the Officers, Chaplain, Assistant to the Secretary, Standing Committee, 
 Delegates and Alternates to the General Society, member of the Standing 
 Executive Committee of the General Society, member of General Society 
 Committee on Nominations of General Officers, and Trustees, to be balloted 
 for at the next annual meeting of the Society on Juh' 4th. 
 
 Section 2. The Nomijiating Committee elected at the Special Meeting 
 of the Society on December 15, 1905, are to make nominations to be voted 
 on at the Annual Meeting on July 4, 1906. 
 
 Section 3. The report of the ticket nominated must be made to the 
 Secretary of the Society not later than six (6) weeks before the Annual 
 Meeting and shall be taken as the report of the Nominating Committee 
 which shall thereupon be considered discharged. 
 
 Section 4. Such nominations by the Committee' shall not preclude 
 any member or members of the Society from proposing and offering any 
 ticket they, or any of them, may desire. The nominations may be made at 
 the Annual Meeting or to the Secretary not later than six (6) weeks in 
 advance of the Annual Meeting. 
 
 Section 5. Upon receipt of all nominations six (6) weeks in advance 
 of the Annual Meeting the Secretary of the Society shall print and mail the 
 same to each member of the Society at least one month before every Annual 
 Meeting, making a separate list of each ticket nominated and stating names 
 of Committee or individuals making each nomination.^ 
 
^Section 6. The offices of President, Vice-President, Secretary, 
 Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer, and the places of Assistant to the Secre- 
 tary, Delegates and Alternates to the General Society, and member of 
 General Society Committee on nominations of General Officers, shall not be 
 filled by members of this Society who may at the time be General Officers 
 of the General Society of the Cincinnati, but General Officers may, however, 
 when duly elected, hold the positions or places in this Society of Chaplain, 
 member of Standing Committee, member of Standing Executive Committee 
 of General Society and Trustee. 
 
 ARTICLE VI. 
 
 SPECIAL COMMITTEES. 
 
 Section i. All .special Committees shall be appointed by the Presi- 
 dent, and in his absence by the Vice-President or the Chairman /;•(? /««, 
 except where a motion is made at a meeting of the Society in which the 
 members of the Committee are named. 
 
 Section 2. In all cases, however, the member of the Society who 
 makes a motion calling for the appointment of a special Committee, shall be 
 made a member of such Committee and shall be its Chairman. 
 
 ARTICLE VII. 
 
 method of election. 
 
 Section i. The election of officers of this Society, of the Chaplain, of 
 the Assistant to the Secretary, the members of the Standing Committee, the 
 Delegates and Alternates to the General Society, the member of the Stand- 
 ing Executive Committee of the General Society, the member of the General 
 Society Committee on Nominations of General Officers, the Trustees and the 
 Nominating Committee, shall be by ballot, and the persons having the 
 largest number of votes cast for the respective offices and places shall be 
 elected. 
 
 Section 2. No member shall be eligible as an officer, or as Chaplain, 
 or as Assistant to the Secretary, or as a member of the Standing Committee, 
 or as a Delegate or Alternate to the General Society, or as a member of the 
 Standing Executive Committee of the General Society, or as a member of 
 the General Society Committee on Nominations of General Officers, or as a 
 Trustee or as a member of the Nominating Committee, unless he shall have 
 been a member of this Society at least three (3) years. 
 
 * NOTK.— This By-Law is made with the view of stimulating aud promoting the interest of the 
 members of the Virginia Cincinnati in the Cincinnati Society generally, and to obviate the necessity and 
 practice of one member of the Society holding several important offices therein at any one time and to 
 encourage and facilitate the distribution of offices among the Virginia members of the Cincinnati 
 Society. 
 
Section 3. The vote upon the admission of new members (hereditary 
 and honorary) shall also in all cases be by ballot. Two (2) negative votes 
 will reject any applicant for membership. 
 
 ARTICLE VIII. 
 
 PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT. 
 
 Section i. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Society 
 and of the Standing Committee, and shall preserve order in the course of the 
 proceedings, in accordance with Parliamentary Law. 
 
 Section 2. In the absence of the President the Vice-President shall 
 preside ; if both the President and the Vice-President be absent, the meeting 
 shall elect a Chairman pro tempore. 
 
 ARTICLE IX. 
 
 SECRETARY. 
 
