378 The Canary Book. 



he will be able to understand the requirements of the associa- 

 tion fully. In any case, you must state the circumstances 

 in detail, and make some preliminary arrangements with him. 

 After your first meeting you will be able to ascertain whether 

 there is a reasonable prospect of establishing a society, and, 

 if there is, then a private room, no doubt, will be readily 

 granted to hold all special meetings in. 



It will be found in nine cases out of ten that the first meeting 

 will be badly attended, several fanciers prognosticating that 

 it will be a failure; but as soon as ever it goes forth that 

 it has been decided to form an institution of this sort they 

 will all flock to the rendezvous to join it. A sufficient 

 number of members having collected, some one must propose 

 a chairman. The person chosen to fill this office should be 

 fully acquainted with the duties required of him, and be able 

 to explain the objects of the society, its aim, and how it is 

 proposed to manage it, in a clear and intelligible way. After 

 this has been done, propositions can be made, and the feasibility 

 of the scheme fully discussed. 



If it is decided to establish a society of this sort, then a 

 secretary must be appointed, either permanently or pro tern., 

 and likewise a president, a treasurer, and a committee; but, 

 having fixed upon a secretary, the other office bearers can be 

 elected at a subsequent meeting. The president, secretary, and 

 treasurer must act in conjunction with the committee, which 

 should consist of not less than six members, exclusive of presi- 

 dent, secretary, and treasurer; but this is not imperative. 



The secretary must keep a diary in which he will record 

 all the propositions that are brought forward by the different 

 members, and will see that those which have been carried 

 by a majority are acted upon. He will likewise form a code 

 of rules, which he must hand to the president of the society, 

 who will submit them at the first meeting after the association 

 is fairly established, for the approval of its members. Each 

 rule must be put to the meeting separately, and if an amend- 

 ment is moved by any member, he will proceed to put such 

 amendment to the meeting, and the secretary will record 

 the ayes and noes for or against it. He will then put the 



