St. Patrick’s Boys & the Founding of the Ancient Order of Hibernians
“If attacks against Catholics and our churches don’t stop, we’ll burn the city,” said the head of the St. Patrick’s Boys to the mayor of New York City. The mayor knew that it was no idle threat. The St. Patrick’s Boys had more than enough people and torches to do the job. The St. Patrick’s Boys was the common name in New York City for the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
The Molly Maguires in Ireland was an organization established to prevent landlords from unjustly evicting Irish tenants from their land. The Molly Maguires was also called the Ribbon Society. In early 1836 the Molly Maguires received a request from America for a charter. The request came from coal miners in Pennsylvania called the Hibernian Benevolent Institution and from New York City the St. Patrick’s Fraternal Society. Both groups in America were protective societies. In Pennsylvania they opposed mine owners and the railroad who exploited the workers and in New York they protected Catholics from anti-Catholic groups such as the “Nativists.”
The charter dated 4 May 1836 arrived in New York and provided authority to St. Patrick’s Fraternal Society to establish branches in America of Roman Catholics of Irish ancestry with the motto Friendship, Unity, and True Christian Charity: words familiar to us. The first branches were established in New York City and in Pottsville, Pennsylvania that was the headquarters of the AOH for a short time. In 1838 the St. Patrick’s Fraternal Society was renamed the Ancient Order of Hibernians and became the headquarters of the AOH.
During and after the Great Famine, membership in the AOH swelled with the arrival of thousands of immigrants from Ireland and many new AOH branches were organized in the 1850’s. Eventually a Constitution & By-laws was approved that is very similar to our own. I have posted both the 1836 charter from Ireland and the original AOH Constitution & By-Laws on our website along with this write-up. You won’t find these in the history of the AOH posted on our National AOH website. The National website indicates that the charter was lost. It was not. When I finish my research in June, I’ll send all of this information to our National AOH Historian for his use. This information will also be included in my book about the Molly Maguires that will be published later this year.
Mike Eggleston
Charter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians
Early in the year 1836 some of the members of St. Patrick’s Fraternal Society, in New York City, together with some others who had been Ribbonmen in Ireland, discussed the advantages which would accrue from affiliation with the parent body. In this discussion they were joined by Ribbonmen in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. It was decided to ask the executive members in Ireland and Great Britain for an American charter. One of the members, who was employed on a sailing ship en¬gaged in the trade between American and British ports, had been a party to previous discussions regarding the advisability of obtaining this Charter. There was evidently no regular organization—no association with a secretary, a treasurer, and rules of association ; but there were certainly clubs of Ribbon-men and members of the St. Patrick’s Fraternal Society, or St. Patrick’s Funeral Society. It is known that there were parades on St. Patrick’s Day in New York City, and that the members of the St. Patrick’s Fraternal Society participated in the demonstration, and marched down the Bowery with a green banner and with music.
The Charter they received was from the chief officers in those counties which had nourished the Defenders, and which had been hallowed by generations of conflict for Faith and Fatherland. As Dr. Shahan so eloquently said : “The first page of the Order in America is beautiful for its simplicity and straightforwardness, touching for its candid Catholicism. It is as good a patent of nobility as was ever conferred by king or kaiser, for there is wanting in it no element of our liberal mod¬ern humanity. I can almost see these honest and sturdy rep¬resentatives of the Irish race in Ireland, England, and Scotland, handing over to the shipworn and tearful exiles of Erin the sacred sparks of liberty and faith, of chivalry and tolerance, of kindly humanity and large brotherly charity that, thank God, have ever since been cherished by the members of this organi¬zation. If not written by a priest, it was surely written by a priestly soul, such as always have abounded in Ireland since St. Patrick took away their pagan hearts and gave them the warm Christian hearts that they have never since parted with.”
The original of the Charter of American Hibernianism was in the possession of Brother Terence Donoghue, ex-State Delegate of New York. It is believed that this is the copy which was directed to be sent to Pennsylvania, where the headquar¬ters were for some years. This is the wording of the incom¬parable Charter:
“May 4th, 1836.