 Section i. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of 
 the Society and of the Standing Committee, and shall have the cu.stody of 
 the books, papers and records belonging to the Society, which shall be 
 subject to the inspection of any member of the Society at reasonable times. 
 He shall have the custody of the seal, diplomas, diploma plate, dies, badges 
 and ribbon of the Society. He shall keep a full and complete roll of 
 members, showing date elected, full name and address, date notified of 
 election, and full name, rank and services of each propositus. 
 
 Section 2. He shall within sixty (60) days after each annual meet- 
 ing on July 4th print and mail to each member of the Society to his recorded 
 direction a copy of the Treasurer's Annual Report as presented to such 
 Annual Meeting. 
 
 Section 3. _ He shall give at least fifteen (15) days' notice of time and 
 place of all meetings of the Society. 
 
 Section 4. He shall promptly notify all qualified and accepted candi- 
 dates of their election to membership. , 
 
 ARTICLE X. 
 
 assistant to the secretary. 
 
 Section l. He shall assist the Secretary in the performance of such 
 duties of that office as the Secretary may from time to time devolve upon 
 him. 
 
 Section 2. He .shall within sixty days following every annual meet- 
 ing on July 4th print and mail to each member of the Society, a list of 
 deceased members and of those who for any reason have ceased to be mem- 
 
bers of this Society, anil a list of ttiose wlio are members of the Society, 
 with full name and rank of propositus iti each case, including those elected 
 at the last preceding annual meeting, with their respective directions, and a 
 list of all those who have been elected members and who have not qualified, 
 with their respective directions and dates of election. 
 
 Section 3. He shall keep a book in which shall be recorded the date 
 and place of birth of every member and such other facts concerning his 
 family, civil and military history as may enable a proper biographical sketch 
 to be prepared. He shall also keep a carefully prepared necrological list. 
 
 Section 4. In case of the absence of the Secretary, or his inability 
 for any cause to act in that capacity, the duties of the office .shall devolve 
 upon the Assistant to the Secretary, under the direction of the Standing 
 Committee, until the Secretary shall return or the inability cease. 
 
 ARTICLE XI. 
 
 TREASURER AND ASSISTANT TREASURER. 
 
 Section i . The Treasurer shall receive all moneys belonging to the 
 Society arising from the interest or income of the Society's funds, or other 
 sources of revenue. He shall keep an account with some Bank or Trust 
 Company, or both, in the City of Richmond, Va., in which he shall deposit 
 all moneys so received by him on account of the Societ}', in the name and to 
 the credit of "The Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Virginia," 
 subject to draft bj- check signed by the Treasurer of the Society. He shall 
 keep regular accounts, and submit them to the inspection of the Standing 
 Committee whenever asked by it, or any member thereof, to do so. He 
 shall present an annual report and account of all moneys received and paid 
 out by him during the year, and shall submit the same, together with the 
 vouchers for his payments, to the Auditing Committee, to be appointed by 
 the Standing Committee, in time for the same to be examined by them, and 
 to be presented to the Society, at the annual meeting on July 4th. He shall 
 not pay out any money belonging to the Society, unless upon the warrant or 
 order of the Standing Committee or upon the order of the Society at an 
 annual, stated or special meeting. 
 
 Section 2. He shall so far as possible separate and preser\^e distinct 
 so much of the funds of the Society as represent the amount assessed against 
 each member, representing the one month's pay delivered to the Treasurer 
 of the State Society bj' the original members, together with all donations 
 made to this fund " for the express purpose of forming permanent funds for 
 the use of the State Society," from that portion received from other sources. 
 These funds shall remain inviolate forever, "the interest only of which, if 
 necessary, to be appropriated to the relief of the unfortunate" members of 
 the Society and their surviving families, by direction of the Society or the 
 
Standing Committee. If appropriations for relief do not demand the full 
 amount of the annual interest, so much of the remainder as is needed may 
 be used for the general expenses of the Society, after which any balance still 
 remaining shall be disposed of as the Society or the Standing Committee 
 may deem proper. 
 
 Section 3. The Treasurer shall give such security for the faithful 
 performance of his duty as the Society may require, and in the absence of 
 its action in the premises, the Standing Committee may fix the amount of 
 security to be given. 
 
