IT BEING
evident, from a steady decline of a proper celebration of the National holidays of the United States of America, that popular concern in the events and men of the war of the Revolution is gradually declining, and that such lack of interest is attributable, not so much to the lapse of time and the rapidly increasing flood of immigration from foreign countries, as to the neglect on the part of descendants of Revolutionary heroes to perform their duty in keeping before the public mind the memory of the services of their ancestors and of the times in which they lived; therefore, the Society of the Sons of the Revolution has been instituted to perpetuate the memory of the men who, in the military, naval, and civil service of the Colonies and of the Continental Congress, by their acts or counsel, achieved the independence of the country, and to further the proper celebration of the anniversaries of the birthday of Washington, and of prominent events connected with the war of the Revolution; to collect and secure for preservation the rolls, records, and other documents relating to that period; to inspire the members of the Society with the patriotic spirit of their forefathers; and to promote the feeling of friendship among them.
The General Society shall be divided into State Societies, which shall meet annually on the day appointed therefor in their respective By-Laws, and oftener if found expedient; and at such annual meeting the reasons for the institution of the Society shall be considered, and the best measures for carrying them into effect adopted.
(page 10)
The State Societies at every annual meeting shall choose a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Registrar, a Treasurer, a Chaplain, and such other officers as may by them respectively be deemed necessary, and a Board of Managers, to consist of such officers, and other members, as may be provided by their respective Constitutions and By-Laws, all of whom shall retain their respective positions until their successors are duly chosen.
Each State Society shall cause to be transmitted annually or oftener to the other State Societies a circular letter calling attention to whatever may be thought worthy of observation respecting the welfare of the Society or of the general union of the States, and giving information of the officers chosen for the year; and copies of these letters shall also be transmitted to the General Secretary to be preserved among the records of the General Society.
The State Societies shall regulate all matters respecting their own affairs, consistent with the general good of the Society; judge of the qualification of their members or of those proposed for membership, subject, however, to the provisions of this constitution; and expel any member who, by conduct unbecoming a gentleman or a man of honor, or by any opposition to the interests of the community in general or of the Society in particular, may render himself unworthy to continue in membership.
In order to form funds that may be respectable, each member shall contribute, upon his admission to the Society and annually there-after, such sums as the By-Laws of the respective State Societies may require; but any of such State Societies may provide for the endowment of memberships by the payment of proper sums in capitalization, which sums shall be properly invested as a permanent fund, the income only of which shall be expended.
The regular meeting of the General Society shall be held every
three years, and special meetings may be held upon the order of the General President or upon the request of two of the State Societies, and such meetings shall consist of the General Officers and a representation not exceeding five deputies from each State Society, and the necessary expenses of such meeting shall be borne by the State Societies.
(page 11)
At the regular meeting a General President, General Vice President, General Second Vice-President, General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary, General Treasurer, Assistant General Treasurer, General Chaplain, General Registrar, and General Historian shall be chosen by a majority of the votes present, to serve until the next regular general meeting, or until their successors are duly chosen.
At each general meeting the circular letter which have been transmitted by the several State Societies shall be considered, and all measures taken which shall conduce to the general welfare of the Society.
the General Society shall have power at any meeting to admit State Societies thereto, and to entertain and determine all questions affecting the qualifications for membership in or the welfare of any State Society as may by proper memorial be presented by such State Society for consideration.
Any male person above the age of twenty-one years, of good character, and a descendant of one who, as a military, naval, or marine officer, soldier, sailor, or marine, in actual service, under the authority of any of the thirteen Colonies or States or of the Continental Congress, and remaining always loyal to such authority; or a descendant of one who signed the Declaration of Independence, or of one who, as a member of the Continental Congress or of the Congress of any of the Colonies or States, or as an official appointed by or under the authority of any such legislative bodies, actually assisted in the establishment of American Independence by services rendered during the war of the Revolution, becoming thereby liable to conviction of treason against the government of Great Britain, but remaining always loyal to the authority of the Colonies or States, shall be eligible to membership in the Society.
The Secretary of each State Society shall transmit to the General Secretary a list of the members thereof, together with the names and official designations of those from whom such members derive claim to membership; and thereafter, upon the admission of members in each State Society, the Secretary thereof shall transmit to the General Secretary information respecting such members similar to that herein required.
(Page 12)
The Society shall have an insignia, which shall be a badge suspended from a ribbon by a ring of gold; the badge to be elliptical in form, with escalloped edges, one and one-quarter inches in length and one and one-eighth inches in width; the whole surmounted by a gold eagle with wings displayed, inverted; on the obverse side a medallion of gold in the centre, elliptical in form, bearing on its face the figure of a soldier in Continental uniform, with musket slung; beneath, the figures 1775; the medallion surrounded by thirteen raised gold stars of five points each upon a border of dark blue enamel. On the
side, in the centre, a medallion corresponding in form to that on the obverse, and also in gold, bearing on its face the Houdon portrait of Washington in bas-relief, encircled by the legend, "Sons of the Revolution;" beneath, the figures 1883; and upon the reverse of the eagle the number of the badge to be engraved; the medallion to be surrounded by a plain gold border, conforming in dimensions to the obverse; the ribbon shall be dark blue, ribbed and watered, edged with buff, one and one-half inches wide, and one and one-half inches in displayed length.
(Page 13)
Return to top
The insignia of the Society shall be worn by the members on all occasions when they assemble as such for any stated purpose or celebration, and may be worn on any occasion of ceremony; it shall be carried conspicuously on the left breast, but members who are or have been officers of the Society may wear the insignia suspended from the ribbon around the neck.
The seal of the Society shall be one and seven-eighths inches in diameter, and shall consist of the figure of a Minute-man in Continental uniform, standing on a ladder leading to a belfry; in his left hand he holds a musket and an olive-branch, whilst his right grasps a bell-rope; above, the cracked Liberty Bell; issuing therefrom a ribbon bearing the motto of the Society, Exegi monumentum are perennius; across the top of the ladder on a ribbon, the figures 1776; and on the left of the Minute-man, and also on a ribbon, the figures 1883, the year of the formation of the Society; the whole encircled by a band three-eighths of one inch wide; thereon at the top thirteen starts
(Page 14)
of five points each; at the bottom the name of the General Society, or of the State Society to which the seal belongs.
On occasions other than the meetings for any stated purpose or celebration, members may wear a rosette of the prescribed ribbon and pattern in the upper button-hole of the left lapel of the coat.
The Treasurer shall procure and issue the rosettes to members.
The following being a fac-simile of the same, which shall not exceed fifteen millimeters in diameter:
Return to top
|
Historical Books of Interest home page
Table of Contents
By-laws of the Iowa Society
Contact me
Visit our family of homepages and join us.