Constitution and By Laws of the United Hebrew Relief Association of Philadelphia, 1860 · Isaac Leeser Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Constitution and By Laws of the United Hebrew Relief Association of Philadelphia, 1860

Author

Hebrew Relief Association of Philadelphia

Date Created

1 January 1860

Location(s)

Philadelphia

Format

Pamphlet. 25 page(s) on 15 sheet(s).

Type

Pamphlet

Physical Characteristics

Unlined Paper

Typescript

Is Part Of

Arnold and Deanne Kaplan Isaac Leeser Collection

content

CONSTITUTION
AND
BY-LAWS
OF
THE UNITED
Hebrew Relief Association
OF
PHILADELPHIA.
PHILADELPHIA.
STEIN & JONES, PRS., S. E. COR. THIRD AND CHESTNUT STS.
1860.

CONSTITUTION
AND
BY-LAWS
OF
THE UNITED
Hebrew Relief Association,
PHILADELPHIA.
Organized April 18th, 1858—Iyar 4th, 5618,
Incorporated September 17th, 1860.
______
PHILADELPHIA.
STEIN & JONES, PRS., S. E. COR. THIRD AND CHESTNUT STS.
1860.
LEESER LIBRARY, HEBREW EDUCATION SOCIETY.

PREAMBLE.
__
WHEREAS, the Israelites of Philadelphia, have observed with regret that the poor and helpless of their persuasion are increasing from year to year, while the relief distributed by existing societies is inadequate to the as-sistance required; and, in view of a more pro-per supervision of our poor, to more effectually relieve the sick, to prevent imposition, and by timely and adequate aid to bring them from a state of dependence; we, the subscribers, feel-ing that the care of the poor is a duty obliga-tory on all having the means of aiding others, have formed ourselves into a new organization, under the following Constitution.
3

Constitution.
___
ARTICLE I.
The name, style and title of this organiza-tion shall be "THE UNITED HEBREW RELIEF ASSOCIATION OF PHILADELPHIA."
ARTICLE II.
SECT. 1. The object of this Association shall be to grant temporary relief to poor and help-less Israelites, who reside in our midst, under such regulations and restrictions as may here-after be adopted.
SECT. 2. The Association shall have power to establish an asylum for the aged, infirm and destitute, and such other establishment as may be expedient for the employment and improve-ment of adults and youths for whom such ben-efits are sought, and under such regulations and restrictions as may hereafter be adopted.
ARTICLE III.
SECT. 1. The funds of the Association shall be derived from dues, annual subscriptions,

5
CONSTITUTION.
donations, legacies and contributions from such Societies and Congregations as may unite with it for purposes of charity.
ARTICLE IV.
SECT. 1. Any male Israelite over twenty-one years of age, desiring to become a member, can apply or be proposed to the Board of Di-rection, and when declared elected, can, after signing the Constitution, vote at all meetings held by the Association, and be eligible to the various offices.
SECT. 2. Every member must pay five dollars yearly in advance, as dues to the Association, and any member paying ten years dues in ad-vance shall be declared a life member.
ARTICLE V.
SECT. 1. A stated meeting of this Association shall be held in each and every year after its organization, on the first Sunday of May, at which the election for officers shall be held, and if from any cause no election takes place, the officers of the preceding year shall continue until a new election can be held, at a special meeting to be convened for the purpose, which

6
CONSTITUTION.
it shall be the duty of the President to convene as soon as practicable.
SECT. 2. The election for officers shall be by ballot, and it shall require for an election a majority of all the votes polled on the first ballot, after that a plurality cast for any one candidate shall be sufficient to elect him.
ARTICLE VI.
SECT. 1. The officers shall consist of a Presi-dent, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Secretary, Treasurer and ten Managers, who shall constitute a Board of Direction, which number may be increase as hereinafter pro-vided for.
ARTICLE VII.
SECT. 1. Any Jewish Congregation or Society contributing at least one hundred dollars an-nually to the funds of the Association, shall be entitled to send one delegate to the Board of Managers, who shall have the same powers and privileges as may be confered by the By-Laws upon the members thereof elected by the Society.
SECT. 2. There shall be created a Special Fund from such contributions, legacies, or otherwise, as may be donated specially for

