YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

(Jong Island Historical Society.
By-Laws and Certificate of Incorporation.
1863.

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THE

BY-LAWS

Certificate of Incorporation,

OF THE

Long Island Historical Society.

BROOKLYN:
PRINTED FOE THE SOCIETY.
M DCCC I.XIII.

LONG ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

At a meeting of the Board of Directors, held on the 12th of November,
1863, it was
Besofoed, That one thousand copies of the Certificate of Incorporation, By-
Laws, List of Members, etc., be published and distributed, under the direc
tion of the Chairman of the Executive Committee and the Librarian.
Attest, A. COOKE HULL,
Recording Secretary.

'¦The Union" Steam Pi-rises, 10 Front Street,

LONG ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY,
1863.

IJusittttri,
J. CARSON BREVOORT.
JOHN GREENWOOD.
Sttonb Wxa-^xmiimt,
CHARLES E. WEST.
foreign Corasponbittg Skraiarg,
HENRY C. MURPHY.
fionw Corasjjanbmg fwraiarg,
JOHN WINSLOW.
"§,ztaMn% Seaeisrg,
A. COOKE HULL.
feasura,
CHARLES CONGDON.
librarian,
HENRY R. STILES.

. First Class, 1863.
Chaeles Congdon,
Roswell Graves,
Thomas W. Field,
A. Cooke Hull, M.D.,
J. M. Van Cott.

Second Class, 1864.
John Haeold,
George W. Parsons,
A. J. Spoonee,
John Winslow,
Edward Warren.

Third Class, 1865.
Ethelbeet S. Mills,
R. S. Stoees, Je., D.D.,
Henry R. Stiles, M.D.,
A. N. Littlejohn, D.D.,
Chaeles E. West, LL.D.

Fourth Class, 1866.
Hon. John Geeenwood,
Henry P. Hedges,
Hon. Heney C Murphy,
William Poole,
Henry Sheldon.

Fifth Class, 1867.
J. Carson Bretoort.
W. I. Budington, D.D.,
Elias Lewis, Jr.,
Theo. L. Mason, M.D.,
Henry E. Pierrepont.

I
Hon. John A. Lott, )
Francis Vinton, D.D., ^ Kings County.
Teunis G. Bergen, Esq., S
Wm. Cullen Bryant, Esq., )
Hon. John A. King, V Queens County.
Rich. C. McCormick, Esq., )
Hon. Selaii B. Strong, )
Hon. J. Lawrence Smith, > Suffolk County.,
Wm. S. Pelletreau, Esq., )
Each, of the three Counties on Long Island is entitled to three Counsellors,
to aid and advise in the Government of the Society.

R. S. Stores, Jr., D.D., Chairman.
J. M. Van Cott,
A. J. Spooner,
Ethelbert S. Mills. .
George W. Parsons,
Henry Sheldon,
Edward Waeren, Secretary.
The Officers of the Society are members, ex-officio, of the Executive Com
mittee.

Regis Gignoux,
Jared P. Flagg, D.D.
Hon. Harmanus B. Duryea,
R. W. Hubbard,
Gordon L. Ford,
Edward Whitehouse,
Elbert S. Porter, D.D.
The President, Librarian, Chairman of Executive Committee, and Conn.
sellors, are members, ex-officio, of the Committee on Fine Arts.

The first movement towards the formation of this Society was the.
issuing of the following circular : Brooklyn, February litk, 1863.
Sir : The time has arrived when the City of Brooklyn should found
and foster institutions — religious, historical, literary, scientific, edu
cational, and humanitarian — beyond the scope of former undertakings.
As one of these, a Historical Society, associated with our peculiar geo
graphical position, naturally suggests itself. We propose to establish
"THE LONG ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY."
The threefold Indian, Dutch, and English history of the Island is
full of interest, and there are, doubtless, concealed treasures in each
department which will be developed by research and inquiry.
By calling out the recollections of the living, who will soon pass
away, drawing public records and private writings from their con
cealment, having a fit place for the collection and deposit of trophies,
memorials, and historic materials, and also for conversations and lec
tures upon Historic topics, it cannot be doubted that much valuable
knowledge will be saved and communicated which would otherwise
be irretrievably lost.
It is proposed to establish, first, a library and repository of books,
documents and manuscripts, memorials, trophies, and pictures. For
this purpose, all persons are requested to favor us with any appro
priate material in their possession, either by gift or on deposit.
It is also proposed to encourage lectures upon Historic and kindred
topics.

