THE FIRST TREE 



229 



Article VI 



The President 



The President shall preside at all meetings 

 of the Association. 



Article VII 

 Vice-presidents 



In the absence of the President, a Vice- 

 president shall preside at the meetings of 

 the Association ; and in the absence of all 

 of them, a President pro tern, shall be elected 

 by the meeting. 



Article VIII 



The Secretary 



The Secretary shall keep a record of the 

 proceedings of the Association and of the 

 Board of Directors; shall have the custody 

 of the corporate seal of the Association and 

 of all documents, books, and collections or- 

 dered to be preserved ; shall conduct the cor- 

 respondence of the Association, and keep a 

 list of members with their addresses, notify 

 members of the time and place of all meet- 

 ings, and shall perform such other duties as 

 may be assigned him by the Board of Di- 

 rectors. 



Article IX 

 The Treasurer 



The Treasurer shall have the custody of 

 all moneys received. He shall deposit and 



invest the same in such manner and to 

 such extent as the Board of Directors shall 

 direct, and shall not expend any money 

 except under the direction or approval of 

 the Board of Directors. The financial year 

 of the Association shall close on December 

 31st of each year. 



Article X 



Meetings 



Section i. The Annual Meeting for the elec- 

 tion of officers and the transaction of such 

 business as requires to come before the 

 entire Association shall be held on the sec- 

 ond Wednesday in January, at such hour 

 and place as the Board of Directors may 

 determine, unless some other day in Janu- 

 ary be selected by the Board of Directors, 

 in which case at least three weeks ' notice 

 must be given. 



Sec. 2. A quorum shall consist of thirty 

 (30) members of the Association (Patrons, 

 Life Members or Annual Members), as 

 specified in Section 5 of Article III. 



Sec. 3. Special meetings may be called 

 by the Board of Directors. The Secretary 

 shall give to all members at least seven 

 days' notice of all meetings. 



Article XI 



Amendments 



These By-Laws may be amended by a 

 three-fourths vote of the members present 

 and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting 

 of the Association. 



THE FIRST TREE 



By HAZEL ALMA BANKS PIERCE 



THE first tree stood forth. And it was day. The great trunk pillared heaven; 

 its heavy, perfumed branches dragged low from the clouds in wreaths of 

 sounding leaves; leaves of shadows and shimmering color, crystal, parch- 

 ment, or thin-veined copper, glinting fire of emeralds. 



And all the trees that were to live stood back in silent mist. 



Like darting lights the gay winged birds flew glad about the tree, but gave 

 no song, and their whirring wings brought all the stillness closer. 



The day slumbered softly in the sun, save where some insect wound its way 

 with cobweb wings over the tall noon grasses. 



In the dusk-blown twilight the drowsy day still dreamed, while a breeze sang 

 sweetly about the tree ; a frail wind trailing over tangling buds of water-lilies 

 and evening violets cold in cupped dew. 



And night came with a moon of roses. Aimless fireflies and quaint glow- 

 worms spun zig zag paths of color for the dim moth, the tardy beetle and a multi- 

 tude of shadowy wings. 



And the tree stood alone in a fragrant world. 

 And God said, "It is good." 