7
CONSTITUTION.
purposes as contained in Article 2, Section 2, and said fund, nor any part thereof, shall be applied for any other purpose whatever; nor until it shall amount to the sum of fifteen thousand dollars. This fund shall be invested in the bonds of the State of Pennsylvania or New York, or the City of Philadelphia.
SECT. 3. Any Israelite not a member of this Association, donating the amount of two hun-dred dollars or more to this special fund, shall be a life Governor of the Asylum when estab-lished, and a member of the Board having it in charge. The same honor and privilege shall be granted to members donating one hundred and fifty dollars.
ARTICLE VIII.
SECT. 1. This Association shall have power to make such By-Laws for their government as they may deem necessary, not conflicting with this Constitution.
ARTICLE IX.
SECT. 1. No part of this Constitution shall be altered or amended, or addition made there-to, unless the proposition be made at a general meeting, and adopted by another, (to be called for that especial purpose) by the consent of

8
CONSTITUTION.
two-thirds of the members present, and it shall be the duty of the Secretary to insert in the notices to the members the proposed alteration &c., in full.
ISAAC LEESER,
SIMON W. ARNOLD,
ALFRED T. JONES,
JOSEPH EINSTEIN,
SELIGMAN ABELES,
ADOLF KLOPFER,
SOLOMON TELLER,
H. GUNSENHAUSER,
LAZARUS MAYER,
SIMON STERNBERGER,
C. BLOOMINGDALE,
WM. B. HACKENBURG,
HENRY S. FRANK.
Examined and approved
July 3d, 1860.
(Signed,)
JOSEPH ALLISON.

Charter.
___
STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA,
City and County of Philadelphia. ss.
Be it Remembered, That at a Court of Com-mon Pleas for said City and County, held at Philadelphia, on the third day of July, one thousand eight hundred and sixty, the fore-going instrument of writing or Charter of In-corporation, was presented to the said Court, on behalf the persons therein named, in order that they and their associates might be incor-porated according to law. WHEREUPON, on motion of Moses A. Dropsie, Esq., the Court ordered that the same be filed, and that publi-cation of such application be given by adver-tisement according to law.
AND NOW, this seventeenth day of September, 1860, due proof being exhibited to the Court of the publication of notice, and they having ex-amined said Instrument of writing, and being satisfied therewith, and no cause being shown to the contrary, the Court ORDER and DECREE that the persons whose names are thereto sub-scribed, and their associates, shall become and

10
CHARTER.
be a Corporation or body politic in law and in fact, agreeably to the articles and conditions in the foregoing Instrument contained, and that the same be recorded in the office for Recording Deeds, in and for the said City and County, ac-cording to the Act of Assembly.
SEAL. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I, Charles D. Knight, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas, aforesaid, have here-unto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court, this thirty-first day of Octo-ber, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty (1860.)
(Signed,)
CHAS. D. KNIGHT,
Prothonotary.

By-Laws
OF THE
UNITED HEBREW RELIEF ASSOCIATION
OF PHILADELPHIA.
___
I.
Rules of Order.
SEC. 1. Half an hour after the time specified in the notices for calling the meeting, the Pres-ident or other presiding officer shall take the chair.
SEC. 2. The roll shall be called.
SEC. 3. The Minutes of the preceding meet-ing shall be read and acted upon.
SEC. 4. Election of Officers, (if at a stated meeting.)
SEC. 5. Communications to the Association shall be read
SEC. 6. Reports of Committees or Officers may be read.
SEC. 7. Unfinished business shall then be in order.
SEC. 8. Election of members, if at a Board meeting.

12
BY-LAWS.
SEC. 9. New business may be introduced.
SEC. 10. No motion shall be received unless seconded, and if requested by the Chair, shall be reduced to writing.
SEC. 11. All reports shall be made in writing and those of Committees must be signed by a majority of such Committee.
SEC. 12. The presiding Officer shall appoint two tellers to conduct all elections.
SEC. 13. The yeas and nays shall be taken at the request of four members at meetings of the Association, and of two at meetings of the Board, and shall be entered on the minutes.
SEC. 14. At special meetings no business shall be transacted except that for which the meeting is called.
SEC. 15. All votes shall be given viva voce, unless otherwise provided for.
SEC. 16. No motion to re-consider shall be received unless moved and seconded by two members, who voted with the majority on the original question; nor after the meeting next following that at which the resolution may have been acted upon, unless by the unanimous consent of the members present.
SEC. 17. No member shall speak more than twice on any one subject, without leave from the Chair.

