Mrs. Swormstedt, as a member of that committee, explained that legal advice was taken before proposing it and the lawyer thought the Board, being the authority to issue the Charters, had the authority to word them (Miss Desha approving of this). The wording was decided by the Board in the first place, and the Board has the power to change the wording. (Mrs. Swormstedt explained the wording of the old Charter, reading from the text.)

Mrs. Smoot asked if the Charter as worded by the Board and presented to the Congress, did not then become a Congressional docu

ment.

Mrs. Lippitt said there was much dissatisfaction in Rhode Island over this action; that the State prefers to have the Charter issued under the old form, and objects to having any change.

Mrs. Abbott asked if it was understood that this changing of the wording means that it will make all those charter members who join during the first year, when they are really members elected by their Chapter and not organizing members.

Mrs. Swormstedt said the National Society did the same thing in regard to its charter members.

Mrs. Hardy moved: That the action of the Board on the Charters be endorsed.

The question was called.

Mrs. Lippitt said that action was passed at a very small meeting of the Board, and since then there had been a storm of protest, not only from her own State, but many other States, inquiring: What right has the Board to change the form of Charter?

Mrs. Buel said all Connecticut will protest.

Mrs. Jamison said she was present at the Board meeting and there was a quorum, although the meeting was not so large as this. It was decided that the Board had the legal power to issue charters and, according to legal advice, the Board had the right to change the wording. Mrs. Dunning called the question.

Mrs. Hardy said that this will be misconstrued in Kentucky, and it will be thought there that the Board did wrong, if the motion be passed.

Mrs. Tulloch remarked that papers had been sent her by her predecessor, asking that this matter be brought before the Board to-day, because she did not feel that her office was duly authorized to change the Charter. It is presented at the request of Mrs. Main.

The motion was then voted on and lost.

At the request of Mrs. Lippitt, a vote was taken by roll call, which resulted as follows:

Voting in the affirmative: Mrs. Tulloch, Mrs. Smoot, Mrs. Sterling, Mrs. Sternberg, Mrs. Campbell, Miss Wilcox, Miss Pierce, Mrs. Darwin, Mrs. Dunning, Mrs. Green, Mrs. Abbott, Mrs. Wood, Mrs. Van Landingham, Mrs. Lippitt, Mrs. Estey, Mrs. Barrow, Mrs. Buel, Mrs. Smallwood.

Voting in the negative: Mrs. Bates, Mrs. Bushnell, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Putnam, Mrs. Hardy, Mrs. Orton, Mrs. Bryan, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Delafield, Mrs. Fowler, Mrs. Swormstedt, Mrs. Hoover, Mrs. Bowron, Mrs. Barnes, Mrs. Godfrey, Mrs. Ames, Mrs. Dinwiddie, Mrs. Randolph, Mrs. Brayton, Miss Harnit, Mrs. Bratton, Mrs. Sydnor, Mrs. Jamison, Mrs. Fethers.

Eighteen in the affirmative; twenty-four in the negative.

The motion was accordingly declared lost.

The names of three members were presented for re-instatement, and upon motion were restored to the rolls of membership of the Society.

The President General requested that the members of the Board would wait to hear read all the motions that had been made and carried at this meeting, in order to make any corrections if necessary, explaining that this was not approving the Minutes, nor passing upon them, which will be done at the next meeting; but to fix them in the minds of the members and to see that all are correct.

The Board concurring in this request, the Recording Secretary General read the motions presented,—the same being substantiated as correctly given.

At half past one o'clock it was moved and carried to adjourn; the Board going to the photographer's for a new picture of its members. Respectfully submitted,

(Signed)

MARY R. WILCOX, Recording Secretary General, N. S. D. A. R.

Report approved June 2nd.

CARD.

The Recording Secretary General regrets exceedingly she could not personally answer the many letters, from the recently appointed committees, requesting instructions. As she herself did not know the requirements or duties which make the work of all the committees a success, these letters have been referred to the chairman of the committees, who will, in due time, call the committee meetings and give the much desired information.

July 1, 1909.

MARY R. WILCOX.