“FROM THE BRETHREN IN IRELAND AND GREAT BRITAIN TO THE BRETHREN IN NEW YORK.
“BROTHERS, GREETING :—
“Be it known to you and to all it may concern, that we send to our few Brothers in New York full instructions with our authority to establish branches of our Society in America. The qualifications for membership must be as follows :
“First. All members must be Roman Catholics, and Irish or Irish descent, and of good and moral character, and none of your members shall join in any secret societies contrary to the laws of the Catholic Church, and at all times and at all places your motto shall be :
`FRIENDSHIP, UNITY, AND TRUE CHRISTIAN CHARITY.’
“You must love without dissimulation, hating evil, cleaving to good. Love one another with brotherly love, without pre¬venting one another, let the love of brotherhood abide in you, and forget not hospitality to your emigrant brother that may land on your shores, and we advise you, above all things, have natural charity among yourselves.
“Also be it known unto you that our wish and prayer is, that when you form your Society, in many cities and towns, you will do all that is in your power to aid and protect your Irish sisters from all harm and temptation. As the Irish woman is known for her chastity all over the world—some of them may differ from you in religion—but, Brothers, bear in mind that our good Lord died for all. Therefore be it known unto you that our wish is that you do all that you can for the Irish emi-grant girls, no matter who they may be, and God will reward you in your new country, and doing this you will keep up the high standing and honor of the Irish in America.
“We send these instructions to you, hoping you will carry them out to the best of your ability. Be it known unto you that you are at liberty to make such laws as will guide your workings and for the welfare of our old Society; but such laws must be at all times according to the teachings of the Holy Catholic Church, and the obligation that we send you, and all your workings, must be submitted to any Catholic priest, when called for.
We send you these instructions, as we promised to do, with a young man that works on the ship, and who called on you before. Send a copy to our late friend that you spoke of and who is now working in Pennsylvania. Hoping the bearer and this copy will land safe, and that you will treat him right, we remain your Brothers in the true bonds of friendship, this fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord, 1836.
PATRICK MCGUIRE, County Fermanagh.
PATRICK MCKENNA, County Monaghan.
PATRICK REILLY, County Meath.
JOHN FARRELL, County Meath.
JAMES MCMANUS, County Antrim.
PATRICK DUNN, County Tyrone.
JOHN REILLY, County Cavan.
JOHN DERKIN, County Mayo.
PATRICK BOYLE, County Sligo.
THOMAS O’RORKE, County Leitrim.
JOHN MCMAHON, County Longford.
PATRICK HAMILL, Westmeath.
JOHN MURPHY, Liverpool.
About 1838 the Society began to be known as the Ancient Order of Hibernians. They met on Chambers Street in a print¬ing office every week, and spread to different sections of New York City. To the public they were known as “St. Patrick’s Boys,” and it was usual for them, on their parades, to have collisions with the Orangemen and the Orange sympathizers. The emigration from the old land was rapidly increasing, and new Divisions of the Order were soon organized throughout the city. Every parish had at least one Division, and their chief beneficence was in aiding the newly-arrived emigrants to find work, in comforting the bereaved, and in extending every kind of helpfulness to the sick and the destitute. The emigra¬tion contributed greatly to the membership in the Order, for ip 1838 the Irish Catholic population of New York city was about seventy thousand, while in 1840 it was ninety thousand. From New York the Order spread to Philadelphia and Newark before 1840, and a letter from an old member written in Phila¬delphia, speaks of a meeting of the Hibernian Club attended by the writer, in the autumn of that year. It is believed, how-ever, that the Order in Philadelphia had no official charter at this time.
