[Keep for Reference.] \ o : CHARTEI^ OF THE AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS. WITH ADDITIONAL ENACTMENTS, AND BY-LAWS. KOX OF4 INOORF>OF2KTION. CommxjitbEHll!^ of piasBacbnselta. In the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twelve: An Act to Incorporate the American Board of Com¬ missioners for Foreign Missions. Whereas William Bartlett and others have been associated under the name of the American Board of Commissioners for foreign Missions, for the purpose of propagating the Gospel in heathen lands, by supporting Missionaries and diffusing a knowledge of the holy scriptures, and have prayed to be incorporated in order more effectually to promote the laudable object of their association. Sec. I. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa¬ tives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, that William Bartlett Esq. and Samuel Spring D.D. both of New- buryport, Joseph Lyman D.D. of Hatfield, Jedediah Morse D.D. of Charlestown, Samuel Worcester D.D. of Salem, the Hon. William Phillips Esq. of Boston and the honble John Hooker Esq. of Springfield, and their associates be and they hereby are incorpora¬ ted and made a body politic by the name of of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and by that name may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, appear, prosecute, and de¬ fend, to final judgment and execution ; and in their said corporate capacity they, and their successors forever, may take, receive have and hold in fee simple or otherwise, lands, tenements, and heredit¬ aments, by gift, grant, devise, or otherwise not exceeding the yearly value of Four thousand dollars, and may also take and hold by donation bequest or otherwise, personal estate to an amount the yearly income of which shall not exceed eight thousand dollars; so that the estate aforesaid shall be faithfully appropriated for the 2 purpose and object aforesaid and not otherwise. And the said Corporation shall have power to sell convey, exchange or lease all or any part of their lands, tenements or other property for the ben¬ efit of their funds; and may have a common seal which they may alter or renew at jjleasure. Provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall enable the said Corporation or any person or per¬ sons, as trustees for, or for the use of, said Corporation to receive and hold any gift, grant, legacy, or bequest, heretofore given, or be¬ queathed to any person or persons in trust for said Board, unless such person or persons could by law have taken and holden the same if this act had not passed. Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, that the said Board may annually choose from among themselves, by ballot, a l^resident, a Vice President, and a Prudential Committee; and, also from among themselves, or or others, a Corresponding Secretary, a Recording Secretary, a Treasurer, an Auditor, and such other officers as they may deem expedient, all of whom shall hold their offices until others are chosen to succeed them, and shall have such powers & per¬ form such duties as the said Board may order and direct; and in case of vacancy by death, resignation or otherwise, the vacancy may in like manner 'J 5 e filled at any legal Meeting of the said Board. And the said Treasurer shall give Bond with sufficient surety or sureties, in the judgmeni of the Board, or the Prudential Committee, for the faithful discharge of the duties of his office. Sec. 3. Be it further enacted. That all contracts and deeds which the said Board may lawfully make and execute, signed by the chairman of said Prudential Committee, and countersigned by their clerk (whom they are hereby authorized to appoint) and sealed with the common seal of said Corporation, shall be valid in Law to all intents and purposes. Sec. 4. Be it further enacted. That the first annual meeting of said Board shall be on the third Wednesday of September next, at such place as the said William Bartlett may appoint; and the present officers of said Board shall continue in office until others are elected. Sec. 5. Be it further enacted. That the said Board, at the first annual meeting aforesaid, or at any subsequent annual meeting, may elect by ballot any suitable persons to be Members of said Board, either to supply vacancies, or in addition to their present number. Sec. 6. Be it further enacted. That the said Board shall have power to make such bye-laws, rules, and regulations, for calling fu¬ ture meetings of said Board, and for the Management of their con¬ cerns, as they shall deem expedient, provided the same are not repugnant to the laws of this Commonwealth. Sec. 7. Be it further enacted. That one quarter part of the annual income from the funds of said Board shall be faithfully ap¬ propriated to defray the expence of imparting the Holy Scriptures to unevangelized nations in their own languages. Provided, that nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to defeat the express intentions of any testator, or donor, who shall give or bequeath money to promote the great purposes of the Board. Pro¬ vided also, that nothing herein contained shall be so construed so 3 as to restrict said Board from appropriating more than one quarter of said income to translating and distributing the Scriptures when¬ ever they shall deem it advisable. Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, That not less than one third of said Board shall at all times be composed of respectable layman, and that not less than one third of said Board shall be composed of respecta\)le clergymen, the remaining third to be composed of characters of the same description, whether clergymen or laymen. Sec. 9. Be it further enacted. That the Legislature of this Com¬ monwealth shall at any time have the right to inspect, by a Com¬ mittee of their own body, the doings, funds, and proceedings of the said Corporation, and may at their pleasure alter or annul any or all of the powers herein granted. In the House of Representatives. June 19th 1812. This bill having had three several readings passed to be enacted. Timothy Bigelow. Speaker. In Senate. June 20th. 1812. This bill having had two several readings passed to be enacted. Samuel Dana, President. June 20th. 1812. By the Governor, Approved. Caleb Strong. Chap. 185. COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. In the year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty-three. An Act in addition to an Act to incorporate the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: Section i. The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions are hereby authorized to take, receive, have and hold, in fee simple or otherwise, lands, tenements or heredita¬ ments, by gift, grants or otherwise, for the purposes of their or¬ ganization not exceeding the yearly value of thirty thousand dol¬ lars, and may also take and hold by donation, bequest or otherwise, personal estate to an amount the yearly income of which shall not exceed fifty thousand dollars, anything in their act of incorporation to the contrary notwithstanding. Section 2. Said American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions shall not be under obligation, by reason of the seventh 4 section of their act of incorporation, to appropriate any part of the income of their funds to defray the expense of imparting the holy scriptures to unevangelized nations in their own languages, unless they shall deem it advisable so to do, or shall be so required by the express terms of any grant, donation or bequest made to them. Section 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage. House of Representatives. April 25, 1863. Passed to be enacted. Alex. II. Bullock. Speaker. In Senate. April 25, 1863. Passed to be enacted. J. E. Field, President. April 27th, 1863. Approved. John A. Andrew. Chap. 185. COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACPIUSETTS. In the year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty-six. An Act in addition to “ an Act to incorporate the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.” Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authoritv of the same, as follows: Section i. All contracts and deeds which the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions may lawfully make and execute, signed by the treasurer thereof, he having first been duly authorized so to do, by a vote of the Prudential Committee of said Board, and sealed with the common seal of said Corporation, shall be valid in law to all intents and purposes. Section 2. So much of the third section of the Act to incorporate said Board, passed the twentieth day of June in the year eighteen hundred and twelve, as is inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, is hereby repealed. Section 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage. House of Representatives. April 20, 1866. Passed to be enacted. James M. Stone, Speaker. In Senate. April 24, 1866. Passed to be enacted. Joseph A. Pond, President. April 25, 1866. Approved, Alex. H. Bullock. 5 Chap. 23. COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. In the year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty. An Act to enable the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions to hold additional real and personal estate. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: Section i. The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions is hereby authorized to take and hold in fee simple, or otherwise, lands, tenements, or hereditaments, by gift, grant, or otherwise, for the purposes for which they were incorporated, not exceeding one million dollars; and may also take and hold by donation, bequest, or otherwise, personal estate to an amount not exceeding two million dollars, anything in its act of incorporation or in subsequent acts amending the same to the contrary not¬ withstanding. Sec. 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage. House of Representatives, February 16, 1880. Passed to be enacted. Chas. J. Noyes, Speaker. In Senate, February 18, 1880. Passed to be enacted. Robert R. Bishop, President. February 18, 1880. Approved. John D. Long. Chap. 343. COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. In the year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty-eight. An Act in addition to an Act to incorporate the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows : Section i. The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions is hereby authorized to hold its meetings in any State or Territory of the United States and in the District of Columbia. Sec. 2. All acts and proceedings of the said corporation at any meeting hitherto held in any part of the United States are hereby ratified and confirmed, and shall have the same validity and force as though said meeting had been held within this Commonwealth, 6 Sec. 3- This act shall take effect upon its passage. House of Representatives, May ii, 1888. Passed to be enacted. Charles J. Noyes, Speaker. In