Without further developing our plans and objects in this circular,
we invite your attendance at the room's of the Hamilton Literary
Association, Hamilton Buildings, corner of Court and Joralemon
streets, Brooklyn, (the door nearest the corner), on the evening of
Tuesday, March 3rd, 1863, at 8 o'clock, to take measures to organize
the Society. v

>- Kings County.

Henry C. Murphy,
Alden J. Spooner,
John Greenwood,
John Winslow,
J. M. Van Cott, j
R. C. McCormick, Jr., I r, /I,
TT ,-. T' V Queens County.
H. Onderdonk, Jr., )
Henry P. Hedges,
Suffolk County.
At a meeting, held pursuant to the above call, at the time and
place above mentioned, Prof. Chas. E. West was appointed Chair
man, and Elias Lewis, Jr., Secretary.
After a free and friendly interchange of views among those present,
it was, on motion of A. J. Spooner, Esq.,
" Resolved, That the time has arrived when Brooklyn, as the third
city in the Union, and Long Island, as the geographical region with
which it is connected, should found and establish, and this meeting
does found and establish, the ' Long Island Historical Society,' whose
objects shall be to discover, procure, and preserve whatever may re
late to general history, to the natural, civil, ecclesiastical, and literary
history of the United States, the State of New York, and, more par
ticularly, of the counties, cities, towns, and villages of Long Island."
On motion of Hon. John Greenwood, a committee was also ap
pointed to prepare a Constitution and By-Laws for the Society.
At the next meeting, held on the evening of the 10th of March, the
above named Constitution and By-Laws were reported and adopted ;
and all present, thirty-one in number, enrolled themselves as members
of the Society.
At the next meeting, on the 30th of March, the Committee of
Membership reported that one hundred and fifty -eight gentlemen had

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signified their desire to become members of the Society since the first
meeting of March 3rd, and, on motion of Hon. John Greenwood, it
was unanimously
" Resolved, That a committee of seven persons, of whom the Chair.
man of this meeting shall be one, be appointed by the Chair with
power to cause a proper Certificate of Incorporation of this Society to
be prepared, with the names of such persons as they may deem most
suitable for the first Board of Directors, provided for by the Constitu
tion, adopted at a former meeting, and to cause such Certificate to be
filed, pursuant to the Revised Statutes of this State."
The organization of the Society being thus completed, it was for
mally" inaugurated, by an address delivered on the evening of May
7th, in the Academy of Music, by R. S. Storrs, Jr., D.D., on the
"Life, Character, and Services of the late Gen. O. M. Mitchell."
The new Rooms of the Society, in the Hamilton Buildings, corner
of Court and Joralemon streets, were formally opened to the mem
bership and to the public, on the evening of the 4th of June ; and the
occasion was graced by a large and highly intelligent audience, which
was agreeably entertained by eloquent and appropriate addresses from
several distinguished citizens of Brooklyn.

Since that date, the progress of the Society, in the acquisition of
literary treasures, as well as" in the increase of its membership and
its consequent influence, has been rapid and brilliant to a degree hith
erto unequaled in the history of similar institutions. Its roll of
members, already numbering more than 400, is rapidly increasing by
the addition of a class of citizens whose character, social position, and
high cultivation, form a sure guarantee of the future prosperity and
permanence of the Society. Its Library, now in the sixth month of
its existence, comprises (principally by donation) more than 9,000 dis
tinct works, of which over 5,000 are bound volumes ; the whole form
ing a collection of rare interest and value, and in some departments
already superior to any other collection in the State. The liberality of
several of our well-known citizens has further secured the foundation,
on a broad and liberal basis, of certain special departments of histo
rical research, and has also adorned the walls with the attractions
of several fine portraits, paintings, etc.
In short, so munificent lias been the generosity of the members and