Many of the emigrants arrived without a shilling, and were thus dependent for help almost immediately upon their compatriots. The devotion of these early emigrants to the Church was remarkable for its intensity, and to them, more than to any other one force, was due the erection of churches wherever there was a congregation of the faithful. As the priests had found in them their defenders in the old world, so they found in them the church-builders of the new. A story told of the first church in Buffalo throws in a strong light the determined fortitude of one Irishman steeped in the spirit of Hibernian-ism. In this town, then a village of shanties, a priest had attempted to build a church for the accommodation of his flock, which at that time, about 1829, was small in number and feeble in resources. The task was beyond his or their means, and the work, but partially accomplished, was necessarily suspended.
A poor emigrant Irishman was passing through the town, having walked all the way from New York city, on his way towards the then far West, when, attracted by the appearance of the unfinished building, he inquired what it was intended for, and why it was allowed to remain in that incomplete state. The reply, while it afforded the desired explanation, was mock¬ing and derisive. “That building ! Oh, it was the Papists—them Irish Papists—that tried to get it up ; it was too much for them; they couldn’t do it nohow. It does look ridiculous—don’t it, stranger ?” “It does look mighty quare, sure enough,” was the quiet rejoinder of the poor workingman, who added, as he first looked at his informant, who had passed, and then at the incomplete structure, “but, ‘pon by faith, I’ll not lave this place ’till it’s finished, and I hear Mass said in it, too !” He remained to labor, and being a sober and thrifty man, he pros¬pered slowly but surely. As other emigrants passed through the town, also on their way to the West, he induced several of them to remain, and to these he soon imparted his own spirit. A more vigorous effort was made, and made successfully, mainly owing to this one humble man, who before long heard Mass in the temple he so effectually helped to raise; and before many years had passed, there were convents and schools, in which his children, and the children of others once as poor as himself, imbibed a thorough knowledge of their religion, and caught the spirit of their fathers. To behold the cross on this church was the object of his ardent desire. He did behold it, and so have many thousands who have worshipped beneath the roof which it adorns.
Ancient Order of Hibernians Constitution & By-Laws
Constitution and By-laws of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Instituted March 10th, 1871, Chartered March 10th, 1871, Adopted March 11th, 1871.
PREAMBLE.
The members of this Order do declare that the intent and purpose of the Order is to promote Friendship, Unity, and True Christian Charity among its members, by raising or supporting a stock or fund of money for maintaining the aged, sick, blind, and infirm members, and for no other purpose whatsoever.
Those laws though human, spring from Love Divine,
Love laid the scheme—love guides the whole design.
Vile is the man who will evade these laws,
Or taste the sweets without sufficient cause.
INTRODUCTION.
The Motto of this Order is ” Friendship, Unity, and True Christian Charity.”
Unity, in uniting together for mutual support in sickness and distress.
Friendship, in assisting each other to the beat of our power. True Christian Charity, by doing to each other, and all the world, as we would wish they should do unto us.
Brethren: It is beyond all doubt that the Supreme Being has placed man in a state of dependence and need of mutual support from his fellow man. Neither can the greatest monarch on earth exist without friendship and society. Therefore, the Supreme Being has implanted in our nature’s tender sympathies and most humane feelings towards our fellow creatures in distress, and all the happiness that human nature is capable of enjoying must flow and terminate in love of God and our fellow creature. So, we, the members of this Order, do agree to assist each other, and conform to the following rules:
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE ANCIENT ORDER OF
HIBERNIANS.
ARTICLE I.
Name. — This society shall be denominated ” The Ancient Order of Hibernians of the United States,” whose headquarters shall be the city and county of New York.
ARTICLE II.
Officers. – The Officers of this Order shall be a National Delegate, National Secretary, General President, General Vice-President, Sec¬retary, and Assistant Secretary; Treasurer and Board of Directors; also, a President, Vice-President, Secretaries, and Treasurer of each Lodge or Divisions; all of whom shall hold their offices for the term of one year, unless removed by the Board of Directors for im¬proper conduct.
ARTICLE III.
Duties of Officers.
Sec. 1. — Duty of N. D.—He shall be called to preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors, and affix his signature and seal of the Order to all warrants. The national officers will direct all processions in the city and county of New York, taking the lead thereof, watch the general welfare of the Order, and make known the condition of the society semi-annually.