Senate, May 14, 1888. Passed to be enacted. Halsey J. Boardman, President. May 15, 1888. Approved. Oliver Ames. The following Act was passed by the Legislature of the State of New York, June 2, 1877: STATE OF NEW YORK. Chap. 376. An Act in relation to “ The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.” I'he People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows : Section 1. The Corporation created by the laws of the State of Massachusetts, and known by the name and style of “The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions,” shall be capable of taking by gift, devise, or bequest, any real or per¬ sonal property, and may hold and convey the same for the uses and purposes of the said corporation, provided, that the annual income of the real estate so held by the said corporation in the State of New York, at any one time, shall not exceed the sum of twenty thousand dollars. Sec. 2. This act shall take effect immediately. COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. In the year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety-four. An Act relative to the Terms of Office of the Prudential Committee of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows : Section i. The members of the Prudential Committee of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions may be elected for a term of one year, or for a longer term, as said corporation by its By-laws shall from time to time determine. Sec. 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage. House of Representatives, March 16, 1894. Passed to be enacted. G. V. L. Meyer, Speaker. In Senate, March 19, 1894. Passed to be enacted. William M. Butler, President. March 20, 1894. Approved. F. T. Greenhalge. BY-LAWS Adopted October 5, 18S8, and Amended October 10, i8go. October J2, i 8 gj, and October 12 and Jj, j 8 g 4 . I. Object of the Board. 1. The object of the Board is to propagate the gos¬ pel among unevangelized nations and commuijities, by means of preachers, teachers, Bible readers, other help¬ ers and the press. II. Membership. 2. Corporate Members. The Corporate Members of the Board, according to the Act of Incorporation, must be elected by ballot, and only at the annual meetings; and not less than one third of these must be laymen, and not less than one third clergymen. 3. Number. There shall be an increase of the mem¬ bership of the Board from year to year as hereinafter provided, until it shall reach the number of three hundred and fifty. 4. Apportionment. In supplying deficiencies, or fill¬ ing vacancies, regard shall be had to a distribution of members among the several States, in some proportion to the contributions from the States. But the number of members from the Western States shall be fifty per cent, more than they would be entitled to on the score of contributions. 5. Committee to Nominate New Members. At each annual meeting a committee of seven on new members, three of whom shall have served in that capacity the previous year, shall be appointed by the President sub¬ ject to the approval of the Board, whose duty it shall be to recommend to the meeting next ensuing the names of persons deemed suitable for election as Corporate Members to fill vacancies caused by death or resigna- 8 tion, with the addition, beginning with the year 1894, of twenty-five others, until the total number of mem¬ bers shall have reached three hundred and fifty. 6. Duties of Members. Inasmuch as membership in this corporation is not an honor merely, but is a trust which cannot be discharged without labor and sacri¬ fice ; therefore, every member shall be considered as pledged to perform its duties, and especially to be a constant attendant at the meetings of the Board, when¬ ever such attendance is possible. Absentees are ex¬ pected to send to the Recording Secretary letters giving the reasons for their absence. 7. Correspondmg Members. Clergymen and laymen residing in foreign lands may be elected by ballot Cor¬ responding Members of the Board, who, although not officially obliged to attend its meetings, yet when pres¬ ent may assist in its deliberations, and may at other times and in other ways promote its objects. 8. Honorary Members. Clergymen on paying fifty dollars, and other persons on paying one hundred dol¬ lars, at any one time, shall be entitled to the privilege of attending the meetings of the Board, and of assist¬ ing in its deliberations as Honorary Members. 9. Rights of Members. The right of voting is limited by the Act of Incorporation to Corporate Members; but Corresponding and Honorary Members may par¬ ticipate freely in discussions and in service on com¬ mittees. 10. Certificates. The certificates of membership for Corporate and Corresponding Members shall be signed by the President and Recording Secretary of the Board, and those for Honorary Members by the President and Treasurer. HI. Officers of the Board. 11. Officers. The officers of the Board shall be a President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Assist¬ ant Recording Secretary; a Prudential Committee con¬ sisting of the President and Vice-President, ex officio^ and twelve other persons; three Corresponding Sec¬ retaries, an Editorial Secretary, a Treasurer, and three 9 Auditors. These officers shall be chosen by ballot annually, except that, beginning with the year 1894, the twelve members of the Prudential Committee shall be elected in three classes of four each : one class to serve three years, one class to serve two years, one class one year; and at the expiration of these sev¬ eral terms members shall be chosen in classes for terms of three years each. No member who has served upon the Committee for three full successive terms shall be eligible for reelection till after a year has passed. All officers shall discharge the duties for which they were elected until others are ap¬ pointed to succeed them, except that the Recording Secretaries shall hold office until the close of the annual meeting at which their successors are chosen. 