Rules and regulations for the government of the Woman's relief corps

Front matter

rOK THE GOVERXMEXT OF THE

^oriAN's Relief Corps

AUXILIARY TO THE

Chapter I. Article I

NAME.

This Association shall be known as the Woman's Relief Corps, Auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic.

ARTICLE II.

OBJECTS.

Section 1. To specially aid and assist the Grand Army of the Republic and to perpetuate the memory of their heroic dead.

Section 2. To assist such Union veterans as need our help and protection, and to extend needful aid to their widows and orphans. To find them homes and employment, and assure them of sympathy and friends. To cherish and emulate the deeds of our army nurses, and of all loyal women who rendered loving service to our country in her hour of peril.

Section 3. To maintain true allegiance to the United States of America; to inculcate lessons of patriotism and love of country among our children and in the commimities in which we live ; and encourage the spread of universal liberty and equal rights to all.

ARTICLE III. organization.

The several constituted bodies of this association shall consist of :

1. Subordinate organizations to be known as *

Relief Coi-ps No Department of

provided, however, that no Corps shall be organized except as auxiliary to a Post upon application approved and endorsed by the Post Commander. There can be but one Woman's Relief Corps auxiliary to the same Post.

2. State organizations to be known as Department of

Woman's Relief Corps, Auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic.

* a Corps must bear the name of the Post to which it is auxiliary.

4 RULES AND REGULATIONS chap. n.

3. A National organization to be known as the National Convention of the Woman's Relief Corps, Auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic.

ARTICLE IV.

ELIGIBILITY TO MEMBERSHIP.

Women of good moral character and correct deportment, who have not given aid and comfort to the enemies of the Union, who would perpetuate the principles to which this association stands pledged, and who have attained the age of sixteen years, shall be eligible to membership in the Woman's Relief Corps.

Chapter II. Subordinate Corps

ARTICLE I.

FORMATION.

Section 1. A Corps may be formed by the authority of a Department President (or of the National President, where no Department organization exists), on the application of not less than ten persons eligible to membership in the Woman's Relief Corps; said application shall in all cases be accompanied by the charter fee of five dollars, and must be approved and endorsed by the Commander of the Post desiring an auxiliary Corps. There can be but one Woman's Relief Corps auxiliary to the same Post. The admission fee of charter members shall be the same as that of members admitted on application. No Corps shall be recognized by the members of the Woman's Relief Corps unless acting under a legal and unforfeited charter.

Section 2. On the receipt of such application, the Department President, (or National President where no Department organization exists), if satisfied of the eligibility of the applicants, and that it is for the interest of the Woman's Relief Coi-ps to form such subordinate Corps, shall proceed, either in person or by detail, to organize the Corps, superintend the election of its ofiicers for the remainder of the current year, and complete its organization. Only those obligated on the day the Corps is organized can become charter members, except should any liave signed application for charter and were unable to be present at organization, they may, if initiated within a month, have their names enrolled on cliarter.

Section 3. Corps charters shall be signed by the Department President and countersigned by the Secretary of the Department within which the applicants for such charter reside.

Section 4. The rank of a Corps is established by the date of its charter. Date of organization sliall appear upon charter and also upon Roster.

Chap. II. Woman's Relief Corps. 5

Section 5. A Corps charter may be surrendered voluntarily when less than ten members desire the continuance of the Corps. In case of surrender of a charter, the property of the Department, including Charter, Rituals, books of record and Corps papers, shall immediately be turned over to the Department Secretary and shall be subject to the disposition of the Department Council.

Section 6. A charter shall not be surrendered by any Corps so long as ten members thereof, in good standing, demand its continuance; nor unless a proposition to surrender the charter shall have been made at a regular meeting at least four weeks before the time of action, and written notice given to every member of the Corps ; except, that upon official notification addressed to the Department President (or National President where no Department organization exists), that a Post desires the dissolution of its auxiliary, the charter shall be surrendered by the Corps upon command of the Department President (or National President), provided that the official notification of such desire shall not be considered, unless a majority of the members of the Post present and voting have voted in favor of such dissolution, after four weeks' previous notice.

