Part three. Again, the numbers and margins are being generated automatically, and badly. Plus there was a serious error in the original text — lines all out of order, and I’ve [sic] marked these. If you like a word puzzle and want to tease the role of the Board of Trustees into the right order (any ministers interested?) please do so and leave it in the comments. This document will be complete in the next installment.
By-Laws.
1 – Duties of Officers
1. Of the President: He shall preside at all meetings of the Convention, and shall appoint all Committees unless the Convention shall otherwise order, and preform such additional service as pertains to this office.
2. Of the Vice-Presidents: One of the Vice-Presidents shall preside at sessions of the Convention whenever the President is absent.
3. Of the Secretary: He shall give due notice of all meetingsd of the Convention and of the Board of Trustees and shall keep full minutes of their proceedings.
He shall keep a register of the Clergy and Parishes of the Church, shall have custody of the books, minutes, papers and reports of the Convention, and, in general, shall perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary, and such additional service as pertains to this office. He shall receive such salary as the Board of Trustees shall determine.
He shall give the Convention a bond in sum and with sureties satisfactory to the Board of Trustees, for the faithful discharge of the duties of his office, and for the restoration of the COnvention, in case of his death, resignation or removal from office, of all its books, papers, vouchers, money or other property of whatever kind in his possession.
4. Of the Treasurer: He shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements, in books belonging to the Convention, and shall deposit all money and other valuable effects in its name and to its credit, in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Trustees. He shall receive such salary as the Board of Trustees may determine.
He shall disburse the funds of the Convention as may be ordered by the Board of Trustees, taking proper vouchers therefor, and shall render to the Board of Trustees, at each regular meeting of the Board, or oftener, if requested, an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Convention.
He shall have custody of all the securities and title papers of the Convention.
He shall give the Convention a bond in sum and with sureties satisfactory to the Board of Trustees, for the faithful discharge of the duties of his office, and for the restoration of the Convention, in case of his death, resignation or removal from office, of all its books, papers, vouchers, money or other property of whatever kind in his possession.
The Board of Trustees shall cause his books to be audited at least once a year, by certified public accountants, and an abstract of his accounts shall be laid before the Convention at each regular session.
5. Of the General Superintendent: He shall, under the Board of Trustees, have supervision of the work of church extension of the Convention. He shall have direct oversight of such regional superintedents as the Board of Trustees may appoint, and shall, through counsel and suitable organization, foster efficiency and co-operative action among Superintendents of the various State Conventions. He shall recommend to the Convention and the Board of Trustees such measures as will, in his judgment, deepen the spiritual life of the church and enlarge its power to advance the kingdom of God. He shall perform shuch additional service as pertains to his office. He shall receive such salary as the Board of Trustees may determine.
6. Of the Board of Trustees: They shall have the general management of the affairs of the Convention and of Church at large when [sic] the Convention. If the decision is not unanumous, the Board of Appeal [sic] funds of the Convention for the purposes desinated by the Convention and for carrying out the purposes of this organization: shall on [sic] behalf of the Convention in all matters of Fellowship, Ordination, and Discipline according to the rules provided therefor; and shall have power to adopt and carry into effect all needful measures for promoting the interest, growth, and welfare of the Universalist Church.
They shall have the care and investment of all funds raised by and given to the Convention and shall authorize disbursements for the purpose of the Convention and shall carry into effect all measures adopted for raising monies.
They shall make preliminary arrangements for the session of the Convention whether regular or special, including the order of proceedings and religious meetings, subject to the Convention’s approval.
They shall have power to appoint such officers or agents as the work of the Convention may require, and such officers may be veted with authority to execute and carry into effect the special duties entrusted to them.
They shall appoint at the first meeting of the Board held after each session of the Convention an Auditing Committee who shall annually examine the accounts of the secretary and treasurer and make written report thereof to the Board.
In cases of complaint or appeal they shall appoint a Board of Appeal to consist of three persons, at least one of whom shall be a clergyman, and none of whom shall be a resident of the state or states interested. Said Board of Appeal shall as soon as practicable designate a time for hearing the complaint or appeal, and shall give notice to parties concerned not less thn thirty days prior to the date fixed for such hearing. Said notice sall be by registered letter directed to the parties at their last known post office address. Upon the date fixed for such hearing said Board of Appeal shall hear the evidence in the cause together with statements of parties either in person or by counsel, and shall render such decision, as in their judgment, justice and equity demand. If their decision is unanimous, the same shall be final and it shall be immediately reported to the Secretary of the Convention, who shall at once notify the parties at issue of the results of such decision and shall make a record of the same in the proceedings of the Convention [sic] is not in session; shall have power to appropriate the [sic] shall report the case to the next session of the Convention with all of the papers and evidence relating thereto for final action.
All petitions, memorials and complaints relating to meeters of discipline which may be referred by the Convention to the Board of Trustees or be brought directly before them shall be considered by said Board, and if deemed desirable they shall appoint a board of three persons to hear and render judgment thereon; in such cases the above rules as to notice, hearing and judgment, so far as the same are applicable, shall be observed.
The Board of Trustees shall submit a report of their proceedings including their appropriation and expenditure of all funds at every regular session of the Convention; they shall also present a report showing the general condition and needs of the church with respect to Religious Worship, Missions, Education, Sunday Schools and all other interests of the church, together with their recommendations thereon.
In years intervenings between sessions of the Convention the Board of Trustees shall during the month of October prepare and publish a financial statement for the year ending on the thirtieth day of September preceding, and the same shall be published as a part of their biennial report.
A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the traveling expenses of members to and from the regular and called meetings of the Board of Trustees shall be paid out of the funds of the Convention.
II – Sessions
Special Sessions of the Convention shall be ordered by the Board of Trustees, at such time and place as they may appoint, whenever a written request setting forth the reasons, and signed by the Presidents of at least five State Conventions, shall be presented to the Secretary.
Public notice of any Special Session, stating the purpose, shall be given by the Secretary, at least one month before the time fixed therefor.
The delegates to the preceding regular Session shall be delegates at any Special Session, if no other have been chosen.
III – Special Privileges
1. All members of Committees, who are not members of the Convention, whenever their reports are under consideration, shall be entitled to the privileges of the floor, without the right to vote.
2. Representatives of Universalists not within the jurisdiction of this body, and those of other religious denominations duly accredited to this Convention, shall be reported by the Committee on Credentials, received by the President, and assigned to seats with the members of the Convention. Such representatives may address the Convention upon the invitation of the President.
IV — Office of the Convention
The Office of the Convention shall bein the State of New York, though neither the Secretary nor the Treasurer shall be required to be a resident thereof.
