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CONSTITUTION
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St. Joseph Catholic
Benevolent Associa.tion
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Fort """VVayne., Indiana.
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FORT W¡\YSE. IND.:
SICNTINIr.I. STE.'M I'KINTING HOt'SK, CAI,HOUN STRICKT. ' I
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CONSTITUTION
OJ' TRB
OF FORT WA VNE, INDIANA.
OR.GANIZED MAY 2, 1874.
We, the subscribers, being citizens of the United
States, residents and citizens of the State of Indiana,
in order to raise a Common Fund, and organize an
Association for that purpose, in conformity with an
Act of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana,
entitled, "an Act establishing general provisions re­
specting Corporations," approved June 5th, 1862,
and also, "an Act concerning the organization of
voluntary Associations," and repealing former laws
in reference thereto, approved February r ath, 1855,
and amended March çth, 1861, do hereby adopt the
following Articles of Association, to wit:
The aim and object of the Association is, that in
its character it shall be truly Catholic, fully imbued
with the spirit and practice of the Catholic Faith,
and in all things be in strict harmony with the Eccl-


6
siastical authority, as represented in the person of
our Right Reverend Bishop, or through him, by our
Spiritual Director, and by the cultivation of broth­
erl y love and pecuniary assistance, promote the spir­
itual and temporal welfare of its members.
The members of this Association shall be com­
posed of good, practical Catholics, between the ages
of eighteen and sixty-five years'; to be well known
for sobriety, good moral character, free from infir­
mities, and disease, and without any regard as to
nationality, and who in all things will conform to
the Constitution and By-Laws.
Any member associating himself with us, hereby
expressly binds himself, that in case of any dissatis­
faction, and the cause of said dissatisfaction having
been appealed to our Right Reverend Bishop, he
will fully submit to the action and decision of the
Bishop, arid in no case will he have recourse to the
Civi 1 Courts.
This Association shall be known and designated
as the "Saint Joseph Catholic Benevolent Associa­
tion, of Fort Wayne, Indiana."
The officers of this Association shall consist of
seven Directors,' who shall be elected annually, by
ballot, on the second Saturday in May, between the
hours of seven and ten o' clock, p. m., and shall hold
their respective offices until their successors are
elected and qualified.
The Spiritual Director, appointed by our Bishop,
shall always be President ex officio of the Board of
Directors.
The Hoard of Directors, elect, shall meet on the
Monda y succeeding their' election, and shall elect


7
from among their number a President, Vice-President,
Secretary" Corresponding Secretary, and Treasurer.
The Board of Directors shall have the power to fill
all vacancies occurring by resignation, death, or
otherwise, fro� among the members, for the unex­
pired term for which said member or members were
elected, or until an election can be held.
The Board of' Directors shall have full and un­
lirríited power to control and manage all the business
and affairs of the Association, .for the term for which
they were elected, provided, that in all matters of
sufficient importance (the Father Director being the
Judge), they shall act with his advice and consent,
and in case of any misunderstanding, arising between
the Board of Directors and the Spiritual Director,
or in case of'any dissatisfaction of any member, who
having had his case or grievances adjudged by the
Board of Directors, all such cases shall be appealed
to our Right Reverend Bishop, and his decision shall,
in all cases, be final.
The Board of Directors will in no case, whatever.
act contrary to the wishes of our Right Reverend
Bishop.
This Association shall exist until its members are
reduced to five, and its dissolution can only be ac­
complished by a majority of said five members. If
the number of members shall at any time be less than
five, or dissolved by vote of the five remaining mem­
bers, then all property pertaining to said Association
shall be taken possession of by the Right Reverend
Bishop, or in his absence, the Spiritual Director, for
the use and benefit of the Catholic Orphan Asylum.
The, Seal of the Association. shall be, the name,


:SY-L.A. �S •
•••
This Association organized May and, 1874, in
conformity with Constitution and By-Laws annexed .
.&HTlCLE I.
SEC. I. The regular meetings of the Board of
Directors shall be held on the Monday evening suc­
ceeding the second Sunday in each month, between
the hours of seven and nine o' clock. A majority of
the Board shall form a quorum for the transaction of
business.
The regular meetings of the Association, for the
collection of dues and fines, election of members,
&c., shall be held on the second Sunday in each
month, immediately after vespers. Seven members
shall form a quorum for the transaction of business .
.&KTICLE 1I.-DudN of ome�.
SEC. lo The President shall preside at all meet­
ings of the Association and Board of Directors, keep
order, and see that the business of the Association is
despatched promptly and with decorum. He shall
sign all just orders on the Treasurer, also sign and
execute all legal or other documents, such as con­
tracts, leases, transfer or sale of real estate or per-


10
sonal pro pert y, wi'lk tite censen: and approval of the
Board of Directors.
SEC. 2. He shall see in general that the Consti­
tution and By-Laws are enforced and correctly carried
out, sign the minutes of the preceding meeting, after
having been read and approved. .
He shall call all special meetings of. the Board of
Directors and of the Association.
ARTICLE ID.
SEC. l.-Tht Viet-President. In the absence of
the President he shall perform all his duties.
ARTICLE IV.
SEC. I.-The Secretary. He shall keep full and
correct minutes of all the proceedings of the meet­
ings of the Association, shall read the names of
members, while the collectors, as his assistants, shall
collect the monthly dues. The collectors are to ba
appointed by the President at each meeting.
SEC. 2. fie shall keep full and correct minutes of
all the proceedings of the Board of Directors, shall
sign all just orders Oll the Treasurer, and make out
and submit quarterly reports of the affairs of the As-
sociation. .
SEC. 3. When special meetings of the Board of
Directors or of the Association are called by the
President, he shall give notice, by publication or
otherwise, to the members, and may employ a com­
petent lJCrson to serve said notice, at the expense of
the Association.
SEC. 4. He shall, at the close of each meeting of
the Association, make out an exact account of all
, .


