a correct mode of speaking, and qualify themselves by practice to express their opinions in public in a correct manner; and believing that the extension of their information upon all subjects is calculated to improve the mind, and is highly commendable; knowing-as experience has abundantly proved-that these ends can in no other way be so speedily accomplished as by forming an association for such a purpose, have organized a Society for Mutual Improvement in Elocution, Composition and Debate, and have adopted the following constitution, by-laws, rules and regulations for their government.

Constitution.

ARTICLE I.-NAME.

This society shall be known as the PHILOSOPHIAN SOCIAL AND DEBATING SOCIETY OF THE CITY OF RICHMOnd, Va.

ARTICLE II. OBJECTS.

The objects of this society shall be to investigate subjects of a literary character; also the improvement of all connected with it in debating, social advancement, and general literature. All questions either political or bordering on immorality, or sectarian, shall be excluded.

ARTICLE III.-MEMBERSHIP.

SEC. 1. Any member may propose a person for membership at a regular meeting, by giving his name and residence, provided he has sustained an unimpeach able moral character. The society shall then determine his admission by three fourths of the legal votes cast.

SEC. 2.-No person can become a member of this society unless he be over eighteen years of age.

SEC. 3.-Any person may be elected an honorary member by a unanimous vote of the members at a regular meeting. He shall be entitled to all the privileges of a member, except holding office, engaging in a debate, or voting. He shall not be fined for absence or tardiness, nor called upon for initiation fee or dues. He shall, when requested, deliver a speech before the society.

ARTICLE IV.-OFFICERS.

The officers of this society shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Critic and Censor; all of whom shall be voted for separately, by ballot.

ARTICLE V.-DUTIES OF OFFICERS.

SEC. 1.—It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the society; to call the meeting to order at the hour to which they stand adjourned; he shall enforce a rigid observance of the constitution, by-laws, rules and regulations of the society; appoint all committees, unless otherwise ordered; see

that the officers perform their respective duties; inspect and announce the result of all ballotings or other votes. He shall never vote except in case of a tie, and then he shall give the casting vote; he shall neither make nor second any motion or amendment; neither shall he take part in any debate while in the chair; he shall draw upon the Treasurer for all sums of money that may have been voted for; and have a general superintendence of the business of the Society. He shall preserve order, and decide all questions arising therefrom; shall appoint two members to dispute any question that the society may have chosen for discussion; shall assign disputants their positions in debate two weeks in advance.

SEC. 2. It shall be the duty of the Vice-President to preside in the absence of the President, or when he engages in a debate, and perform the duties of that officer.

SEC. 3.-The Recording Secretary shall call the roll at every meeting, and report delinquents; and shall keep in a book provided for that purpose a record of the proceedings of the society; also a record of the name and residence of each member, showing when he was admitted, and when he died, resigned, or was expelled; keep a record of the subjects debated, the disputants, and the decisions of the society, in a separate book; and shall have charge of all books, documents, and papers belonging to the society. The duty of Teller shall devolve on him. At the first meeting in every month he shall present a written report of the state of the society, and its doings during the past month.

SEC. 4.-The Corresponding Secretary shall notify absent members of their duties for the two succeeding meetings; also, each person elected a member, or honorary member, of such election; and shall write all communications.

SEC. 5.-The Treasurer shall receive all moneys belonging to the society; keep an account of all dues, taxes, arrearages and fines, and of all receipts and expenditures; notify each member monthly of his dues and fines, and collect the same; and shall make no payments without a written order from the President, and countersigned by the Recording Secretary. At the first meeting in every month he shall present a written report of the financial condition of the society.

SEC. 6. The Critic shall be a judge of literary merit; shall carefully observe the speaker's every word and action; correct all grammatical blunders and imperfect pronunciation; and converse with the members on the art of oratory.

SEC. 7.-The Censor shall inspect the manners and morals of the members, and exhort them not to violate the rules of order; shall watch closely the ac tions of every member while in the debating hall; shall fine all refractory or disorderly members, and hand over the list to the Treasurer every week to collect.

ARTICLE VI.-ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

SEC. 1.-All the officers of this society shall be elected by ballot, to serve a term of one month.

SEC. 2.-They shall be elected at the last regular meeting in every month, and installed at the first regular meeting succeeding their election. They shall never be elected more than twice in succession.

SEC. 3.-No person is eligible to an office until he has been a member of this society one month. In case of a vacancy occurring in any office, the society will go into an immediate election to fill the same, and the officer elect shall take his seat immediately after such election.

SEC. 4. A majority of legal votes cast shall be necessary to a choice.

ARTICLE VII.-COMMITTEE.

The Query Committee shall be a standing committee to manage the affairs of the society, holding meetings every week. They shall furnish the society with all questions for discussion.

ARTICLE VIII.-REMOVALS FROM OFFICE.

SEC. 1. Should any officer or member of a committee neglect, or be found incompetent to discharge the duties of his office, he may be removed by a vote of two-thirds of the members present.

SEC. 2. All places of absentees in committees may be filled by said committees.

ARTICLE IX.—AMENDMENTS.

No addition, alteration or amendment can be made to this constitution, neither can any part of it be repealed, without a four-fifth vote of the society, and two weeks' previous notice.