 Section 4. The Assistant Treasurer may perform such of the above 
 duties as the Treasurer may devolve upon him, but not to take charge of 
 the deposits or investments — collection or receipt of money and securities 
 without first giving security in the same manner as the Treasurer. 
 
 Section 5. In case of the absence of the Treasurer or his inability 
 from any cause to act in that capacity, the duties of the ofiBce shall devolve 
 upon the Assistant Treasurer under the direction of the Standing Committee, 
 after he has given securitj' in the same manner as the Treasurer, until the 
 Treasurer shall return or the inability cea.se. 
 
 ARTICIvE XII. 
 
 delegates and alternates. 
 
 Section i. At each annual meeting, on July 4th, there shall be elected 
 five (5) Delegates and five (5) Alternates to represent the Society at any 
 meeting of the General Society which may be held during the ensuing year. 
 
 Section 2. The expenses of Delegates to the General Society, and of 
 Alternates, when serving as Delegates, shall be borne by the Society. 
 
 Section 3. In case of the death, resignation, or inability to serve of 
 any Delegate or Alternate to the General Society between the annual meet- 
 ings of the Society, the Standing Committee shall fill such vacancy or 
 vacancies when necessary to complete the representation of the Society for 
 any meeting of the General Society. 
 
 m 
 
 ARTICLE XIII. 
 
 ADMISSION OF MEMBERS. 
 
 Section i. All applications for admission shall be in writing in the 
 form and manner prescribed by the Society, addressed to the Standing Com- 
 mittee which may require any proof which it may deem proper in support of 
 such application or any testimonial with respect to the character and stand- 
 ing of the applicant. The Standing Committee shall consider and report in 
 writing upon each application to the Society at its annual meeting, with all 
 
8 
 
 facts ill each case. No application after adverse decision by the Standing 
 Committee, shall be allowed to be withdrawn. No person .shall be admitted 
 as a member unless he shall be twent)'-one j'ears of age, nor unless his claim 
 and application for admission shall have been before the vStanding Committee 
 at least two mouths prior to the annual meeting, at which he may be voted 
 for as a member. 
 
 Section 2. No person shall be admitted a member of the Society 
 (whatever may be his relation to an original or other member of the Society), 
 unless he be of good moral character and reputation and be (as required by 
 the Institution) "judged worthy of becoming its supporter and member." 
 
 Section 3. This Society will "judge of the qualifications of the mem- 
 bers who may be proposed" according to the qualifications prescribed by 
 the Institutiou, as follows, under the English law of primogeniture. 
 
 (a) The eldest male lineal descendant of "all officers of the American 
 Army, as well as tho.se .who have resigned with honor after three years' 
 service in the capacity of officers, or who have been deranged by resolution 
 of Congress upon the several reforms of the Army, as those who shall have 
 continued to the end of the War" who "subscribed one month's pay and 
 signed their names to the general rules," "those who are present with the 
 Army immediately, and others within six months after the Army shall be 
 disbanded, extraordinary cases excepted," and "such officers as have died 
 iu the service." 
 
 (6) With respect to "officers who resigned with honor after three 
 years' service in the capacity of officers," when all or a portion of such 
 service was performed as a Commissioned Officer in any of the Virginia 
 troops specially raised for considerable periods of .service, and takeu on the 
 Continental Establishment, such portion of service is construed as intended 
 to be embraced in the designated period. (See opinion of General vSociety, 
 13th May, 1784.) 
 
 (c) With respect to the dates referred to in " Sec. 3," paragraph "a," 
 the following are accepted by this Society as the official dates for the 
 purposes of these By-Laws : 
 
 "American War of Independence " ran from April 19, 1775, to Decem- 
 ber 3, 1783, which latter date was final evacuation of Atlantic ports, when 
 Governor's Lsland, New York Harbor, was formally relinquished. " End 
 of War" officially declared to be on April 19, 1783, per General orders 
 dated Army Headquarters, Newburgh, April 18, 1783. Institutiou of the 
 Society of the Cincinnati, adopted May 10 and 13 and June 19, 1783. 
 American Army finally disbanded June 20, 1784. 
 