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friends of the Society, that, within half ,a year from its commence
ment, the Library has become totally inadequate for the accommo
dation of the books, curiosities, etc., which have been accumulated i
and the Executive Committee have accordingly secured three large
adjoining apartments, which will shortly be added to the present
rooms, and which will afford a large amount of additional book-room.
Since the opening of our Rooms, the following addresses and origi
nal papers have been read before the Society :
June Wth. In the chapel of the Packer Institute, An Oration on " The
Annals of Rhode Island and the Providence Plantations," by
Rev. Francis Vinton, D.D. ; accompanied by a brilliant Poem,
by George W. Curtis, Esq.
July 4th. In the Academy of Music, An Oration, by Grenville Tudor
Jenks, Esq.
Sept. 4th. At a County meeting, held at Hempstead, L. I., a Paper,
on " Experiences in Charleston, S. C, in the earlier part of the
Rebellion, and as U. S. Consul at the Bahamas, during the
first two years of the War," by Capt. Samuel Whiting ; also,
a "Memoir of Timothy Clowes, L.L.D., of Hempstead, L. I.,''
by Alden J. Spooner, Esq.
i. Sept. 24th. At a special meeting of the Society, a Paper entitled
" Personal Recollections of Aaron Burr, and some of his Con
temporaries of the New York Bar," by the Hon. John Green
wood.
Oct. 9lh. A Conversational meeting. Subject : " The Indian History
of Long Island."
Nov. 2d. At a regular meeting of the Society, a Paper on " Long
Island," by Wm. Alfred Jones, Esq., Librarian of Columbia
College, New York.
Nov. \0ih. In the chapel of the Packer Institute, the first of a series
of six Lectures, to be delivered on successive Tuesday even
ings, on " The Fall of Rome," by the Rev. John Lord.
Dec. 3rd. At a regular meeting of the Society, in the chapel of the
Packer Institute, a Paper on " The Battle of Long Island," by
Henry B. Dawson, Esq., of Morrisania, N. Y.

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<&txtiiimte of Incorporation.
We, the subscribers, hereby certify, that we have associated
ourselves in pursuance of Title VI., Chap. XVIII. of Part I.,
of the Revised Statutes of the State of New York, for the
purpose of promoting Historical Science. The name by which
the Society is to be known, is " The Long Island Historical
Society." The particular business and objects of the said Society are
to discover, procure, and preserve whatever may relate to gen
eral history, to the natural, civil, literary, and ecclesiastical
history of the United States, the State of New York, and,
more particularly, of the counties, cities, towns, and villages
of Long Island. The number of the Directors of the said
Society is to be twenty-live, and the names of the Directors
for the first year are as follows, viz : J. Carson Brevoort, Hen
ry C. Murphy, John Greenwood, Charles E. West, Richard S.
Storrs, Jr., Henry R. Stiles, Alden J. Spooner, Ethelbert S.
Mills, John Winslow, Henry Sheldon, Charles A. Townsend.
A. Cooke Hull, Joshua M. Van Cott, George W. Parsons,
Roswell Graves, Theodore L. Mason, Edward Warren, Charles
Congdon, Henry E. Pierrepont, William I. Budington, Thomas
W. Field, John Harold, Henry P. Hedges, Elias Lewis, Jr.,
and William Poole.
The business of this Society is to be conducted, and its place
of business to be located in the City of Brooklyn, in the Coun
ty of Kings.
Charles E. West,
J. Greenwood,
Geo. W. Parsons,
Dated Brooklyn, April 2, 1863. A. Cooke Hull,
E. S. Mills.
County of Kings, City op Brooklyn, ss.:
On this second day of April, 1S(>3, before me personally
appeared Chas. E. West, J. Greenwood, A. Cooke Hull, Geb.
W. Parsons, E. S. Mills, to me known to be the persons des-

11
cribed in, and who executed the foregoing certificate, and they
severally acknowledged that they executed the same.
John Winslow, Notary Public.
I hereby approve of, and consent to, the filing of the within
Certificate in the office of the Secretary of the State, and in
the office of the Clerk of the County of Kings, in the State of
New York. April 6. 1863.
John A. Lott,
Justice of Supreme Court, residing in Second Judicial District.
Filed in the office of the Secretary of State, and in the office
of the Clerk of the County of Kings, April 6, 1863.

LONG ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

NAME.

I. The name of this Society is, " The Long Island Histori
cal Society."

object.