Section 7. Corps charters may be suspended or annulled by the Department President (or National President where no Department organization exists), v/ith the advice and consent of the Department Council.

Section 8. In case of revocation or surrender of a chartei-, all funds remaining in the treasury, after all indebtedness is paid, shall revert to the Post. Should the Post be disbanded or refuse to receive such funds, they shall revert to the Department for a Relief Fund, to be held for the purpose of relief only.

Section 9. A Corps having been disbanded or its charter annulled may be re-organized with its original name and number, provided these have not been appropriated. In such re-organization a new charter shall be issued, according to the provisions of Sections 1 and 2 of this Article.

ARTICLE II. admission to membekship.

Section 1. Every application for admission to membership shall be made on the regularly prepared blanks issued from National Headquarters, be signed by the applicant, with full personal name, and must be accompanied by an admission fee of not less than one dollar, and price of badge added thereto. Members leaving the Order must return their badges, for which the regiilar price will be paid.

Section 2. The application shall be recommended by two members of the Corps, who vouch for the applicant's eligibility by their signatures — be presented at a regular meeting, and referred to a committee of three, whose duty it is to investigate and report.

Neither member recommending applicant shall act on investigating committee.

Section 3. After careful investigation, the committee will, by their signature, approve or disapprove the application, and report at a sub-

6 RULES AND REGULATIONS chap. n.

sequent regular meeting of the Corps; j^rovided, however, that in special cases only the National President or Department President may grant a dispensation in writing to a Corps permitting an investigating Committee to report on the day of their appointment. An application may be withdrawn while in the hands of an investigating committee; but be the report favoraole or unfavorable, after comiuittee has reported it must take its regular course, except it should, upon discussion, appear that the committee reported without proper investigation. The Corps may then decline to vote, the committee be discharged, and a new one appointed. Should a member of the committee be absent or decline to report, the President may declare a vacancy and fill the same.

Section 4. After the application is read and committee report, the President shall give opportimity to any member having objections to the applicant's election to state the same, after which a ballot with ball ballots shall be had. If, on coimtmg the ballots deposited, it appears that twenty or less were cast, and four or more of them are black, the candidate is rejected; should the result of the ballot be unfavorable to the applicant, the President may, before declaring the vote, order a second ballot, the result of which shall be final. If more than twenty are cast, then an additional black ball for every additional ten, or fractional pait thereof, shall be necessary to reject. If less than four black balls be cast, the candidate shall be declared elected. No reconsideration of a ballot shall be had after the President has annotmced the result thereof.

Section 5. Each applicant, upon her election, shall be at once notified in writing, and on presenting herself for membership, shall be properly initiated. But unless she present herself for initiation within three months from the date of such notice, her election shall be void, and all moneys which accompanied the application shall be forfeited to the Corps treasury.

Section 6. If an applicant be rejected, she shall be at once notified of the fact in writing, and the admission fee shall be returned. She shall not be eligible to admission to the Woman's Relief Corps for six months after such rejection. A second, and all subsequent applications, shall be in the same form, and subject to the same conditions as the first.

Section 7. An applicant having been regularly elected, may be initiated at a special meeting.

A Department President may, in any special case, authorize a Corps by written dispensation to initiate a candidate who has not presented herself for init iation within three months after notice of election, such request to be by two-thirds vote of the Corps.

Should an applicant after being elected prove to be im worthy, the Corps may by a two-thirds vote petition the Department President to set aside the ballot and annul the election.

Section 8. The Department President may, within her jurisdiction, and at her discretion, receive and initiate an applicant for membership, or detail a member for that purpose, provided such applicant reside outside the proper territorial limits of any Corps. A member

CHAP. II. WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS. 7

thus received shall be granted a transfer card signed by the Department President and Secretaiy bearing the same date as initiation.

Section 9. Where no Dei3artment organization exists, the National President shall have the same jurisdiction as a Department President.

