126 TREE PLANTER'S MANUAL. 



Sec. 5. The several school or district societies of Sylvitons may an- 

 nually hold delegate conventions in their special towns and counties, offi- 

 cered as herein designated for the furtherance of these objects. 



NO SALARIES. 

 ART. IV. 



Section 1. No officer of state or local society shall receive pay for services, 

 except bare cost for duties performed, and then only when approved by the 

 executive board. 



Sec. 2. All moneys of this society shall be expended as voted for at any 

 regular meeting, but in every instance for the sole benefit of this society. 



REGULAR MEETINGS. 

 ART. V. 



Section 1. The meetings of this society shall beheld at such times and in 

 such places as may be voted for, and their exercises shall consist of verbal 

 or written reports of personal observations and experimentations along the 

 lines herein mentioned; also appropriate lectures, essays, discussions, music 

 and songs. 



membership. 



ART. VI. 



Section 1. Any person under twenty-one years of age may become a mem- 

 ber of this society by signing this constitution and paying the required 

 fee; other persons over twenty-one may become honorary members by a 

 majority vote of the society. 



AMENDMENTS AND BY-LAWS. 

 ART. VII. 



Section 1. This constitution may be amended at any regular meeting, 

 after one month's' previous notice, by a two-thirds vote of the members, 

 and by-laws instituted as may be deemed essential to order and success. 



CHRISTMAS TREES. 



There is something peculiarly captivating in using evergreen trees, on 

 which to hang our Christmas presents. It seems almost sacrilegious to 

 interfere with the custom. But practical economy must take the precedence 

 of mere emblems, however beautiful they may be. 



Tbe fact of the matter is this, that millions of the most promising spruces 

 and balsams, growing in our northern woods, are annually cut and shipped 

 by car loads to the cities and villages of the state and those of the Dakotas. 

 The hurt done to our native conifers is almost equal that of a sweeping 

 forest fire. There is no religion in thus robbing our already riddled wood- 

 lands of our very best young evergreens so much needed for the future. It 

 is a kind of a "sacred vandalism" that should be abrogated. The preserva- 

 tion of these trees for water conservation, climatic healthfulness and timber 

 use in the years *o come, is our first religious duty. Let us substitute 

 something for ihe trees that will serve our purpose equally as well. 