12. J'he President, It shall be the duty of the Presi¬ dent, and in his absence, of the Vice-President, to pre¬ side at each meeting of the Board, and to perform such official acts, either during the session of the Board, or at any other time, as shall be assigned to him by any by-law or vote of the Board. In the absence of both the President and Vice-President, the meeting shall be called to order by the senior member present, and a presiding officer shall be immediately chosen for the session. 13. The Recording Officers. The Recording Secretary shall keep accurate minutes of the proceedings of the Board, and enter the same in a book of records, and certify all such doings of the Board as are to be known only by an inspection of the records. He shall make oath to the faithful performance of his duties. The Assistant Recording Secretary shall render such help as may be needed ; and shall become Recording Secre¬ tary in cas'e that office shall become vacant during the year. 14. The PrudeJitial Committee. The Prudential Com¬ mittee may fix the number of its own quorum for the transaction of business. Notices of all meetings shall be given to each member in such manner as the Committee shall direct by a general rule. It shall be the duty of the Corresponding Secretaries and Treas- lO iirer, although not members, to attend its meetings and assist in its deliberations. One of the members of the Committee, or one of the Secretaries of the Board, shall be appointed clerk of the Committee, who shall keep a full record of its do¬ ings, and sign all its official acts. The records above described shall be always open to the inspection of the Board. It shall be the duty of the Prudential Committee to carry into effect all resolutions and orders of the Board, the execution of which shall not have been assigned to some othe*r committee; to receive and act upon any matter submitted to the Committee by the Treasurer or either of the Corresponding Secretaries; to cause the more inviting fields for missionary enterprise to be explored; to appoint the places where missions shall be attempted, and to determine the scale upon which they shall be conducted, and to superintend them ; to appoint, instruct, and direct all the missionaries of the Board; to prescribe where the Treasurer shall deposit the moneys of the Board, and the times and modes of investments and remittances ; to authorize the payment of moneys from the treasury; to ascertain the state of the treasury at least twice a year, and as much oftener as they see cause ; to appoint business agents and other agents at home and abroad, with such powers and duties as they may think are demanded by the best interests of missions ; and generally, to perform all duties necessar}’’, in their opinion, to promote the objects of the Board; provided the same shall not be contrary to any resolu¬ tion or by-law of the Board, nor to the Act of Incorpora¬ tion. They shall annually elect a chairman, who shall keep the bond of the Treasurer. For the purpose of bringing the whole annual report of the Prudential Committee under the distinct consid¬ eration of the Board, previous to its acceptance, it shall be prepared in such a form that on presenting it to the Board the several leading parts of it may be referred to different committees. The Prudential Committee shall also cause to be printed, in connection with their annual report, an abstract of the Treasurer’s accounts, and such other documents as they judge proper to be included in that publication. 15. Corresponding Secf'etaries, The Corresponding Secretaries shall act for the Board in conducting its written correspondence, both foreign and domestic, except what relates immediately to the Treasurer’s department, and they shall supervise official publica¬ tions of the Board ; dividing their duties between the foreign and the home department, under the advice and with the concurrence of the Prudential Committee. The Secretaries to whom, at any time, is assigned the foreign department shall have the immediate charge and supervision of the foreign field; shall keep the Pruden¬ tial Committee informed of the condition and needs of the several missions; shall present to the Committee, for its consideration and approval, careful statements of all business relating to the work under their care respec¬ tively, and when any missionary or assistant missionary under appointment desires a personal interview with the Prudential Committee shall present to that Committee his request. They shall also perform such other duties as the Board or the Prudential Committee shall direct. The Secretaries to whom, at any time, the home de¬ partment is assigned shall endeavor to promote a mis¬ sionary spirit at home, and to secure, from the churches and the friends of missions, the missionaries and means required for the support and constant enlargement of the work abroad, in order to a speedy promulgation of the gospel throughout the world. They shall present to the Prudential Committee