II. The object of the Society is to discover, procure, and
preserve whatever may relate to general history, especially
to the natural, civil, literary, and ecclesiastical history of the
[Jnited States, the State of New York, and more particularly
of the counties, towns, and villages of Long Island.
MEMBERS.
III. The Society shall consist of Resident, Corresponding,
and Honorary members. Resident members shall be persons
residing on Long Island. Corresponding and Honorary mem
bers shall be persons residing elsewhere,; and not more than
twelve Honorary members shall be elected in any one year.
Resident members, upon removing from Long Island, and on
giving notice thereof to the Recording Secretary, shall there
after be Corresponding members ; and, in like manner, Cor
responding members, upon coming to reside on Long Island,
shall cease to be Corresponding members, and, upon giving
the like notice, shall thereafter be Resident members.

13
The Clerks of the several counties of Long Island shall be
members, ex-officio.
FEES AND DUES.
IV. Each Resident member shall, on admission, pay five
dollars as an initiation fee, and three dollars as dues for the cur
rent year ; and annually, thereafter, three dollars as dues ; or,
in lieu thereof, a Life-membership fee of twenty-fire dollars,
as a commutation for all regular dues. Should any Resident
member, other than a Life member, fail to pay the said fees
and dues for two years successively, or at any time refuse to
pay the same, the Executive Committee shall erase his name
from the list of members, and he shall no longer be a member
of the Society. government — election of directors.
V. The government of the Society shall be vested in a Board
of twenty-five Directors ; to be chosen by the Society, as here
inafter provided, by ballot, on the first Thursday of May of
each year, of which election notice shall be given in at least
two papers, printed on Long Island.
At a meeting of the Directors, to be held on the 16th of
April, 1863, the Directors shall proceed to divide themselves
•by lot, into five equal classes, to be denominated First, Second,
Tliird, Fourth, and Fifth Classes respectively. Such classifi
cation shall be made as follows : The names of the Directors,
written upon separate slips of paper, shall be placed in a box,
and in another box shall be placed an equal number of slips,
upon five whereof shall be written the words " First Class,"
upon another five the words " Second Class," upon another
five the words " Third Class," upon another five the words
" Fourth Class," and upon the remaining five the words " Fifth
Class." The President shall then proceed to draw from the box con
taining the names of the Directors the name of one Director,

14
and from the box containing the numbers of the classes, in like
manner, a slip; and the Director whose name is so drawn,
shall be deemed to belong to the class inscribed upon the slip
drawn with his name. The President shall proceed in like
manner until the Directors shall have all been classified. The
Directors of the first class shall hold their offices for one year,
those of the second class for two years, those of the third class
for three years, those of the fourth class for four years, and
those of the fifth class for five years.
At the regular meeting of the Society, to be held on the first
Thursday of May, 1864, there shall be held an election for five
Directors to fill the places o'f the Directors of the first class,
whose term shall then expire ; and annually thereafter an elec
tion shall be held for five Directors to fill the place of those
whose term of office shall then expire ; and all Directors elect
ed at said election in 1864, and thereafter, shall hold their
office for five years. Any Director appointed to fill a vacancy,
shall hold his office for the balance of the unexpired term of
the person to whose place he shall be so appointed.
In case any election for Directors shall not be held at the
time above appointed, such election may be held at the next
regular meeting of the Society, or at any special meeting called
for that purpose, in the manner herein before mentioned ; and
the Directors elected at such meeting shall hold their offices
for the same terms as if they had been elected at the meeting
at which Such election should have taken place.
The Directors shall have custody of all buildings, funds,
securities, and collections, belonging to the Society ; shall fix
all salaries to be paid to its officers ; and shall have in their
hands the entire control and regulation of its affairs, in the
intervals between the Annual Meetings. They shall fill vacan
cies occurring in the Board during the year ; and shall meet
on the second Thursday of May 'in each year, and as much
oftener as they shall deem necessary, or shall be called together
by the President or Executive Committee. The Directors may
declare the place of any member of the Board vacant who shall