 (d) With respect to the words " extraordinary cases excepted," em- 
 bodied in the Original Institution in connection with the rules for admission 
 of members, the same are hereby accepted by this Society to apply only 
 (in the true meaning and intent of the Founders of the Order) to certain 
 
isolated and special cases that may come up from time to time, and which 
 are to be judged separately in each case on their particular merits alone ; and 
 the words "extraordinary cases excepted " are in no sense to be construed, 
 under the Original Institution, as applying, or as intended to apply, to all 
 the officers of the entire Revolutionary Army regardless of the fact whether 
 or not those officers became members of the Cincinnati Society. 
 
 (<?) The eldest male lineal descendent of "those officers who are 
 foreigners, not resident in any of the States, are to be considered as members 
 m the Societies of any of the States in which they may happen to reside." 
 (y) In failure of the eldest male Hneal posterity of original members as 
 above, or of "such officers as have died in the service," the collateral 
 branches shall inherit membership in the Society in the order of the eldest 
 male line according to the English law of primogeniture "who may be 
 judged worthy of becoming its supporters and members." 
 
 ig') In all cases of representation or succession through females the 
 eldest branch shall be preferred to the younger. 
 
 lyli) When a right of membership, derived from an original member or 
 other officer, shall descend in succession to one already a member in another 
 and a different right, the one next after him in the order of descent from the 
 first-named right may be admitted to membership in the Society if "judged 
 worthy of becoming its supporter and member. ' ' 
 
 (0 The eldest male descendant of full age, if residing in the State of 
 Virginia, of an original member of any State Society, may be admitted into 
 this Society (if judged worthy) upon the payment of such assessment as the 
 Society or the Standing Committee may determine, but such sum shall not 
 be less than $150, and shall be applied to the Permanent Fund. 
 
 (7) Any member of the Society of the Cincinnati, from another State 
 Society not acting with the same, removing to, and residing within the State 
 of Virginia, may be admitted to membership in this State Society on applica- 
 tion and election as provided in these By-Laws and on payment into the 
 treasury for the Permanent Fund of such assessment as the Society or the 
 Standing Committee may determine, but such sum shall not be less than 
 $150, and provided his own State Society is first notified in writing of the 
 intended transfer and no reasonable objection is made thereto. 
 
 {k) Whenever any person shall be admitted to the right to become a 
 member of the Society, it shall be the duty of the Secretary forthwith to 
 give him notice thereof, and the person thus admitted must immediately 
 thereupon subscribe the roll and pay whatever may be required by the rules 
 and regulations, By-Laws, order of the Society or the Standing Committee, 
 and make in writing, the following " Declaration," viz.: 
 
 Member's Declaration. 
 I ,of 
 
 a member elect of the Society of the Cincinnati, do declare that I am' 
 the of 
 
lO 
 
 whose full rank and command (or in case of honorary members, military 
 or civil services are to be here stated) in the War of the Revolution was 
 
 , and I do hereby assume the obli- 
 gations of the Society of the Cincinnati, and do bind myself to observe 
 and be governed by its principals and to conform to the Rules and Regu- 
 lations of the Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Virginia for the 
 performance whereof I do pledge my sacred honor. 
 
 In Testimony Whereof, I, have hereunto subscribed my name 
 at this the 
 
 day of , in the year of our Lord 
 
 [seal.] one thousand nine hundred and , and 
 
 in the one hundred and year of the 
 
 Independence of the United States. 
 
 And in case he neglect so to do for the space of one year from the date 
 of the vote or election admitting him to the right to become a member, such 
 vote or election shall be, and be deemed and held to be, revoked, annulled, 
 inoperative, and entirely void, and he shall not thereafter be entitled to sub- 
 scribe the roll, or be considered in any way as a member of the Society or 
 entitled to become such, unless upon a new application for admission, he 
 shall again be admitted to such right, or unless by a vote of a majority of 
 the members present at the annual meeting of the Society, the time be 
 extended before or at the time it would otherwise expire. 
 
 (/) Waivers shall be accepted when they are in favor of the heir 
 apparent, but never in favor of the heir presumptive. 
 
 ARTICLE XIV. 
 
 HONORARY MEMBERS. 
 
 Section i . Honorary members may be admitted to the Society for 
 their own lives only, and provided always that the number of honorary 
 members of the Society shall not exceed a ratio of one to four of the here- 
 ditary members thereof. 
 
 vSection 2. Honorary members shall consist of two classes as follows : 
 
 (rt) " Men in the country eminent for their abilities and patriotism, 
 whose views may be directed to the same laudable objects with those of the 
 Cincinnati." Such honorary members shall not be called on to pay the 
 assessment to the permanent fund, have any title to any portion of the funds, 
 nor are they entitled to vote or eligible to any office. 
 