Sec. 2. — Duty of N. S.—The N. S. shall correspond with auxil¬iaries abroad, keep minutes of the Board of Directors, make known the financial affairs of the society annually, assist the N.D. in matters appertaining to the interest of the society, and render such services as will tend to harmonize the Order.
Sec. 3. — Duties of State Delegate, —He shall organize one new division in each county where none exist, preside at all State Conventions of the society in the State, direct all State processions, bead all State processions in the State except the city and county of New York, taking the lead thereof, attend to the general welfare of the Order in his State, and make known the condition of the Order annually at the State Convention.
Sec. 4. — Duties of the State Secretary. —The State Secretary shall correspond with the National Delegate, National Secretary, and County Delegates of his State, all communications to be countersigned by the State Delegate, and assist the State Delegate in all matters appertaining to the Order, and report annually to the State Convention of the Order.
Sec. 5. — County Delegates. —The duties of each County Delegate shall be to. open divisions throughout his county, preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors of his county, and correspond with the State Delegate and Secretary, and all divisions in his county, and he shall take the lead of all county processions.
Sec. 6. — Duty of the President. — The duty of the President shall be to preside at all general or extra meetings of the Order, to see that the constitution and by-laws are preserved inviolate and carried into effect, to affix his signature and seal of the Order to bonds and contracts lawfully entered into, and see that the same are properly engrossed upon its records.
Sec. 7. — Duty of the Vice-President. — In the absence of the President the duties shall devolve on and be performed by the Vice-President; and in the absence of both a chairman shall be appointed by the members present, with all the powers and privi¬leges of the President during his absence.
Sec. 8. — General Secretary. — The G. S. shall record elections and expulsions in the general book, act in accordance with the Board of Directors, and to them report his acts whenever called upon. The Division Secretaries shall notify the County Delegates of all expelled members, with their name and address. The G. S. to notify the State Secretary, and the State Secretary the National Secretary, who shall notify the different State Secretaries of the same, and the State Secretaries the different divisions in the State.
See. 9. — Assistant Secretary. — The Assistant Secretary shall en¬gross, in a book kept for that purpose, the minutes of all the trans¬actions of the Order, at the meeting thereof; he shall notify the Standing Committee of all matters referred to them, and of such vacancies as may occur, and the name of the person elected to fill such vacancy, and render such services as the General Secretary may require.
Sec. 10.— Duty of Treasurer. — The Treasurer shall have charge of, and be responsible for the safe keeping of, all money belonging to the Order, and see that no disbursements are made thereof except in compliance with a special resolution of the Order, approved by the Board of Directors and signed by the President and General Secretary, with the seal of the Order attached thereto; he shall also report quarterly to the Order the state of the funds, with the amount of receipts and disbursements; he shall give a bond with two sufficient sureties for the faithful performance of his duties, and at the expiration of his office he shall transfer all money, books, and vouchers belonging to the Order to his successor.
ARTICLE VI.
Officers; How Elected – The N. D. and N. S. shall be elected by the Board of Directors to New York City, State and County Dele¬gates of all the States, and none other.
The general officers shall be elected by the general body in their respective towns or cities, and the division officers •hall be elected by their respective members. The election of all officers to take place on or about the 28th of March, after the National Convention of each year.
The State Delegate and Secretary shall be elected by and from the Board of Directors of each Division and County delegates of the different counties. The County Delegates shall be elected by and from the Board of Directors of the different divisions of the county.
ARTICLE V.
Each division shall have the power of making rules and regula¬tions for its own internal welfare, provided always that such regu¬lations are in accordance with the general rules of the Order, subject to the approval of the National officers, with their names appended thereto.
ARTICLE VI.
The Board of Directors, at their first annual meeting, shall choose from their number a Treasurer and a Committee of Finance, con¬sisting of three, to whom shall be referred for examination all claims and demands against the Order, and who shall report the same to the Board of Directors with their opinion thereon, as by so doing no fraud can be committed.