13
BY-LAWS.
SEC. 18. Every member at a meeting of the Board or Association, shall vote on all ques-tions, unless excused by said meeting.
II.
Of the President.
SEC. 1. The President or other presiding offi-cer shall appoint all committees, and shall vote on the revision of the Constitution or By-Laws, and on the election and expulsion of a member, but in no other case, except when equally divided, when he shall have the casting vote.
SEC. 2. If he intend leaving the city for more three days, he is to notify the Vice Pres-ident, and require of him to act in his place.
SEC. 3. He shall have the custody of the corporate seal, and all title deeds of the Asso-ciation.
SEC. 4. He shall preside at all meetings of the Association at large. He shall sign all orders for money, and may also sign orders for benefactions granted by the Board.
III.
Of the Vice President.
SEC. 1. The Vice President shall act in the absence of the President, but may at all times sign orders for benefactions granted by the

14
BY-LAWS.
Board; and in the absence of both President and Vice President, the Chairman of the Board shall be invested with the same powers and privileges, but nothing herein contained shall be so construed, as to prevent the Chairman of the Board of Direction at any time from sign-ing orders for benefactions granted by the Board.
IV.
Of the Treasurer.
SEC. 1. The Treasurer shall have charge of all the funds, keep accurate account of the re-ceipts and expenditures thereof, and pay out no money except upon orders properly signed by the President, Vice President or Chairman of the Board of Direction, as the case may be. He shall give such security for the faithful per-formance of his duties as the Board may ap-prove. He shall have power to appoint a sub-stitute, (for whom he and his sureties shall be bound,) if he absents himself from the city during his term of office. He shall inform the Secretary from time to time, of all monies paid to him direct, other than such as are received from the Secretary. His accounts shall be audited in October, January, April and July of each year, by a Committee to be appointed each time for that purpose. The Committee

15
BY-LAWS.
for the month of April shall report upon the Treasurer's account at the annual meeting.
V.
Of the Recording Secretary.
SEC. 1. The Recording Secretary shall keep correct minutes of the proceedings of the As-sociation, and of the Board, issue notices, and perform such other duties as are usually con-nected with the office, not specified in the fol-lowing section.
VI.
Of the Secretary.
SEC. 1. The Secretary shall have charge of the accounts, and make out all bills for collec-tion. All bills not promptly paid shall be re-turned by the messenger, also monies collected shall be paid to the Secretary upon his receipt, who shall immediately pay it to the Treasurer, and charge him with it, taking his receipt for the same. All orders shall be drawn in duplicate; and the original check shall state the date, name, in whose favor, by whom sign-ed, and for what purpose the order was drawn.
VII.
Of the Messenger.
SEC. 1. The Board shall have power to elect

16
BY-LAWS.
a Messenger, and pay him such compensation as they may deem proper for his services, and they shall likewise take such security as they may deem sufficient for the faithful perform-ance of his duties, which shall be designated by the Board.
VIII.
Board of Direction.
SEC. 1. During the months of November, December, January, February, March and April there shall be weekly sessions of the Board, and during the remaining months they shall meet alternately every second week.
SEC. 2. The Board shall elect its own Chair-man, who shall have the same powers as the Vice President in his absence. He shall also have the power to sign orders for benefactions granted by the Board, (except money,) unless in the absence from the city or sickness of both President and Vice President.
SEC. 3. The Board shall have power to adopt such regulations for their government as may be expedient for the systematic distribution of charity, not inconsistent with the Constitution. They shall have power to make contracts for the delivery of the benefactions upon their orders, rent a suitable central station, and shall engage not less than two physicians.

17
BY-LAWS.
SEC. 4. If deemed convenient for the better transaction of business, the Board may divide itself into Committees, for the purpose of ap-portioning to them the duties developing on it under the Constitution. If other Committees are needed they may be appointed, and special powers delegated to them from time to time.
SEC. 5. The Board of Direction shall have power to fill any vacancy that may occur until the next election.
SEC. 6. Five members shall constitute a quo-rum of the Board.
IX.
Of the Board of Visitors.
SEC. 1. There shall also be a Board of Visit-ors of not less than thirty-five males and twen-ty-one females, to be selected by the Board of Direction for the various districts into which they may divide the city, or as occasion may require.
X.
Of the Benefactions.
SEC. 1. The benefactions shall consist of gro-ceries, flour, bread, meat, fuel, clothing, bed-ding, furniture, materials for work, medical attendance, nurses in case of necessity, and money.

18
BY-LAWS.
SEC. 2. No relief shall be granted except on the recommendation of not less than two visit-ors for the district wherein the applicant may reside. In case of emergency, the President may grant relief not exceeding three dollars, to be reported to the Board at their first meeting thereafter.
SEC. 3. No appropriation for funeral ex-penses, house rent, or travelling expenses, shall be made by the Board, unless the same has been refered to a special committee of three for investigation, who shall report to the Board before making an appropriation, except in case of emergency, the Board may delegate to them power to act, and in no case shall the amount exceed twenty dollars; but no appropriation for graves shall be made to any congregation or society, while free burial can be obtained in any Jewish burial ground in this city.
XI.
Of Members.
SEC. 1. No member one year in arrears shall be allowed to vote or hold office.
SEC. 2. A member wishing to resign must do so in writing, and must have paid up all arrears.
SEC. 3. Any member not paying his annual subscription for two years, or refusing to pay