Section 10. A member-elect, upon initiation, shall subscribe to these Rules and Regulations and the By-Laws of the Corps; and receive from the Corps a membership badge, which shall be worn upon the left breast, at all meetings of the Woman's Relief Corps.

ARTICLE III.

ADMISSION OF MEMBERS BY TRANSFER.

Section 1. A member having a valid transfer card may, upon regular application, and presenting herself for admission by transfer, be re-admitted to the Corps which granted the same after her name has been proposed, referred and reported upon, and upon receiving a two-thirds vote by ballot of the members present and voting at a regular meeting; or she may be admitted to another Corps, upon regular application as above, and presenting herself for admission by transfer, by a tworthirds vote by ballot of the members present and voting at a regular meeting; or she may be admitted a charter member of a new Corps.

Section 2. Each Corps may, through its By-Laws, establish such an admission fee as they think proper to be paid by members joining by transfer, the amount not to exceed that paid at a regular initiation.

ARTICLE IV. visiting, transfer and discharge cards.

Section 1. Any member applying therefor in person or by letter shall be granted a visiting card signed by the President, and attested by the Secretary, for a specified time not exceeding twelve months, commending her to all members, provided she has faithfully discharged all duties enjoined upon her and has paid in advance all dues for the time specified in the visiting card.

Section 2. Any member against whom no charges exist and who has paid all dues, shall receive a transfer card signed by the President and attested by the Secretary, upon verbal or written application to the President at a regular meeting of the Corps. Upon its presentation to any Corps, within one year from date of issue, she may be admitted in "the manner prescribed in Art. Ill of this chapter. In the meantime she shall remain, for purposes of discipline only, under the jurisdiction of the Corps granting the transfer card. A member holding transfer card is not entitled lo the password. If at the expiration of a year she has not been admitted to membership in any Corps, and no charges have been preferred, the transfer card shall be void, and the holder be considered honorably discharged from the Order.

Section 3. Members of disbanded Corps who were in good standing at the time of such dissolution shall receive transfer cards from the Department Secretary which shall have full force.

Section 4. Department Presidents may grant a special dispensation to a member out on transfer (but not within reach of another

8 RULES AND REGULATIONS chap. n.

Corps) permitting her to be considered a member of the Corps from which the transfer was taken until such time as she shall be able to present herself to some Corps for admission by transfer, as prescribed in the Ritual.

Section 5. Any member in good standing, on written application to the Corps President at a regular meeting, shall receive at some subsequent meeting, on the return of her badge, an honorable discharge signed by the President and attested by the Secretary. A member thus discharged can be re-admitted by filing a new application to be regularly referred and reported upon, and upon receiving a two-thirds vote by ballot of the members present and voting at a regular meeting, she shall be admitted without re-initiation on taking anew the obligation.

Section 6. A member can be dishonorably discharged only upon due trial and sentence as per Chap. V, Art. VII.

ARTICLE V.

MEETINGS.

Section 1. The regular meetings of each Corps shall be held at least monthly

Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the Corps President, or upon the written request of five members of the Corps. Notice thereof must be given to each member of the Corps, and the object of such meeting stated, and no business shall be transacted except such as is specified in the call.

Section 3. Eight members qualified to transact business shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Corps.

Section 4. Corps having thirty or less members, jive members qualified to transact business may constitute a quorum; the chairs to be filled being President, Secretary, Treasm-er, Conductor and Guard.

Section 5. Children over two years of age cannot be admitted to Corps meetings.

ARTICLE VI.

OFFICEKS.

Section L All members of the Woman's Relief Corps in good standing are eligible to any Corps, Department or National office.

Section 2. The officers of each Corps shall be a President, Senior and Junior Vice-Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, Chaplain, Conductor, Guard, Assistant Conductor and Assistant Guard.

Section 3. The Corps President shall appoint Relief. Executive, Auditing, Home and Employment and Conference Committees, to be directors of Corps work.

Section 4. The terms of appointed officers and committees (Corps, Department or National) expire with the appointing power. They shall hold office until their successors are appointed, but may at any time be removed at the option of the appointing officer.

ARTICLE VII. election of officers.