ARTICLE VII.
The powers and management of this Order shall be vested in the Board of Directors, who shall be composed of a President, Vice-President, Secretaries and Treasurer of each division, and shall hold their office for the term of one year.
ARTICLE VIII.
All general and extra meetings shall be called by the President and General Secretary, and in the absence of the President, by the Vice-President, and it shall be their duty to call such meetings when requested, in writing, to consist of fifteen members.
ARTICLE IX.
This Order shall consist of an unlimited number of members, and as it increases the State and County Delegates shall have the power of opening divisions for the accommodation of the members, and of issuing orders and directions for the management of the same, and shall call in all warrants for any flagrant deviation from the general rules of the Order.
ARTICLE X.
Eligibility of Candidates. — No person shall become a member of this Order, who is not Irish, or of Irish descent, a Roman Catholic and of Roman Catholic parents. Any person wishing to become a member of this Order shall be proposed by having his name and occupation or calling of business registered, with the name of the proposer, appended in a book kept for that purpose in the division room, and no person shall be admitted at any time unless he is of good moral character.
ARTICLE XI.
The names of persons thus proposed, on being read by the Secre¬tary at any regular or duly organized meeting of the Order, may be balloted for at the next regular meeting, and if a majority of ballots be cast in favor of admission, then such persons shall be declared duly elected members of the Order.
ARTICLE XII.
Fines and Penalties. —Any member coming into the division in a state of intoxication and annoying the members, shall be fined the sum of $1 and leave the, division for that night. In default of complying with this order he or they shall be excluded for six months, at the expiration of which they shall be allowed to re¬enter and become full members of the Order.
ARTICLE XIII.
No member shall be allowed to speak more than twice on any subject without permission of the presiding officer. Any member interrupting another whilst on his feet addressing the President shall be fined the sum of one dollar for each offence; and should a member swear an oath in the division room he shall be fined the sum of fifty cents for each offence, and if not paid at the time it shall be entered as a debt against him, and he shall be deprived of all the benefits of the Order until the fine be paid.
ARTICLE XIV.
Should any member hold a dispute with another, or cast any re¬flection on his country, he shall be fined fifty cents for the first offence, for the second one dollar, and for the third he shall ‘be excluded the Order, to be no more admitted.
ARTICLE XV.
Any member striking another shall be fined, for the first offence, five dollars, and be suspended until the fine is paid; for the second offence he shall be expelled for life. If a member so offended strike the other in return he shall be fined fifty cents; if the blow shall be struck in the division room the aggressor shall pay the sum of 7 1/2 dollars, and the member so struck returning the blow, shall be fined one dollar for the second offence. In ease of any doubt as to the first offender, the case shall be brought before the Board of Directors, who shall try the cause, by having the parties brought before them with their witnesses, and decide the matter, and their decision shall stand.
ARTICLE XVI.
Any member absenting himself three nights in succession shall be notified by the Recording Secretary to attend on the next night of meeting, and for neglecting to do so he Shall be expelled from the Order.
ARTICLE XVII.
Any member absenting himself on a meeting night shall be fined the sum of 25 cents.
ARTICLE XVIII.
Any officer absenting himself on any night of meeting shall be fined 50 cents, sickness or absence from the city excepted.
ARTICLE XIX.
Any officer absenting himself three nights in succession shall be notified to attend on the next night of meeting, and neglecting to do so shall be expelled the Order, sickness or absence from the city excepted; and should the members think proper at any time afterwards to admit him as a new member, on his applying for admission, he shall not hold any office for the term of one year after such admission.
ARTICLE XX.
When the President and Vice-President take their seats, the President shall strike with his mallet for the division to come to order. The Vice-President shall respond in like manner by striking with his, mallet. Should any member not come to order then, he shall be fined 25 cents; should he not then comply with the order of the President assisted by the Board of Directors the said member shall be fined 50 cents; and should he not then comply the Presi¬dent shall order the floor officers to put him out of the room for the evening, when the Board of Directors shall take action in the matter, and fine or expel him as they in their judgment may think proper, and from their decision there shall be no appeal. The said member may be re-admitted at the expiration of one year.
