Laws, Bye-Latos, and Regulations. 
vering to the Secretary an order signed by them for issuing the sum- 
monses, and allowing not less than seven days to elajise between the 
date of summons and the day appointed for the meeting of such Council. 
The Monthly Meeting of the Council shall have the full power of 
originating, discussing, and deciding, by the majority of votes, on a 
show of hands, all questions brought before it on the business of the 
Society. Should, however, any Member then present regard any pro- 
position brought forward as too important for immediate decision, he 
will be at liberty to take the sense of the Meeting whether such pro- 
position should be postponed, in order that it may be duly discussed at 
the next Monthly Meeting; and should one-third of the Members pre- 
sent agree with him on that point, such proposition shall be postponed, 
and due notice of such motion and postponement shall be given to all 
Members of the Council by the Secretary. 
In the absence of the President, the chair shall be taken by a Trustee 
or Vice-President ; and should neither of such officers be present, then by 
such Member as the Council shall choose as their Chairman by the majo- 
rity of votes. The Quorum of a Monthly or Special Council shall be five, 
and that of a Weekly Council three. At every Meeting of the Council 
the minutes of the previous Meeting shall be first read, and postponed 
matters shall take precedence in the order of business of new motions, 
excepting in the case of a Report from the Finance Committee, which 
shall always be taken first into consideration, immediately after the 
minutes have been read and the election of Members and proposal of 
candidates have taken place. All minutes or reports read at the Council 
shall be signed by the Chairman. The Common Seal of the Society 
shall be kept in a box with three different locks, the keys of which shall 
be respectively held by the President of the Society, the Chairman of 
the Finance Committee, and the Secretary: the Common Seal not being 
affixed to any instrument except in the Council-room during a Meeting 
of the Council. The Reports from the Council to the General Meetings 
in London, in May and December, shall be prepared at the Council on 
the first Wednesday in May and the first Wednesday in December, re- 
spectively, or at some adjournment of such Councils. 
Committees. 
The Standing Committees shall be appointed by the Monthly Council 
in December, but shall not enter on their respective duties until the first 
day of January, nor remain in force after the 31st of December of the 
ensuing year, unless re-appointed. Any other Committees may be ap- 
pointed at a Monthly Council. 