15
be absent from three successive meetings of the Board without
sending a reasonable excuse therefor to the Recording Secretary.
election of members.
VI. Members shall be elected as follows : The candidates
shall be proposed publicly at a meeting of the Society, by a
member thereof, and the nominations, together with the name
. of the member making them, shall be entered on the minutes,
and be referred to the Executive Committee. The Reports of
that Committee, recommending candidates for election, shall
be openly read to the Society, at a meeting subsequent to that
at which the nominations were made ; and if any member de
mand a ballot, the election shall be by ballot, and five black
balls shall exclude. If no ballot be demanded, the candidates
so recommended shall be declared duly elected members of the
Society. Members may also be elected by the Board of Directors ; and
Corresponding or Honorary members, may, by a unanimous
vote of the Board, be elected without a previous nomination.
All certificates of membership shall be signed by the Presi
dent and by the Secretaries. OFFICERS.
VII. The Officers of the Society, except the Counsellors,
shall hereafter be elected annually, on the first Monday of
May, 1864, by the Board of Direct6rs, from their own num
ber, and shall be :
A President,
A First Vice-President,
¦ A Second Vice-President,
A Foreign Corresponding Secretary,
A Home Corresponding Secretary.
A Recording Secretary,-
A Treasurer,
A Librarian, and
An Executive Committee, of seven members.

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The Officers of the Society shall be, ex-officio, members of the
Executive Committee ; and five members thereof shall consti
tute a quorum.
counsellors.
VIII. There shall also be Nine Counsellors, who, for the
first year, shall be elected by the Directors, and annually there
after by the Society ; three of whom shall be residents of Kings
County, three of Queens County, and three of Suffolk: County.
It shall be the duty of the Counsellors to consult and advise
with the Society, and with the Directors, as to the best means
of promoting the objects of the Society ; and for that purpose
they may attend the meetings of the Directors, and take part
in their discussions, but shall not be entitled to a vote.
The Counsellors shall also be, ex-officio, members of the Com
mittee on Fine Arts. committee on the fine arts.
IX. The President, Librarian, and Chairman of the Execu
tive Committee, together with seven other members, to be ap
pointed annually by the President, shall constitute a standing
committee, to be called " The Committee on Fine Arts."
ANNUAL MEETING.
X. The Society shall hold an Annual Meeting on the first
Thursday of May, 1864, and in each and every _ year there
after, at which an election of five Directors and nine Coun
sellors, by ballot, shall take place. In such election, a plurality
of votes given shall determine the choice.
At this Annual Meeting, a Report shall be presented by the
Board of Directors, of all the business which they have trans
acted in the preceding year, and of all the property of the
Society under their charge ; which Report shall be entered in
full on the permanent Records of the Society.

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stated and special meetings.
XI. The Society shall meet statedly for literary ' exercises,
and for the nomination and election of new members, at its
Library, on the first Thursday in every month, excepting July
and August, unless otherwise specially ordered. But the
President, or in his absence either of the Vice-Presidents,
may, and upon the written request of any nine members,
three of whom shall be Directors, shall call a Special Meeting,
giving three days' notice thereof, to be published in at least
two public newspapers printed on Long Island.
ORDER OF BUSINESS.
XII. At the Stated Meetings of the Society, the following
shall be the order of exercises :
1. The reading of the minutes of the last meeting.
2. Communications from officers of the Society, or from the
Board of Directors.
3. Election of members previously proposed.
4. Nomination of new members.
5. Papers read, and addresses delivered, before the Society.
But at the Annual Meeting, the Report of the Board of
Directors, the election of Directors and Counsellors for the
ensuing term, and the transaction of Miscellaneous Business,
shall follow the nomination of new members, and precede the
reading of papers.
quorum .
XIII. At all meetings of the Society, twenty-one members
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
presiding officer.
XIV. The President, or in his absence one of the Vice-
Presidents, or in their absence a Chairman, pro tempore, shall
preside at all meetings of the Directors and of the Society,
3