ARTICLE XXI.
No member shall be allowed any sick or ailment money unless he is six months a member and clear on the books of the division, to commence from the date of filing such notice of sickness, when from the such sickness is brought on by Divine Providence, but should he be three months in arrear he shall not be entitled to any benefits for one month from such notification.
ARTICLE XXII.
Any member of this Order who shall speak of any business or transaction that may transpire in any division room or place of meeting, he shall be handed over to the Standing Committee of the division of which he is a member; or if at a general meeting it should happen that he or they shall be brought before the Board of Directors and tried, if found guilty of the same he or they shall be expelled.
ARTICLE XXIII.
Committees consisting of three shall be appointed by the presid¬ing officers; all others shall be appointed by the meeting.
ARTICLE XXIV.
Schism. — Any member or members who shall cause discussion or schism in the Society, by frequent attempts at discord, or branching off from the society, shall be erased from the books, and they shall have no further claim on the property or benefits of the society for life.
ARTICLE XXV.
Any member who shall bring charges maliciously designed against a brother, which he is unable to prove, or shall knowingly propose unworthy characters for membership, shall be subject to reprimand, fine, suspension, or expulsion, according to the enormity of the offence, as the Board of Directors may determine, and from their decision there shall be no appeal in any case whatever.
ARTICLE XXVI.
Resignation. — If any member shall give written or verbal notice of his intention to quit the Society, the notice shall be received, and if attested by two or more members, his name shall be erased from the books forthwith not to be readmitted: for one year after such notice, and then only by permission of the Board of Directors, and by paying the usual initiation fee.
ARTICLE XXVII.
The initiation fee of this Order shall be three dollars. The monthly dues shall not be less than thirty-five cents. The weekly benefits in case of sickness shall be five dollars, and on the death of a member the sum of fifty dollars shall be appropriated to defray the funeral expenses.
ARTICLE XXVIII.
No member shall be admitted in any Division unless he produces a certificate from the Division which he left, unless a visiting member.
ARTICLE XXIX
The seventeenth day of March shall be a National Holiday of this Order, to be celebrated by a public procession of its members, and any member failing to parade shall be fined in the sum of three dollars, unless excused by the Board of Directors of his Division.
ARTICLE XXX.
No person under twenty or over forty years of age will be eligible as a member of the Society.
ARTICLE XXXI.
It shall be compulsory on all Divisions outside New York City to raise a fund for the purpose of sending their State and County Delegates to the National Convention.
ARTICLE XXXII.
Any person joining this Order under an assumed name or age, or having any bodily ailment, and afterwards found to be so, shall be expelled never to be admitted. This article to be read by the presiding officer of each Division, to the member before joining.
ARTICLE XXXIII.
The members of each Division, in each State, are required to attend Holy Communion, in a body, at least twice a year, at their Parish Church, or such other Church as they may designate, and wear the Regalia of the Order.
BY-LAWS.
Meetings. — Sec. 1. The regular monthly meetings of the Order shall be held on any stated evening. From the first day of October to the first day of April, the hour of meeting shall be half-past 7 o’clock, and from the first of April to the first of October, shall be 8 o’clock.
Sec- 2. When any question is before the house, no other motion shall be in order, except to amend the previous question, to lay on the table, or to adjourn, which shall take precedence in the order in which they are named.
Sec. 3. Reports from all Committees shall be made in writing, and shall be filed, or correct copies entered by the Secretary of the body receiving them.
Sec. 4. When a member speaks, he shall rise in his place and respectfully address the President, confine himself to the question under consideration, and avoid personality or unbecoming language. (See Article XX of the Constitution.) Should two or more mem¬bers rise to speak at the same time, the President shall decide who shall have the floor.
See. 5. No member shall speak more than twice on any one subject—five minutes allowed each time—but not oftener, unless to explain, or by permission of the President.