 {b) "Men who are eminent lineal descendants or representatives of 
 those who were distinguished by high military or civil virtues and services 
 in the Revolutionary War." Such honorary members shall pay into 
 the treasury of the Society for the permanent fund, under the rules pre- 
 
scribed in Article XV., a sum to be fixed by the Society or Standing Com- 
 mittee, but in no case to be less than $150, and shall be entitled to vote and 
 hold office in the Society under the provisions of these By-Laws. 
 
 ARTICLE XV. 
 
 ASSESSMENTS FOR PERMANENT FUND. 
 
 Section i. Each person upon being notified by the Secretary of his 
 election to hereditary or honorary (Art. XIV., Sec. 2, par. b) membership, 
 shall pay into the treasury of the Society, for the Permanent Fund, within 
 six mouths after such notification is mailed, a sum equal, at least, to an 
 average of one month's pay of the commissioned officers of the Revolutionary 
 Army, which sum is hereby fixed at $150. This amount shall not be less 
 than $150, but may be increased for new members from time to time by the 
 Society at any annual or stated meeting. 
 
 Section 2. In its discretion and for satisfactory reasons the Society 
 or the Standing Committee may extend the time for paying the above 
 assessment to the Permanent Fund. 
 
 Section 3. After the prescribed assessment to the Permanent Fund 
 has been paid by a member, there shall be no further assessments against 
 him or his successors. 
 
 ARTICLE XVI. 
 
 PRINCIPLES OF INSTITUTION TO BE READ. 
 
 Section i. At either the annual or the stated meeting there shall be 
 read the Principles of the Institution of the Society of the Cincinnati, as 
 adopted by the Continental regular officers at the Cantonment of the Amer- 
 ican Army on the Hudson River on the loth and 13th days of May, and 
 19th day of June, 1783. 
 
 Section 2. The Declaration of Independence may then be read and 
 an appropriate Oration delivered. 
 
 Section 3. The Society may designate the Reader of the Declaration 
 of Independence and the Orator of the occasion, and in lieu thereof the 
 Standing Committee may do so. The "Reader" and the "Orator" need 
 not necessarily be members of the Society. 
 
 ARTICLE XVII. 
 
 MEMBERS TO DINE TOGETHER ANNUALLY. 
 
 Section i . The members of the Society shall dine together on the day 
 of the Annual Meeting, July 4th, or the Stated Meeting, May loth, in com- 
 
12 
 
 memoratiou of the Revolutionary Contest for Independence and the services 
 of the regular Continental Line, and Staff of the American Army and Navy, 
 and their Allies during that war. 
 
 Section 2. Members of other State Societies of the Cincinnati or 
 foreign members, shall be entitled to participate in this commemoration and 
 persons of distinction may be invited by the Society, or in lieu thereof, by 
 the Standing Committee. 
 
 Section 3. The oldest .son of each member shall be entitled to be 
 present. 
 
 ARTICLE XYIII. 
 
 MEMBERS' FUNERALS. 
 
 Section i. On the death of any member whatever of the Cincinnati 
 which may occur in Virginia, the Secretary shall announce the same in one 
 or more newspapers of Richmond, Va., and by other sufficient notice, pro- 
 vided the fact is made known to him in time, invite the members of this 
 vSociety to attend the obsequies, and designating the place and hour at 
 which they are to assemble. 
 
 Section 2. The procession is to be headed by the President and Vice- 
 President, the other members to form two and two, all wearing the insignia 
 of the Order, and customary badge of mourning. 
 
 Section 3. If agreeable to the family of the deceased the cofiBn will 
 be draped with the United States flag and the Society of the Cincinnati flag, 
 and the pall supported by six members of the Society. 
 
 ARTICLE XIX. 
 
 EXPULSION. 
 
 Section i. Should any member of the Society be impeached for 
 conduct inconsistent with that of a gentleman or man of honor, or by an 
 opposition to the interests of the community in general or the Society in 
 particular, may render himself unworthy to continue as a member, charges 
 in writing can be preferred against him when signed by not less than two 
 members. Such charges may be brought up at any regular meeting or a 
 special meeting when called for that purpose. 
 