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and shall have a casting vote. He shall preserve order, and
shall decide all questions of order, subject to an appeal. He
shall also appoint all committees authorized by the Directors,
or by the Society, unless otherwise specially ordered.
CORRESPONDING SECRETARIES.
XV. The Corresponding Secretaries shall conduct the gen
eral correspondence of the Society. They shall, at every
meeting of the Society, report such letters and communica
tions as they may have received ; they shall prepare all letters
to be written in connection with the business or objects of the
Society, and transmit the same ; but the Executive Committee
may appoint a committee to prepare a letter or letters, on any
special occasion. They shall keep, in suitable books, to be
provided for that purpose, true copies of all letters written on
behalf of the Society ; and shall carefully preserve said copies,
with the originals of all letters and communications received,
and shall deposit the same in the Library.
The duties of the Foreign Corresponding Secretary shall be
limited to the correspondence with individuals or associate
bodies in foreign countries; and those of the Home Corres
ponding Secretary shall, in like manner, be confined to the
United States ; except that, in the absence of either of these
officers, or during a vacancy in either office, the duties thus
left unfulfilled shall devolve upon the other Corresponding
Secretary, until such absence shall terminate, or the vacancy
be supplied. RECORDING SECRETARY.
XVI. The Recording Secretary shall have the charge of the
Seal, Charter, By-Laws, and Records of the Directors and the
Society. He, together with the presiding officer, shall certify
all acts of the Directors and of the Society. He shall notify
all members of their election, and of such other matters as
shall be directed by the Society or Directors, and shall trans
mit to them their proper diplomas or certificates of member-

19
ship. He shall, under the direction of the President, or either
of the Vice Presidents, give due notice of the time and place
of all meetings of the Directors and the Society, and shall attend
the same. He shall keep fair and accurate records of all the
proceedings and orders of the Directors and the Society ; and
shall give notice to the several officers, and to the Executive
and other Committees, of all votes, orders, resolves, and pro
ceedings of the Directors and the Society, affecting them, or
appertaining to their respective duties.
TREASURER.
XVII. The Treasurer shall collect and keep the funds and
securities of the Society ; and so often as these funds shall
amount to One Hundred dollars, they shall be deposited in
some bank in the City of Brooklyn to the credit of " The Long
Island Historical Society," and shall be drawn thence on the
check of the Treasurer, for the purposes of the Society only.
Out of these funds, he shall pay such sums only as may be
ordered by the Board of Directors, or by the Executive Com
mittee out of appropriations made by the Board. He shall
keep a true account of his receipts and payments ; and at each
meeting of the Committee, or of the Board, and at the An
nual Meeting of the Society, shall render the same, when the
Executive Committee shall audit his accounts.
XVIII. If from the report of the Treasurer there shall
appear to be a balance against the Treasury, no appropriation
of money shall be made for any object but the necessary cur
rent expenses of the Society, until such balance shall be paid-
L IBRARI AN.
XIX. The Librarian, in connection with the Executive Com
mittee, shall have the charge and superintendence of the Libra
ry, and the care and arrangement of the books, manuscripts,
and other articles belonging to the Society. He shall cause to
be prepared and kept, a proper catalogue and list of the same.
He shall acknowledge the receipt of donations to the Society

20
in his department. He shall expend in the purchase of books
and other articles, and for their safe keeping and preservation,
at the direction of the said Committee, such sums of money
as shall from time to time be appropriated for that purpose,
and report thereon to the Executive Committee, and to the
Board at each of its Regular Meetings. He shall, at least once
in each year, render his accounts for such purchases and ex
penditures to the Treasurer for settlement ; and shall further
make to the Society, at each Annual Meeting, a full report
on the condition and progress of the Library and collections.
LIBRARY REGULATIONS.
XX. The following shall be the regulations for the use of
the Library :
1. No book or manuscript shall at any time be lent to any
person to be removed from the Library.
2. No manuscript in the Library, nor any paper read before
the Society and deposited in its archives, shall be pub
lished, except by the order of the Directors, or with the
consent of the Executive Committee.
3. The hours during which the Library shall be open, shall
be determined from time to time by the Executive
Committee.
4. During such hours, any member of the Society may have
free access to consult any book or manuscript, except
such as may be designated by the Executive Commit
tee, and to make extracts from the same under the au
thority of the Librarian. Any person, not a member,
may obtain the like privilege of consultation from the
President or Librarian, if known to them, or upon the
recommendation of some other member to whom the
applicant is known. But no person, not a member,
shall be permitted to make extracts from the manu
scripts of the Society, excepting the donors or depositors
of the same, without special authority from the Execu
tive Committee.