Sec. 6. When a member is called to order he shall take his seat until the point of order is decided. When an appeal is made from the decision of the President, he shall put it thus: “Shall the decision of the President be sustained?” Which shall be decided without debate.
Sec. 7. The President shall state the question properly to the meeting, and before putting it to the vote shall ask, “Is the house ready for the question?” Should no member offer to speak, he shall rise to put it, and after he has risen, no member shall be allowed to speak upon it.
Sec. 8. All resolutions shall be reduced to writing, if the President or any member desires, and all reports of committees shall be in writing.
Sec. 9. On each night of general meeting, President and Secretary shall give an account of all the money received and paid out for that quarter, in order to afford general satisfaction.
Sec. 10. If any member of this Order be convicted of robbery, perjury, or any other atrocious offence, he shall be excluded from the Order for life.
Sec. 11. No officer or member shall dictate to the President, or call his conduct in question, during Division hours, except by a regular motion made to the Vice-President; in default of so doing, to be fined as in Article XV of the Constitution.
Sec. 12. Should any dispute arise between the members of any Division on any matter or subject which they cannot conveniently settle by their own Standing Committee, which shall consist of seven members, the pause shall be brought before the Board of Directors, who shall determine the matter in question, and such decision shall be binding. (See Article XXV of the Constitution.)
Sec. 13. On the examination of a member for a breach of these rules, he shall be allowed to sit in the Division room during the examination, and be allowed to ask any question he may choose, through the presiding officer, to the person who is his accuser; but if he uses any abusive language to the Board or witnesses, he shall be expelled the Division room, and, although acquitted, he shall be fined in the sum of one dollar.
Sec. 14. No member shall stand a poll or fill any office except he is capable of keeping his own books and has been a member six months.
Sec. 15. When any member of this Order falls sick, a Visiting Committee belonging to the Division of which he is a member shall visit him; and should they neglect to do so, each of them shall be fined in the sum of one dollar. When said Committee shall report the state of his health, and if it be so as he is not able to attend to his daily labor, the President shall give an order on the Treasurer, signed and countersigned by the Secretary, for the sum of five dollars for each week during his sickness; and should he die, the sum of fifty dollars shall be allowed to defray his funeral expenses.
Sec. 16. Any officer or member neglecting to attend the funeral of a brother member, shall be fined in the sum of fifty cents, except members of the Division to which the deceased belongs, who shall be fined one dollar; and on Sundays the fine shall be one dollar for all, and be deprived of the benefits of the Order until the said fine is paid.
Sec. 17. On the death of a member’s wife, the Division to which said member belongs shall pay the sum of 10 dollars to defray the funeral expenses. But the members shall not be compelled to attend the funeral.
Sec. 18. Each Division shall have a High Mass said on the death of every member in good standing.
Sec. 19. Each Division shall have an Assistant Secretary, who shall aid the Secretary by recording all fines and penalties. The Secretary and Assistant shall each have a book, and attend the meetings, call the roll of their respective Divisions, fine all absent members, take an account of the state of the funds of the Division, notify their committees on general and special matters, and sign all documents relative to their Division.
Sec. 20. All persons initiated in the Order shall pay the sum of three dollars, sign the Rules of the Society, and pay the sum of thirty-five cents monthly during membership, and ten cents for a copy of the Constitution.
Sec. 21. Propositions for membership shall be accompanied by the sum of one dollar for each name proposed, which shall apply as part of the initiation fee. Should the candidate be rejected, the money shall be refunded.
Sec. 22. Any candidate accepted by the Order, failing to present himself for initiation within two months after being notified of his election, shall forfeit the proposition fee to the Society.
Sec. 23. The Board of Directors shall receive the sum of one dollar quarterly from each Division, and shall appoint a Treasurer and Secretary to keep an account of all moneys received by the said Board, and also the expenditures.