II
initiations, dues, fines, &c., collected; keep separate
and appropriate accounts of the same, enter the same
on the records of said meeting, and take the Treas­
urer's receipt therefor.
ARTICLE V.
SEC. I.-7h� Corresponding Secretar)'. His duties
shall consist of all correspondence that the business
of the Association may require from abroad. He
shall, in the absence of the Secretary, perform all his
duties.
ARTICLE VI.
SEC. I.-Th� Treasurer. He shall receive and
disburse all moneys belonging to the Association,
having due vouchers therefor, signed by the Presi­
dent and Secretary.
SEC. 2. He shall give bond. with sufficient se­
curity, subject to the acceptance and approval of the
Board of Directors, and make out and submit quar­
terly reports of the condition of the Treasury, giving
the amount of the several kind of funds on hand.
SEC. 3· He shall make settlement with the Board
of Directors, in connection with the Secretary, with­
in ten days after his successor is elected and qualified,
and hand over to the Treasurer elect all moneys
books, papers, and other effects in his possession as
such Treasurer, and shall at all times hold his ac­
counts, vouchers and funds subject to the inspection
of the Hoard of Directors.
ARTI(:LE VII.
SEC. l. As the duties of the Board of Directors
will, from the responsibility devolving on them, be


pensation of a majority of the members of the Asso­
ciation, with the sanction of the Board of Directors.
SEC. 8. In case of sickness of any member in
good standing, and it being necessary to have some
person sit up with, and attend on said sick member
during the night, the Secretaay being advised of the
same, it will be his duty to notify two members to
set up with said sick member, commencing with the
first names on the roll. Any member whó shall have
been notified by or through the Secretary to attend
on a sick member through the night, and fails to com­
ply, or procure a substitute, shall be fined in the sum
of two dollars; sickness, or being absent from the
city, only excepted; prdVided, said sick member lives
within one mile of the limits of the city of Fort
Wayne.
SEC. 9. Absent members, in good standing, if
. sick and unable to follow their occupation, by send­
ing to the President or Secretary, a certi icate signed
by the attending physician, attested to by the Pansh
Priest, stating the cause or nature of his disease, and
the length of time disabled, will be entitled to all
the pecuniary benefits of the Association.
SEC. 10. The President or Secretary, on receiving
notice of the death of a member of the Association,
shall cause the members thereof to be notified. All
members are obliged to attend the funeral of a de­
ceased member, except in case of siskness, or being
absent from the city. Any member failing to attend
and answer to their names on such occasions, will be
subject to a fine of two dollars, the roll to be called
on leaving and returning to the Hall. Accompany­
ing the remains to the city 1imits is all that is ex-
pected. .


22
plied to the weekly bénefits of members, burial ex­
penses, and the necessary incidental expenses of the
Association.
The initiation fee shall be kept as a ·reserved fund,
but should the ·dues and fines at any time not be suf­
ficient to meet the liabilities hereinbefore mentioned,
a necessary amount of the reserved fund may be used,
but, must be refunded as soon as circumstances will
permit.
SEC. 3. If at any time a sufficient amount of
money is in the Treasury, it may tie loaned out on
interest as the Board of Directors may direct. In
an Association like this, sudden and unforeseen calls
for money may be expected; .it is therefore important
that, while the directors should loan the money out
at the highest legal rate of interest, it should be to
such persons, and under such circumstances that it
could be called in at any moment, without being
obliged to force collection by law. And as the loan­
ing it exclusively to members of the Association
would invite emulation, invidious comparisons about
honesty, solvency, security and punctuality, and be
calculated to mar the harmony and brotherly love
that should exist between the members, therefore the
application, disposition and loaning of the funds is
left exclusively to the Board of Directors, they being
held individually and collectively to strict account-
ability for the same. .
GENEBA. ...
The members of this Association do, in á special
manner, place themselves under the protection of our
Holy Patron, St. Joseph, and will, semi-annually,


23
approach Holy Communion, in a body, on the third
Sunday after Easter (the patronage of St. Joseph),
and on the first Sunday succeeding the eighth of
December, being within the octave of the Immacu­
late Conception. Any member failing to go to Holy
Communion on ,both these days shall be fined two
dollars, a reasonable or sufficient explanation on his
part to the Board of Directors, or 'being excused by
our Spiritual Director, only excepted. And should
they, in addition, fail to make their Easter Com­
munion, they will be expelled, and forfeit all moneys
paid into or claim on the Association.
The Anniversary of the Association will be on the
second Monday in June.
The members of this Association will not, in a
body, turn out in procession or on parade, except in
going to Holy Communion, Funerals, and on the
day of the Anniversary.
HONOB&BY ltIElUDEBS.
On the payment of twenty dollars, all persons
having the proper qualifications may become mem­
bers of this Association, and will not during life be
subject to any further assessments. They will be en­
titled only to the members attending their funeral in
a body, and of having a high mass celebrated for the
happy repose of their soul within thirty days after
their death.
They will have the fight and privilege of being
present at all meetings of the Board of Directors,
and of the Association, but will have no voice or
vote in the deliberations of said meetings.