Constitution, By-Laws and Rules of Order OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ARMY NURSES OF THE CIVIL WAR, 1861-1865 Tarn RBPTTBI^tCAN PRIKT BROOKVIIiLK, PA. am £jS80cmt.ior s. PIIEFACE OR PREAMBLE. The National Association of Nurses of the Civil War was formed at Washington, D. C, in September, 1892, by Mrs. Addie L. Ballon, of San Francisco, Cal., who was elected National President of the Associa- tion, and the time and place of meet- ing was fixed as that of the National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic, each year. Mrs. Ballou, on account of the two following encampments being held at too great a distance from her home, was unable to be present and no meeting of the Association was held until September 13, 1895, when Mrs. Emily E. Woodley, of Philadelphia, called the nurses together who were present at the G. A. R. Encampment at Louisville, Kentucky, and reorgan- ized the Association. Mrs. Woodley was elected National President, and was authorized to take out a charter and register the same. This Associa- tion was to be known as The Veteran Nurses of the Civil War, being reor- ganized September 13, 1895, at Louisville, Kentucky, The Association adopted a consti- tution and By-Laws which were sub- scribed to by Mrs. Emily E. Woodley, Philadelphia; Mrs. Sarah K. Clark, Winona, Minn.; Mrs. Elizabeth Chap- man, East St. Louis, 111.; Mrs. Mar- garet Mackey, Milwaukee, Wis.; Mrs. Katharine Lawrence, Albany, N. Y. ; Mrs. Elizabeth Ewing, Phoenixville, Pa.; Mrs. Eleanor Ransom, Los An- geles, Cal. ; Mrs. Harriet P. Abend, Zumbrota, Minn. These ladies are all deceased ex- cept Mrs. Chapman and Mrs. Ran- som. At the National Convention held at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., in 19 07, it was decided by vote of the Associa- tion that the Constitution and By- Laws adopted at Louisville in 1895, should be revised and amended, but nothing was done in the matter until the Convention met in 1908 at To- ledo, Ohio, when a committee was ap- pointed by the convention to carry out the resolution of the Association. Miss Kate M. Scott, Brookville, Pa., Miss Cornelia Hancock, Philadelphia, Pa., and Mrs. Emily Alder, Clarion, lawa, toeing named as said committee, have gone over the original docu- ment carefully, eliminating all unnec- essary and superfluous Articles and Sections thereof, and adding such new ones, as, in their judgment, the work and needs of the Association demand. CONSTITUTION. ARTICLE I. Name. This organization shall be known as the National Association of Army Nurses of the Civil War. ARTICLE II. Object. The primary object of the Associa- tion is to band ourselves together so- cialiy and fraternally, to aid our fel- low nurses in obtaining pensions and do all in our power for their welfare. It shall not be auxiliary to any other order or organization — owing allegi- ance only to the Grand Army of the the Republic. ARTICLE III. Eligibility. Section 1. Only those nurses shall be admitted to membership who can give proof of their identity, and of service of not less than three months, as a regularly enlisted or volunteer nurse during the Civil War. Section 2. All applications for membership must be endorsed by the Commander and Adjutant of the ap- plicant's nearest Post of the Grand Army. Section 3. The Association shall meet each year at the same time and place as that of the Grand Army of the Republic National Encampment. 7 ARTICLE IV. 5fembership Fees and Dues. Section 1. The fee to be paid for admission to membership shall be one dollar and seventy-five cents, includ- ing badge and certificate of member- ship, and one dollar annual dues, to be paid in advance. Section 2. A member who is in arrears for more than one year shall not be privileged to vote upon any question before the Association, or for election of officers until such dues are paid. ARTICLE V. Election of Officers. Section 1. The National Officers of the Association shall consist of President, Senior Vice President, Junior Vice President, Treasurer, Chaplain, Conductor and Guard. Section 2. No member shall be nominated for presiding officer un- s less present at the time, and all offi- cers shall be elected by ballot. Section 3. The National President shall appoint the Secretary, Coun- selor, Surgeon and Department Presi- dents. ARTICLE VI. Committees. Section 1. The President shall ap- point an Auditing Committee, whose duty it shall be to audit the accounts of the Secretary and Treasurer, and report as the President may direct. Section 2. The Executive Com- mittee shall consist of the officers of the Association and its past Presi- dents, Section 3. The first named mem- ber of any Committee is always its Chairman. BY-LAWS. ARTICLE I. Section 1. The National President shall preside at the National Conven- 9 tions and announce the decisions of the Association on all matters brought before it. She shall decide all questions of order without debate, subject to an appeal from the ruling of the chair. She shall appoint all Committees not otherwise provided for, issue General Orders, and con- fer with the National Officers of the Grand Army of the Republic upon all matters between the two organi- zations. Senior Vice President. Section 2. In the absence of the President she shall fill the chair, and perform the duties of the President. Junior Vice President. Section 3. In the absence of the Senior Vice President she shall fill her place, and if both be absent she shall fill the chair of the President. Secretary. Section 4. The Secretary shall keep a properly prepared journal in which shall be recorded all business brought before the Convention, draw 10 all orders upon the Treasurer for money paid out. She shall forward all General Orders, keep a roster of the Association, with date of mem- hership, death or discharge, and as- sist the President as she may direct. Treasurer. Section 5. The Treasurer shall collect and hold the funds of the As- sociation, giving bond to such amount as the Association shall determine. Pay all orders drawn by the Secretary and attested by the President, and keep a strict account of all moneys received and disbursed. All dues must be paid to the Treasurer. Chaplain. Section 6. The Chaplain shall as- sist In all the devotional exercises of the Association, prepare a memorial report of all deceased members, and assist at the installation of officers. Conductor. Section 7. The Conductor shall see that all present at the sessions of the Convention have the National 11 badge, which each member is re- quired to wear unless excused by the Association. She shall introduce all visitors to the presiding officer and assist as the President may direct. Guard. Section 8. The Guard shall at- tend the door, admit none without the pass word (which is to be given by the President) and announce all visitors to the presiding officer. Department Presidents. Section 9. The duty of the De- partment Presidents shall be to seek out the nurses in her Department, as- sist them in procuring pensions, and acquaint those not members of the National Association of the work it is doing for all nurses of the Civil War. ARTICLE II. Section 1. All communications, petitions and memorials, should be sent to the Secretary, and after being 12 read can be discussed and disposed of as the Convention may decide. Section 2. Only women of good moral character will be admitted to the Association, and if a member is convicted of dishonorable conduct she will be dropped from its rolls. Rules of Order. 1. The National President shall call the Convention to order, the offi- cers and members taking their re- spective stations, when the Chaplain will lead in devotional exercises. 2. The presiding officer will then state that the meeting is ready for such business as may properly come before it. 3. Members when speaking, will address the President, confine them- selves to the question under discus- sion, avoiding all personalities. No member can speak twice upon a question unless by vote of Conven- tion. 4. If two or more members rise to speak at the same time the Chair 13 shall decide which is entitled to the floor. 5. A motion to lay on the table is always in order. 6. A motion to adjourn is always in order after the general business is finished, which motion shall be de- cided without debate. 7. No member shall be inter- rupted when speaking except by a call to order. 8. All members for whom enter- tainment is provided at the National Encampment are expected to attend the meetings of the Convention. KATE M. SCOTT, CORNELIA HANCOCK, EMILY ALDER, Committee on Revision. Approved — REBECCA S. SMITH, National President. CLARISSA F. DYE, National Counselor.