Section 1. The Corps officers, except Secretary, Assistant Conductor and Assistant Guard, shall be elected at the first regular

CHAP. n. WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS. 9

meeting in December, or at a special meeting if necessary to conclude the election. Each member of the Corps in good standing must be previously notified. The election shall be by written ballot, unless such ballot be dispensed with by unanimous consent.

Section 2. In balloting for officers, a majority of ail the votes cast shall be necessary to a choice. If there is no election on the first two ballots, the name of the member receiving the lowest number of votes shall be dropped, and so on in successive ballots until a choice is made.

Section 8. The officers thus elected shall be installea at the first regular meeting in Januai^y following, or at a special meeting called for such purpose during the mouth (except officers of Corps organized in December, who being then installed hold office for the year). The newly elected officers shall select the Installing Officer, the Corps Secretary immediately reporthig their choice to the Department Secretary. If a member from another Corps be selected, the appointment will be made by the Department President, upon the request of officers elect. At the installation the Corps President shall appoint the Secretary; the Conductor and Guard respectively nominate the Assistant Conductor and Assistant Guard, who, when confirmed by the President, shall also be installed. All officers enter upon their duties immediately after installation, and, whether elected or appointed, hold office until their successors are installed. Installation may be conducted publicly.

Section 4. At the first regular meeting after the installation of officers, the President shall appoint the Committees as provided for in Chap. II, Article VI, Section 3.

Section 5. Corps may fill any vacancy in their elective offices at any regular meeting, provided notice of such contemplated action has been given at a previous meeting.

ARTICLE VIII.

DUTIES OF OFFICERS.

Section 1. It is the duty of a Corps President to preside at all meetings of the Corps, to enforce a strict observance of the Rules and Regulations of the Order and By-Laws of the Corps, and all orders from proper authority; to detail all officers and committees not otherwise provided for; to approve by her signatm-e all orders drawn by the Secretary upon the Treasurer for appropriations of money made and passed at a regular meeting of the Coi-ps ; to forward the reports and returns required by Rules and Regulations, and perform such other duties as may appertain to her office. She shall forward to the Post Commander a quarterly report of the relief extended by the Corps, and confer with him concerning all matters in common between Post and Corps. She shall appoint a Conference Committee of five to meet and counsel with a like Committee from the Post, in order to strengthen the relations and perfect the work for which these organizations are mutually pledged. She shall signify to the Post Commander her desire for the appointment of such Committee.

Section 2. The Vice-Presidents shall perform such duties as are required of them by the Ritual, and in the absence of the President

10 RULES AND REGULATIONS chap. n.

shall fill her oflBce according to seniority. If neither of them are

present the next regular officer in rank calls meeting to order, when

the Corps shall elect a President pro tern.

I ; Section 8. The Secretary shall keep in books properly prepared :

['■ L The Rules and Regulations of the Woman's Relief Corps and

the By-Laws of the Corps, to be duly signed by every member upon

initiation.

2. A Journal, in which must be recorded the minutes of each meeting of the Corps and from which the same shall be read to the Corps at a regular meeting. Her signature, or that of the Secretary pro tern., must attest all proceedings after being corrected and approved.

3. An Order Book, in which shall be recorded all orders drawn on the Treasurer, and approved by the President.

4. A General Order File, in which shall be preserved all orders and circulars issued by Department or National Headquarters, in the order in which they are received.

5. A Letter File, in which shall be preserved all official correspondence.

6. The Secretary shall draw all orders for money on the Treasurer, approved by the Corps President; shall in writing notify all applicants for membership the result of ballot, and, under the direction of the President, prepare all reports and retui-ns required of her ; she shall notify the Department Secretary of the death of any army nurse that may be known to her ; and shall perform such other duties as appertain to her office, and transfer to her successor, without delay, all books, papers and other Corps property in her possession.