See. 24. The Board of Directors shall appoint its own President, Secretary, and Treasurer, at the annual election, and shall raise a stock or fund of money, in order to defray the expenses of the said Board. They shall receive the sum of one dollar quarterly from each Division, pay all the postage of letters of communication and printing of any documents belonging to the said Board. The Secre¬tary shall engross, in a book kept for that purpose, all the receipts and, expenditures, and return an account of the same to all the members of the Order, at each quarterly or general meeting. The Chairman shall give an order on the Treasurer, countersigned by the Secretary, and all the members present shall have the power of rejecting or permitting the payment of the same when the yeas or nays are taken, and a majority are in favor of paying a bill, the Treasurer shall pay the same, and the Secretary shall enter the same on the minutes.
Sec. 25. All property, such as general banners, books, staves of office, etc., etc., shall remain at headquarters designated by the Board of Directors.
Sec. 26. No member shall be exempt from fines imposed under the Constitution of this Order, unless the cause shall be presented in writing, attested by five members in good standing, and with the consent of a majority of the members of the Division of which he is a member.
Sec. 27. A member falling sick while in arrears on the books of his Division, for dues or fines, cannot liquidate such arrearage for the purpose of drawing benefits from the Order during his sickness.
See. 28. The General President and General Secretary shall take no action in regard to the funeral of a member until they have re¬ceived notice from the Secretary of such member’s Division as to his standing on the books.
Sec. 29. Upon intelligence being received by the Secretary of a Division of the death of a member, he shall immediately report the standing of such member on his books to the General Secretary and General President for action as prescribed in the Constitution. If an officer should die, the Secretary of the Board will proceed as Secretary of a Division.
Sec. 30. All books and accounts shall be kept by the officers in a uniform system and ready for inspection by proper authority, at any regular meeting.
Sec. 31. Any brother, a member of this Order for six months, shall be entitled to the benefits thereof in case of sickness, provided such sickness or disability shall not be the result of immoral or improper conduct. (See Article XXI. Constitution.)
Sec. 32. No member shall be allowed any sick dues unless he has been sick one week, and then only from date of filing notice of said sickness.
Sec. 33. Members of a Standing or Special Committee, failing to perform their duty, shall be reprimanded, fined, or both, by the authority which appointed, unless sufficient excuse be given.
Sec. 34. Officers of each Division shall, in all processions, walk at the head of their respective bodies, and preserve order in the ranks.
Sec. 35. It shall be the duty of any officer who may see a brother appearing in procession, or in public, with his regalia on, in a state of intoxication to take the regalia off and report the name of such brother to his Division, with charges in writing.
Sec. 36. A meeting shall be held in each Division on or about the beginning of each month, after the opening of which the Presi¬dent shall order the proceedings of the last meeting to be read to the members. Money should not be received by any officer or member, but on the night appointed for meeting.
Sec. 37. The General and Division elections shall be held within one month after the State election, when the old officers’ term expires and new ones installed.
Sec. 38. Secretaries are required to keep a separate account of funeral fines from all other moneys received, and render a report of the Divisions at each quarterly meeting, failing they shall be sus pended from office, unless prevented by sickness or absence from the city.
Sec. 39. Members of this Order in this State shall be required at least twice a year to receive Holy Communion, at their Parish Church, or such church as they may designate, and wear the rosette of the Order. The time to be the Sundays within the octaves of the 15th of August and 25th of March. Any member failing to comply with this section, for the first neglect shall be suspended for three months, for the second neglect six months, and for the third for life.
Sec. 40. No part of this Constitution or By-Laws shall be re¬pealed, altered, or amended, unless a proposal in writing be presented to the Board of Directors one month previous to the discussion, when if two-thirds of the members present vote in favor of the motion it shall be adopted, and not otherwise.
ORDER OF BUSINESS.
When the Board of Directors take their respective seats, and the
President calls the Division to order, the business shall be taken
up in the following order:
1st. Minutes of last meeting.
2nd. The call of the officers of the last stated meeting, who if
not present, shall be fined according to Article XVIII.
3rd. Reports of candidates and new members received.
4th. Petitions read and referred.
5th. Reports of committees read and referred.
6th. Communications read and referred.