 Section 2. By re.solution of a majority of the members present at such 
 meeting as above, a committee of three or more members shall be appointed 
 to inquire into and substantiate the facts, with all additional information 
 respecting the conduct of the accused member as may come up in the course 
 of their investigation, and this Committee shall make a full report in writing 
 to the next meeting of the Society, at which a three- filths vote shall decide 
 as to the expulsion or acquittal of the person so accused. The accused 
 person not to vote in each instance. 
 
13 
 
 Section 3. On the expulsion of any member, his name or appellation, 
 together with his profession or vocation, and place of residence, shall be 
 transmitted to the several State Societies. 
 
 ARTICLE XX. 
 
 TRANSACTIONS, MATTERS OF CONFIDENCE. 
 
 The members of the Society shall be considered bound in honor to keep 
 secret any matter offered in debate, or any individual opinion expressed, 
 respecting the admission, election or expulsion of a member. 
 
 ARTICLE XXL 
 
 MOTIONS. 
 
 Motions made at meetings of the Society and of the Standing Committee 
 shall not be entertained unless the same be seconded. The name of mover 
 and seconder need not be entered upon the minutes, unless desired by a 
 member, in which case it shall be done. All motions shall be submitted in 
 writing when desired by any member. 
 
 ARTICLE XXII. 
 
 INVESTMENTS — TRUSTEES. 
 
 Section i. All investments of the funds of the Society shall be in the 
 names of three (3) Trustees, and of the survivors of them as joint tenants. 
 
 Section 2. These three (3) Trustees are to be elected by the Society 
 annually on July 4th for the term of one year, and are to hold office until 
 their successors are duly elected and qualify. 
 
 Section 3. Whenever a vacancy shall occur in the office of any such 
 Trustee, the place shall be filled by the Society at its next annual meeting ; 
 but if at any time there be two vacancies, it .shall be the duty of the 
 Standing Committee forthwith to fill the same, which appointments shall be 
 valid until others are elected in their place by the Society. 
 
 Section 4. Immediately upon the election of ai;j' new Trustee or 
 Trustees, all the investments of the Society's funds shall be transferred to 
 the joint names of the then existing Trustees as joint tenants. 
 
 ARTICLE XXIII. 
 
 order of the society. 
 
 Section i. The order of the Cincinnati Society and the manner of 
 wearing it is hereby declared to be the same as adopted by the Founders of 
 the Society, on the 19th day of June, 1783, in the following words: 
 "Resolved, that the bald eagle, carrying the emblems on its breast, be 
 
14 
 
 established as the order of the Society, and that the ideas of Major L'Enfant 
 respecting it and the manner of its being worn by the members, be adopted. 
 That the order be of the same size, and in every other respect comformable to 
 the said design, which for that purpose is certified by the Baron de Steuben, 
 President of the Convention, and to be deposited in the archives of the 
 Society, as the original, from which all copies are to be made." 
 
 Section 2. The manner of wearing the order is to conform as nearly 
 as possible to Major L'Enfant's ideas as set forth in the institution. 
 
 Section 3. Nothing in Sections i and 2 is designed to interfere 
 with the use of existing Eagles now posses.sed by members of this Society 
 (many of which may have been handed down from original members), but is 
 intended to define the kind of Eagles that are to be furnished new members 
 in the future. 
 
 Section 4. The Order of the Society shall be worn on all occasions of 
 duty or ceremony where this Society or its members as Cincinnati shall par- 
 ticipate, as well as at the meetings of this Society. On other than official 
 occasions as Cincinnati, the members of this Society may wear on the left 
 lapel of their coat the prescribed ribbon of the Order, or in lieu thereof may 
 wear in a similar manner, a Rosette or Stafford knot of the prescribed ribbon, 
 but narrower pattern. 
 
 Section 5. The Order shall never be worn as au article of jewelry. 
 
 ARTICLE XXIV. 
 
 diploma. 
 
 vSection I. Each member, upon his election and qualification as such, 
 shall be entitled to receive a diploma or certificate of membership engraved 
 on parchment, to be signed by the President of the Society and counter- 
 signed by the Secretary, for which he shall pay the Treasurer the sum of 
 five dollars. The fee thus paid shall be for the use of the Society and be 
 considered a part of the revenue for the current year. 
 