the names of all persons making written application for appointment to mission¬ ary service, and such information as, in accordance with the by-laws and other instructions of the Board, they have obtained in regard to their qualifications for such appointment; and, when any candidate desires a per¬ sonal interview with the Prudential Committee, shall present to that Committee his request. They shall also perform such other duties as the Board or the Pruden¬ tial Committee shall direct. All applications for appointment to missionary service shall be addressed to the Corresponding Secretaries of the Board. In all cases the communications received 12 by the Secretaries shall forthwith, without further cor¬ respondence on doctrinal matters, be presented to the Prudential Committee. In case the Committee desires further scrutiny into the theological opinions of the can¬ didate, they may address to him such supplementary questions as appear to them important, and if further light shall be needed this shall be had through an inter¬ view with the Committee as a body, or in case this, in any special instance, is not practicable, with a sub-com¬ mittee appointed by them from their own number, con¬ sisting, in part, of laymen. At such theological exami¬ nation by the Committee or sub-committee the doors shall be open for the presence of any members of the Board, or personal friends of the candidate. The duties of the Editorial Secretary shall be to prepare and edit such publications of the Board as shall be assigned to him. 16. The Treasurer. It shall be the duty of the Treas¬ urer to take the charge of all moneys paid into the treasury of the Board, and to give receipts therefor; to keep safely all the funds and moneys of the Board, and all notes, bonds, deeds, and other evidences of prop¬ erty ; to keep fair and accurate accounts of all moneys received and expended; to make out annually a state¬ ment of receipts and payments, and of the condition of the several permanent funds, for the information of the Board; to invest and deposit moneys, and make remit¬ tances and payments, according to the direction of the Board or of the Prudential Committee; to exhibit his books, accounts, vouchers, and evidences of property, whenever required, to the Board, the Prudential Com¬ mittee, or the Auditors ; to conduct the correspondence relating immediately to his department, and perform such other acts as are necessary to the faithful execu¬ tion of the duties of his office. He shall give bonds therefor in such sum as the Prudential Committee shall determine. The Prudential Committee shall appoint an Assistant Treasurer in case of the disability of the Treasurer, and he shall give bonds in such sum as may be determined by the Prudential Committee. 17. The Auditors. It shall be the duty of the Audi¬ tors to examine the books of the Treasurer, thoroughly 13 and particularly, at least once a year; and if they shall find the accounts correctly kept and accurately cast, the payments well vouched, the balance satisfactorily stated and accounted for, and the evidences of property duly exhibited, to give their certificate accordingly; which certificate they shall enter at large in the Treasurer’s books, and deposit a duplicate thereof with the Record¬ ing Secretary, to be by him entered in his book of rec¬ ords. They shall have authority at any time to employ an expert in the particular examination of the accounts. 18. District Secretaries and Librarian. There shall be appointed by the Prudential Committee a Librarian, who shall have charge of the library and cabinet. There shall also be such other persons appointed by the Prudential Committee, as it shall deem expe¬ dient, to act in particular districts of country as District Secretaries or General Agents; whose duty it shall be, within their respective fields, to cooperate with the pastors of churches, with ecclesiastical bod¬ ies, with the Corresponding Secretaries, and the Aux¬ iliaries of the Board, and with the other friends of missions, in promoting a missionary spirit and in draw¬ ing out the resources of the Christian community for the vigorous prosecution of the work. These shall be ex officio Honorary Members of the Board. IV. Meetings of the Board. 19. Annual Date. The annual meeting of the Board shall begin on the first Tuesday of October at three o’clock in the afternoon, unless the Board shall have otherwise ordered. 20. Power to Change. If, in the opinion of the Pru¬ dential Committee, it shall at any time be highly inex¬ pedient to meet at the place or the time appointed for any annual meeting, the Prudential Committee is au¬ thorized to appoint some other time or place for such meeting, by publishing a notice of such change in such religious and secular newspapers as it may deem expe¬ dient, and sending a notice to each Corporate Member of the Board. 21. Opening the Session. The first, and each subse¬ quent, session shall be opened with prayer and such 14 other devotional services as the presiding officer shall think proper. 