Section 4. The Treasurer shall hold the fimds, vouchers and other property of the Corps, pay all orders for money drawn by the Secretary and approved by the Coi-ps President, and collect all moneys due the Corps, giving her receipt therefor; disburse no moneys except upon regularly drawn orders ; keep an account with each member, notify in writing all members in arrears, and fm'nish the President with a list of the same, and rend.er to the Corps at each regular meeting in writing an account of its finances, which shall be referred to the Finance Committee. She shall make and deliver to the President all reports required of Corps Treasurers, by Chap. V, Art. I, and deliver to her successor in office, or to any one designated by the Corps, all moneys, books and other property of the Corps m her possession or under her control. She shall give bonds prior to her installation, in a sum to be named by the Corps, for the faithful discharge of her duties.

Section 5. The Chaplain shall officiate at the opening of the Corps and at the funeral of members when attended by the Corps. She shall compile the records of Memorial Day and promptly forward the sam.e to Department Chaplain through Corps President, not later than June 10, and perform such other duties in connection with her office as tbe Corps may ref^uire.

Section 15. The Conductor and Guard shall perform such duties as may be required by the Ritual or the Corps President.

Section 7. The Assistant Conductor and Assistant Guard shall assist the Conductor and the Guard respectively, in their duties.

CHAP. n. WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS. 11

Section 8. The several Committees shall have the control of such property as the Corps hy vote shall place in their possession, subject to the direction of the Corps as to its management and investment.

Section 9. The Relief Committee shall have the management of the Relief Fund, subject to the direction of the Corps. They shall investigate all applications for relief, supply temporal wants, visit the sick, bury the dead, and report to the Corps monthly, in writing, all duties performed. All bills contracted by the Committee shall be audited by the chairman before presentation to the Corps for action.

Section 10. The Executive Committee shall devise methods foi obtaining funds, and aid in carrying into execution all such methods a& are approved by the Corps. This Committee shall be prepared for special calls, aiTange for Memorial Day, and present a written report to the Corps of all duties performed. All bills contracted by the Committee shall be audited by the chairman, before presentation to the Corps for action.

Section 11. The Auditing Committee shall examine the books and accounts of the Treasm-er and other officers quarterly, report in WTiting, and perform such other duties as may be required of them by the Corps. A single member of the Committee has not the right to audit the books; a majority is necessary.

Section 12. The Home and Employment Committee shall secure the admission of veterans' orphans to homes provided for them by city or state, or in private families ; find employment for those who are in need, and secure the admission of the sick and friendless widows, army nurses and orphans to hospitals or other places of refuge. The Chairman shall present a written report to the Corps monthly.

Section 13. The Conference Committee shall meet a like Committee from the Post, to confer concerning matters of mutual interest, in order to strengthen the relations and perfect the work for which these organizations are mutually pledged.

Section 14. The Corps Treasurer shall turn over to committees such property and funds as the Corps by vote may direct. Such additional committees may be provided as Corps work may demand.

ARTICLE IX.

delegates.

Each Corps shall, at the first regular meeting in December, annually

elect, from its members in good standing, delegates, and an equal

number of alternates to the Department Convention, in the manner

prescribed in Chap. Ill, Art. II.

ARTICLE X.

BY-LAWS.

Corps may adopt By-Laws for their government, not inconsistent with these Rules and Regulations, the Service Book, or Orders of the Department or National Conventions, and may provide for the alteration or amendment thereof.

Corps By-Laws must be submitted to Department Presidents for approval or correction before being adopted.

RULE.'S AND REGULATIONS chap. m.

Chapter III. Departments

ARTICLE I.

OEGAjSTIZATION.

Section 1. A Department may be formed (where no Department organization exists) upon the application of not less than five subordinate Corps of the Woman's Relief Corps, auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic, such apnlication to be accompanied in all cases by a charter fee of ten dollars.

Section 2. On receipt of such application the National President shall, if satisfied that it is for the interest of the Woman's Relief Corps to form such Department, proceed, either in person or by detail, to organize the Department, superintend the election of its officers for the remainder of the current year and complete its organization.

Section 3. Department Charters shall be signed .by the National President, countersigned by the National Secretary, and shall bear date of organization.

Section 4. Each Department shall be governed by a Department Convention, subordinate to the National Convention.