By-Laws.

ARTICLE I.-MEETINGS.

SEC. 1. This society shall assemble every Thursday, unless otherwise ordered, for the promotion of its objects and the transaction of its business.

SEC. 2. The hour of meeting during the months of October, November, December, January, February and March, shall be seven o'clock; the hour during the rest of the year will be varied as the society sees best.

SEC. 3.-At the request of five members, the President shall call a special meeting of the society. In case of absence from any special meeting, a member shall be fined in accordance with Article X., sec. 2, of these by-laws.

ARTICLE II.-QUORUM.

At any meeting of the society seven members shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE III.-MEMBERSHIP.

SEC. 1.—When a member proposes a candidate for membership, he shall submit his name, age and residence, and inform the society that the candidate has read a copy of its constitution and by-laws, and that he approves of them, and really wishes to become a "PHILOSOPHIAN." The society will then determine his entrance by ballot.

SEC. 2.-Three-fourths of the votes of the members present elect a candidate; but if rejected, he shall not be proposed again for membership within one month.

SEC. 3.-Every candidate, upon being initiated, shall sign the constitution. and by-laws of the society, and thereby agree to support the same, and pay all legal demands against him as long as he remains a member.

SEC. 4.-No member elect shall be entitled to the privileges of a member until he shall have subscribed the constitution, etc.; and unless he do the same within two weeks from the date of his election it shall be rendered void.

ARTICLE IV.-INITIATION FEE.

Every person, before taking his seat as a member of this society, shall pay to the Treasurer an initiation fee of two dollars. No person shall be entitled to the privileges of a member until said fee is paid.

ARTICLE V.-INAUGURATION OF OFFICERS.

At the inauguration of each officer he shall be required to make the following affirmation: "I do hereby solemnly promise that I will faithfully discharge the duties of my office to the best of my knowledge and ability."

ARTICLE VI.-INITIATION OF MEMBERS.

The following affirmation (if the person has read the constitution, etc.) shall be required of each person becoming a member: "I do hereby solemnly promise, that I will observe and strictly obey all the laws, rules and regulations set down in the constitution of this society; and do further declare that I entertain no ill-will toward any member, and will endeavor to promote the welfare of this society."

ARTICLE VII.-DUES.

Every member shall pay the sum of fifty cents monthly, in advance, into the treasury.

ARTICLE VIII.-ARREARAGES.

SEC. 1.-No member in arrears for dues more than four weeks, or fines to the amount of twenty-five cents, shall be privileged to vote or speak on any question until said arrearages are paid.

SEC. 2.-Every member who shall refuse or neglect to pay his dues for the space of two weeks shall be notified thereof by the Secretary, if practicable; and if, after four weeks thereafter, his account remains unsettled, he shall stand suspended, and shall not be reinstated until all dues and arrearages against him shall be paid.

SEC. 3.—Any member who shall be in arrears to the society to the amount of two dollars shall be suspended; and should his account remain unsettled three weeks thereafter, he shall be expelled.

ARTICLE IX.—TAX.

If the funds of this society should at any time be exhausted, or inadequate to meet its demands, there shall be an equal tax upon each member to make up the deficiency.

ARTICLE X.-FINES.

The chair shall have the power to impose the following fines:

SEC. 1. Any member who shall, at the meetings, make use of any improper language, or refuse to obey the commands of the chair when called to order, or be guilty of any disorderly conduct, shall be fined for each offence ten cents. SEC. 2.-A member failing to attend any meeting of this society shall be fined ten cents, unless he renders a satisfactory excuse.

SEC. 3.-A member shall be fined ten cents on being found absent half an hour after the calling of the roll, unless he can assure the society that what belated him was insurmountable.

SEC. 4. Any member leaving the debating hall before the society shall have adjourned, without the consent of the presiding officer, shall pay a fine of fifteen.

cents.

SEC. 5.-Any member failing to defend the position in debate assigned him by the chair, shall be liable to a fine of thirty cents, unless excuses sufficiently valid be given.

SEC. 6.-If a leader in debate is found absent, unless a reasonable excuse be offered he shall be fined twenty-five cents. He will also incur the penalty for non-attendance.

SEC. 7.-Any member, whilst another member has the floor, leaving his seat or the room, whispering or talking, or otherwise attracting notice, thereby interrupting the member speaking, shall be fined ten cents; and for such acts of disorder no excuses shall be rendered.

SEC. 8.-If any member calls another to order, and fails to substantiate his point, he shall be fined ten cents.

SEC. 9.—If a member appointed to serve on a committee neglects to attend to its duties, he shall, unless he presents a satisfactory excuse, be fined ten cents. If a committee fails to do its duty, each member will be fined as stated in the preceding clause.

SEC. 10. Should the Secretary, Treasurer, or any other officer, neglect to have at the meetings such books and papers belonging to the society as may be necessary to use; or neglect to perform his duties as laid down in the constitution and by-laws, he shall, unless a reasonable excuse be given, upon the motion of a member, and with the consent of the society, be fined for each offence twenty cents.

SEC. 11. Should a committee be hindered in the performance of its duty through the negligence of any officer, said officer shall be fined ten cents.

SEC. 12. If a member neglect to pay his fines or assessments within two