report on the table, until the next meeting, in order to enable the minority to get their report ready.*

6. When all the Standing Committees have been called over, the President will call for reports from Special Committees, which will be disposed of in like manner. If a special committee, previously instructed to report at a specified day, have not been able to complete their labors, the chairman should say, "Mr. President, the Special

Committee on not having had sufficient time to complete their investigations, report progress, and ask to be continued." This should be repeated by the President, who will ask, "Shall the committee be continued?" If no objection be made, he will add, "The committee will be continued."

When a Special Committee desires to be discharged without making a written report, the chairman, when that committee is called

* Mr. Onslow, at one time Speaker in the House of Commons, justly remarked, that a check on the actions of the majority, and protection to the minority, against the attempts of power, can only be secured by close attention to the rules of proceeding.

upon, should state the reasons verbally, and then move for its discharge himself.

It is not usual to record upon the minutes, at length, the reports of committees. Such a course, in some societies, would involve the Secretary in an immense amount of labor. The most general course is simply to state that "the Committee on through Mr. chairman, made a report, accompanied with the following resolution," and then to insert the resolution, and the action of the meeting upon it. All reports and documents should be folded up neatly, endorsed with their character and date of presentation, and filed among the Secretary's papers. In some cases, however, a report may embrace very important matters, which the members may desire to have immediately before them. All such should, by a motion, be directed to be entered upon the minutes.

7. The reports of committees being all received, the President will call for the Treasurer's report, which, if presented, he will direct the Secretary to read. In some societies which meet monthly, the Treasurer's

report is made quarterly or semi-annually. The President should be careful to remember the proper time, so that if the Treasurer has been neglectful, he may be reminded of his duty.

When the report has been read, the President, without a motion, will direct it to be handed to the auditors, entered on the minutes, filed, or otherwise disposed of, as the by-laws may direct.

Too much attention cannot be paid to the financial affairs of a society, and every Treasurer should be a careful, prompt, and systematic business man. Frequent reports from this officer, so that the members may be kept constantly advised of the state of the Treasury, are not only desirable, but almost essential to the prosperity of any institution, no matter what its character.

8. The next order to be announced by the President, is "to take up unfinished business," which includes all resolutions left under consideration, and all reports and communications "laid on the table," or not finally disposed of at previous meetings. If the previous meeting adjourned while debat

*

ing a resolution, the President should declare that resolution to be first in order. The member speaking at the adjournment, if he gave way to a motion to adjourn, is again entitled to the floor, and should be so informed by the President's saying "Mr. is entitled to the floor."

If the previous meeting did not adjourn while debating a resolution, any item of unfinished business may be taken up, on motion.

The proper course is for the Secretary to keep a list of all items of unfinished business, on a slip immediately before him, which he should read over, when this order in the business is reached. The President may then ask, "Is it the pleasure of the meeting to take up for consideration the first item?" and if no objection be made, he will declare it be before the members. If it is deemed preferable first to consider some other item, it is necessary to make a motion to postpone the first item, for the purpose of proceeding to the consideration of another, which may be named.

9. Unfinished business having been gone

through with, or continued over, the President will "New business is now in orsay der." This is the proper time for offering original resolutions, for moving for the appointment of committees, or increasing the number of members on any already existing, for proposing or electing new members to the society, and for the transaction of any other business not elsewhere provided for. A member offering a resolution,* will rise and say, “Mr. President, I beg leave to offer the following resolution," which, after reading, he will hand to the Chair. The resolution being seconded, the President will say, "The following resolution has been moved and seconded-it will be read by the Secretary," and being so read, he will continue," the meeting has heard the resolution are gentlemen ready for the question?" If no one rises to speak, the question will then be taken at once.

*Resolutions are, in this state, almost invariably prefaced by the word "Resolved." In the Eastern States the term is "Voted." In many religious bodies the initiatory word is" Ordered." Hatsell says:-" When the House commands, it is by an order.' But facts, principles, their own opinions and purposes, are expressed in the form of resolutions."