 Section 2. The form and wording of the diploma shall be as follows, 
 with design similar to the original diploma issued by the General Society : 
 
 THE SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI IN THE STATE OF 
 
 VIRGINIA. 
 Greeting : 
 
 Be it known. That 
 the of , 
 
 whose service in the War of the Revolution was 
 
 is, by virtue of a resolution of 
 
 the Society of the Cinciiniati in the State of Virginia, passed on the 
 
 day of , 19 , 
 
15 
 a duly admitted member of the 
 
 (Hereditan- or Honoraiy) 
 
 Society of the Cincinnati, instituted by the officers of the American 
 Army of the Revolution at the period of its dissolution in 1783, as well 
 to commemorate the great event which gave Independence to the United 
 States of America, as for the laudable purpose of inculcating the 
 Duty of laying down in Peace arms assumed for public defense, and 
 uniting in acts of brothery Affection and Bonds of perpetual Friendship 
 the members constituting the same. 
 
 In Testimony Whereof, the Society of the Cincinnati in 
 
 the State of Virginia has caused these Presents to 
 
 be signed by its President, countersigned by its 
 
 Secretary, and the seal of the Society to be affixed at 
 
 [seal.] Richmond, in the State of Virginia, this 
 
 day of , in the year of our 
 
 Lord, One Thousand Nine Hundred and , 
 
 and in the One Hundred and Year 
 
 of the Independence of the X/nited States. 
 
 By order 
 
 President. 
 
 Secretary. 
 ARTICLE XXV. 
 
 SEAL. 
 
 Section i. The Society shall have a Seal two inches in diameter and 
 which shall comprise thereon the insignia of the Order, viz. : An eagle dis- 
 played, bearing on its breast the obverse of the medal of the Society ; around 
 this the words ''Omnia Rcliquit Scrvare Rcinpiib/icain." Above, thirteen 
 stars in a semicircle ; beneath, on a scroll, the motto of the Society, " Esto 
 Perpetua." Round the whole, the legend "Society of the Cincinnati in the 
 State of Virginia, Instituted 1783." 
 
 Section 2. Whenever documents and proceedings of the Society 
 require to be duly authenticated they shall be signed by the President, or 
 Vice-President in his absence, and attested by the Secretary or the assistant 
 to the Secretary, and the seal of the Society shall be affixed. 
 
 ARTICLE XXVI. 
 
 SUSPENSION OF BY-LAWS. 
 
 These By-Laws may be suspended only at an annual or stated meeting 
 of the Society by the unanimous consent of all the members present. 
 
i6 
 
 ARTICLE XXVII. 
 
 AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS. 
 
 These By-L,aws may be altered or amended, or a new By-Law made only 
 by consent of three-quarters of the members present at any meeting of the 
 Society, the call for which shall state the substance of the alterations, amend- 
 ments or new By-Laws proposed, and be mailed to each member of the 
 Society at his last recorded address by registered mail not later than one 
 month before the meeting. 
 
 ARTICLE XXVIII. 
 
 ORDER OF BUSINESS. 
 
 1. Roll Call. Secretary may call the roll. 
 
 2. Prayer by Chaplain. 
 
 3. Reading Minutes of previous meetings, also of Standing Committee. 
 
 4. Reading the Principals of the Institution. 
 
 5. Communications. 
 
 6. Reports. 
 
 1. Officers. 
 
 2. Standing Committee. 
 
 3. Special Committees. 
 
 4. Applications for Membership. 
 
 7. Election of Members. 
 
 8. Nominations and election of Officers, Chaplain, Assistant to 
 
 Secretary, Standing Committee, Delegates and Alternates to 
 the General Society, Member of the Standing Executive Com- 
 mittee of the General Society, Member of the Committee 
 on Nominations of General Officers in the General Society, 
 Trustees, Nominating Committee, 
 g. Stated Business. 
 
 10. Unfinished Business. 
 
 1 1. New Business. 
 
 12. Adjournment. 
 
 ARTICLE XXIX. 
 
 TIME OF MEETINGS. 
 
 Whenever the Society or Standing Committee shall not have designated 
 the hour for assembly at any annual, stated, or special meeting, it shall be 
 held at 12 o'clock, noon, or as soon thereafter as practicable, and in default 
 of naming a place, it .shall be held in the Cit)' of Richmond, Va.