2 2. Readiug of Records. The business of the annual meeting sliall begin with the reading of the material parts of the journal of the annual meeting next preced¬ ing, and of any intervening special meeting; and at the opening of every morning session the journal of the pre¬ ceding day shall be read in full. 23. Appoinbnefit of Co 77 imittees. During the first ses¬ sion of every annual meeting the President shall ap>- point subject, except as to the Committee of Nomina¬ tions, to the approval of the Board : (1) A Committee of Arrangements for the meeting. (2) A Business Committee, to which shall be referred, without debate, all propositions submitted to the Board, excepting such as are contained in reports duly made, or motions growing out of such reports. Upon the appointment of the Business Committee, the time and place of the meetings of said Committee, on each day, shall be announced, and during the successive morning sessions the said Committee shall be called upon to make any report which it may desire to offer. (3) A Committee of Nomination, consisting of five persons, whose duty it shall be to nominate the follow^- ing committees ; namely : {a) on rhe Treasurer’s Report of the next following year, to each member of which Committee an early copy of that report shall be sent by the Treasurer; {f) on the different parts of the Prudential Committee’s Report; (f) on the Place and Preacher (with alternate) for the next Meeting; and {d) on Officers of the Board; said Committee of Nom¬ ination to make its report before or at the close of the next business session, submitting its nominations for approval or rejection by the Board. All other committees shall be appointed by the Presi¬ dent subject to the approval of the Board. 24. Annual Serfnon. There shall be an annual ser¬ mon preached before the Board on the evening of the first day by some person or alternate appointed the precedingyear. Should both be prevented from preach¬ ing, the Prudential Committee is authorized to procure a preacher. The alternate not called upon to preach shall be first on the list of candidates at the succeeding anniversary. 25. The LorTs Supper. At each annual meeting, unless peculiar circumstances should render it inexpe¬ dient, the Board will unite with their fellow Christians in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper; and such cele¬ bration shall take place in the afternoon of the third day (Thursday) of the session. 26. Special Meetmgs. It shall be the duty of the President, or, in case of his death or disability, of the Vice-President, to cause a special meeting to be called, through the Recording Secretary or one of the Cor¬ responding Secretaries, on the written application of the Prudential Committee or any twenty-five Corporate Members of the Board. The time and place for hold¬ ing the meeting shall be such as the officer who calls such special meeting shall appoint. On receiving an application as above described, the officer to whom the same is directed shall cause a seasonable notice of the time and place of meeting to be sent to each member, and also cause a notice of the same to be published in such religious and secular newspapers as he may deem expedient. 27. Adjourned Meetings. In the case of an adjourned meeting the Recording Secretary shall give suitable notice as provided for a special meeting. 28. Qiiorum. The number of Corporate Members necessary for transacting business at any meeting of the Board shall be thirty. V. Rules of Order. 29. The President shall decide all questions of order, subject to an appeal to the Board, and he may speak on such questions in preference to other members. 30. The President shall declare all votes; but if the correctness of his decision shall be questioned, he shall order a count of the persons voting, who shall rise for the purpose. 31. In case any person shall feel aggrieved by the refusal of the Business Committee to report on a matter referred to it, he shall be entitled to move that the Com¬ mittee be instructed to report. i6 32. Wlien a Committee to whom any matter may have been referred shall recommend any specihe action to the lioard (other than an order to print the Prudential Committee’s Report), or shall desire the Hoard to ap¬ prove or adopt the sentiments or statements of such report, such proposed action shall always be embodied in resolutions. Upon all reports the question will be, Shall the report of your Committee be accepted } which, if carried, receives the report from the Committee. The question shall then be. Shall the resolutions recom¬ mended by the Committee be adopted ^ If no resolu¬ tions are appended, the report, after acceptance, will be placed on tile. 33. W’hen a question is under debate the President shall receive motions only to adjourn, to lay on the table, to postpone to a time certain, to commit, to amend, or to postpone indefinitely, which several mo¬ tions shall have precedence in the forejjoing order. The Board may, however, fix a time, not less than one hour after the vote is adopted, when debate on any subject shall cease; and it may by vote at any time, without debate, limit the time of each speaker. 34. Motions to adjourn, to lay on the table, and for the yeas and nays, shall be taken without debate. 35. Every motion shall be reduced to writing if the President so direct. 36. No member shall speak more than once on the same question to the exclusion of any one who has not spoken, and never more than twice without the consent of the Board. 37. Y^as and iVays. When any member shall ask that a question be determined by yeas and nays the President shall accede to such request, provided one fifth of the members present agree therewith. VI. Method of Amendment. 38. These By-laws may be amended at any annual meeting by a two-thirds vote, notice of the proposed amendment having been presented in wrjting twenty- four hours previous, and any By-law may be suspended for the immediate occasion by unanimous consent.