Done at the City of Philadelphia on the 12th day of February, 1890, and of the Independence of the United States, the one hundred and fourteenth.

Adopted in the City of New York, March 8th, 1890.
Section III amended April 23rd, 1892.

Section VIII amended April 21st, 1896.
Section VII amended April 19th, 1905.

I.

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 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.

II.

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.

III.

The State Societies, at such annual meeting, shall choose, by a majority of the votes present, 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, together with a board of managers consisting of these officers and of nine other members, all of whom shall retain their respective positions until their successors are duly chosen.

IV.

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.

V.

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 an opposition to the interests of the community in general or of the Society in particular, may render himself unworthy to continue in membership.

VI.

In order to form funds that may be respectable, each member shall contribute, upon his admission to the Society and annually thereafter, 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.

VII.

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 two Delegates from each State Society and one additional Delegate for every one hundred (100) members or major fraction thereof; and on all questions arising at meetings of the General Society each Delegate there present shall be entitled to one vote, and no votes shall be taken by States, and the necessary expenses of such meeting shall be borne by the State Societies.

VIII.

At the regular meeting, a General President, General VicePresident, General Second Vice-President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Registrar, Historian, and Chaplain 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 the meeting of the General Society held in Washington, D. C., on April 19, 1911, the following amendment of Section VIII of the Constitution was proposed and will be voted on at the next Triennial Meeting, viz.:

"Resolved, That Section VIII of the Constitution of the General Society be amended by adding one Vice-President for each State Society and adding two more General Chaplains.")

IX.

At each general meeting the circular letters 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.

X.

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.