Section 5. The National Convention at its annual session, or the National President, with the consent of the National Council, may at any time revoke the charter of a Department which has failed to forward its reports for tlu-ee successive quarters ; or for general incompetency it may be remanded to a Provisional Department by the same authority.

ARTICLE II.

MEMBERSHIP.

Section 1. The Department Convention shall consist of : —

1. The National President, Past National Presidents, Past National Vice-Presidents, Past National Secretaries, and Past National Treasurers, in their respective Departments, so long as they remain in good standing in their respective Corps.

2. The Department Pi-esident and all Past Department Presidents who have served a full term, or who, having been elected to nil a vacancy, shall have seiwed to the end of the term, and Past Department Secretaries and Past Department Treasurers, so long as they remain in good standing in their respective Corps; and the other officers mentioned in Art. IT, Sect. 2, of this Chapter.

3. All Corps Presidents throughout the Department,— in the absence of the C/orps President the Vice-President, according to seniority, may represent the Corps. All Past Corps Presidents who have served a full term (except in Departments which have otherwise provided by a two-thirds vote at an annual meeting), or who, having been elected to fill a vacancy, shall have served to the end of the term, so long as they remain in good standing in their respective Corps.

CHAP. m. WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS. 13

4. Delegates regularly elected by the several Corps in such ratio as may have been determined by the previous Annual Convention, and one additional delegate for a final fraction of more than one-half of that number.

Section 2. The number of delegates to which each Corps is entitled shall be determined by the quai-terly report of September 30 preceding, each Corps being entitled to one delegate, v\'hatever its membership.

Section 3. Corps organized after September 30 and prior to Jannary 1 will elect delegates in the same ratio as above.

Section 4. Corps organized on and after January 1 will be represented by their President only (or Yice-President, according to seniority).

Section 5. These delegates, and an equal number of alternates, shall be chosen at the same time and in the same manner of electing Corps officers at the first regular meeting in December, and shall serve during the year, commencing on the first day of January following. Any vacancies that occur may be filled as provided in Chap. II, Art. VII, Sect. 5, and notice of such election must be immediately forwarded to the Department Secretary.

Section 6. The Installing Officer shall immediately after Installation forward to the Department Secretai-y a list of newly elected officers, delegates and alternates, as provided in Chap. Y, Art. II, Sect. 1.

ARTICLE III.

MEETINGS.

Section 1. There shall be an annual meeting of each Department Convention, at the same time and in the same town or city where the Department Encampment of the Grand Army of the Kepublic is held; provided, that if accommodations are inadequate for both, Convention shall be held at some contiguous point. A semi-annual meeting may be held, if so determined at the annual meeting of the Department or by the Department Council.

Section 2. Special meetings of the Department Convention may be called by the Department President, by and with the advice and consent of the Department Council, and no business shall be transacted except that speciiied in the call. No alterations affecting the general interests of the Department shall be made at a special meeting.

ARTICLE IV.

OFFICEKS.

Section 1. All members of the Woman's Relief Corps in good standing are eligible to any Corps, Department or National office.

Section 2. The officers of each Department are a President, Senior Vice-President, Jimior Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chaplain, Inspector, Counselor, Instituting and Installing Officer, and an Executive Board of five members. These officers constitute

14 RULES AND REGULATIONS chap. ai.

the Department Council. The five members are elected by the Department Convention as the Executive Board for the year, and the first elected shall be chaiiman.

ARTICLE Y.

ELECTIOIT OF OFFICEKS.

Section 1. The Department officers (except the Secretary, Inspector, Counselor and Instituting and Installing Officer, who are appointed by the Department President) shall be elected annually at the Department Convention by written ballot, unless such ballot be dispensed with by unanimous consent.

Section 2. These officers shall enter upon their respective duties immediately after their installation, and hold office until their successors are installed.

Section 8. Vacancies occurring in Department elective offices, either by death, written resignation or otherwise, shall be filled by the Depaf-tment Council, duly called and sitting within its ov.n jurisdiction, or by written acquiescence in the recommendation of the Department President by two-thirds of the Council.