21
5. It shall be the duty of the Librarian, or his Assistant, to
report to the Executive Committee any injury done to
any book or manuscript by any person consulting the
same ; and the said Committee may, at their discretion,
lay such reports before the Board. For any such in
jury, the person doing it shall make such pecuniary
compensation as the said Committee shall judge
proper; and if he be not a member, the Committee
shall have power to prohibit him from further access to
the Library. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
XXI. It ghall be the duty of the Executive Committee to
solicit and receive donations for the Society; to provide for its
literary or other exercises ; to recommend plans, and make the
necessary arragements, for promoting its objects ; to digest and
prepare business ; to authorize the disbursement and expendi
ture of moneys in the Treasury, out of the general appropria
tions made by the Board of Directors, for the payment of sala
ries, current expenses, fitting up the Library, the ordinary
purchase of books, binding, printing, and other necessary out
lays. They shall have power to appoint a Janitor and Porter,
and to prescribe their duties, and fix their salaries. They
shall, in connection with the Librarian, have charge of the ar
rangement and regulation of the Library and collections ; and
shall have authority at any time to examine into the condition
of the same, and into the state of the finances ; as also gener
ally to superintend the interests of the Society, and execute
all such duties as may from time to time be committed to them
by the Board.
They shall meet at least once in every month, excepting the
month of August, and shall keep accurate Minutes of all their
transactions ; and a full Report shall be presented by them, at
each Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors, of what has
been done by them, or by the Librarian and Treasurer, at their
direction, in the interval between that and the preceding Regu
lar Meeting.

22
COMMITTEE ON FINE ARTS.
XXII. The Committee on Fine Arts shall have the arrange
ment and general direction of the Society's Gallery of Art.
They shall decide upon the admission into the Gallery of ob
jects of art, and determine their position therein. They shall,
subject to the approval of the Board, make such special rules
and regulations in regard to the Gallery, as they may think
necessary for its preservation, proper use, and enjoyment ; and
shall devise and present plans for its extension and improve
ment. ALTERATION OF BY-LAWS.
XXIII. No alteration in the By-Laws of the Society shall
be made, unless such alteration shall have been openly pro
posed at a previous meeting of the Directors, entered on the
minutes, with the name of the Director proposing the same,
and shall be adopted by a majority of the members of the
Board. And in case of such proposed amendment, the Re
cording Secretary shall be required to accompany the notice
for the next meeting of the Board with a copy of the proposed
amendment, and a notice that the same will be acted upon at
the meeting for which the^ notice was jgiYeiL—
AMENDMENT
Proposed at Annual Meeting of the Society, May 5, 1864, and referred
to and adopted by the Board of Directors, May 12, 1864.
Art. IV. — Strike out the word " Three" in second, and third line, and
insert, in lieu thereof, the word " Five." Strike out the words " Twexty-
eive," in fourth line, and insert, in lieu thereof, the words " Forty-Fiye."

AMENDMENT
Adopted by the Board of Directors, April 28, 1864.
Art. VIII. — There shall also be eighteen Counsellors, who shall be elected
by the Society annually ; six of whom sliall be residents of Kings County,
six of Queens County, six of Suffolk County.
It shall be the duty of the Counsellors to consult and advise with the
Society, with the Pi rectors, and with the Executive Committee, as to the
best means of promoting the objects of the Society; and for that purpose
they may attend the meetings of the Directors, aud of the Executive Com
mittee, and take part in their Discussions, but shall not be entitled to vote.
The Counsellors shall also be, c.v-ojficio, members of the Committee on Fine
Arts.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

I. The Regular Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be
held on the second Thursday of May, September, and Janu
ary, and the last Thursday of April, in each year, at 8 o'clock
P. M. Special Meetings may also be called at any time, by
the Executive Committee, or by five members of the Board,
on giving written notice of the same to each Director three
days previously.
II. The Executive Committee shall audit all bills^md claims
before the same shall be paid by the Treasurer.
III. The Order of Business, at the Regular and Special
Meetings of the Board, shall be as follows :
1. The reading of the Minutes of the last Meeting.
2. Report of the Executive Committee.
3. Reports of the Treasurer and Librarian.
4. Reports of Special or other Committees.
5. Appropriations for objects of the Society.
6. Miscellaneous Business.
IV. These By-Laws may be amended in the same manner
as the By-Laws of the Society (Art. 23) ; or may be tempora
rily suspended, by unanimous consent, but not otherwise.