19
BY-LAWS.
his fines, may be expelled by the Board, unless excused by them or the fines remitted.
XII.
Of Special Meetings.
SEC. 1. The President shall convene the As-sociation whenever five members of the Board of Direction, or any ten members of the Asso-ciation shall require it, provided such applica-tion be made in writing.
XIII.
Of a Quorum.
SEC. 1. At all meetings of the Association it shall require fifteen members to constitute a quorum, for the transaction of business.
XIV.
Of Fines.
SEC. 1. The following fines may be enforced:
A member refusing to serve as President,—$10,00
A member refusing to serve as Vice Presi-dent, Treasurer, Secretary, or Record-ing Secretary, ———- 5,00
A member refusing to serve on the Board of Managers, ———- 5,00
A member signing a call for a special meeting and neglecting to attend, — 3,00
Behaving unbecomingly at a meeting, — 1,00
Second offence, ———- 2,00
Leaving a meeting without permission, — 2,00

20
BY-LAWS.
XV.
Of Alterations.
No By-Law shall be enacted, amended or repealed, unless the proposition be made at one meeting and adopted at another, by a vote of two-thirds of the members present, due no-tice of said contemplated change to be given by the Secretary.

Officers.
___
Elected May 6th, 1860.
___
PRESIDENT,
SOLOMON TELLER.
VICE PRESIDENT,
CHARLES BLOOMINGDALE.
TREASURER,
M. A. MITCHELL.
RECORDING SECRETARY,
WILLIAM B. HACKENBURG.
SECRETARY,
HENRY S. FRANK.
MANAGERS,

JOSEPH EINSTEIN, Chm.
ABRAHAM S. WOLF,

SIMON W. ARNOLD,
ALFRED T. JONES,

SIMON STERNBERGER,
SELIGMAN ABELES,

LAZARUS MAYER,
JACOB MAYER,

HENRY DEBOER,
DAVID ETTINGER.

PHYSICIANS,
DR. PHILIP DE YOUNG,DR. MORRIS M. ASCH,
DR. A. C. BOURNONVILLE,
MESSENGER,
H. HIRSHBERG.

List of Members,
Nov. 1st, 1860.

Mayer Arnold,
Jacob Cauffman,

S. W. Arnold,
Henry DeBoer,

H. W. Arnold,
Moses A. Dropsie,

E. W. Arnold,
Joseph Dryfoos,

Emanuel Arnold,
Abram Dryfoos,

Simon Arnold,
S. Dryfoos,

M. Anathan,
Lewis DeHaan,

B. Abeles,
Joseph Einstein,

Seligman Abeles,
Henry Einstein,

Lewis M. Allen,
M. Einstein,

Charles C. Allen,
A. A. Ezekiel,

Henry S. Allen,
David Eger,

M. M. Allen,
David Ettinger,

L. Aronheimer,
L. Ellinger,

Jacob Aub,
E. Ephraim,

S. Adler,
Samuel Frank,

J. M. Asch,
Max Friedman,

A. Ancker,
Joseph Feldman,

C. Bloomingdale,
Henry Frank,

I. Binswanger,
Mayer Frank,

Moses Becker,
William Florence,

J. S. Baumberger,
B. H. Feustman,

J. Blum,
Mayer Fleisher,

S. Blum,
S. Fernberger,

A. Brummer,
Rev. I. Frankel,

S. Bernheim,
H. Gunsenhauser,

Gabriel Baum,
Solomon Gans,

M. Bernheim,
Solomon Gans, Sr.

Marcus Cauffman,
Mayer Gans,

August Cohn,
Daniel Gans,

23
LIST OF MEMBERS.

Philip Goldsmith,
Henry Marcus,

S. A. Gump,
M. A. Mitchell,

Ferdinand Greenawald,
Michael Moyer,

H. Greenabaum,
Lazarus Mayer,

Abm. Greenabaum,
Jacob Mayer,

Marx Greenawald,
Levi Mayer,

Wm. Goldstein,
Jacob Mayer, Jr.

Mayer Gotthelf,
Jacob May,

M. Goldman,
Theodore Mindil,

M. Geiershoffer,
Henry Mayer,

Wm. B. Hackenburg,
Samuel Mayer,

Nathan Hays,
Joseph Mayer,

Simon Heiter,
L. E. Moss,

Solomon L. Haas,
Rev. S. Morais,

Leopold Hirsh,
Allen Mitchell,

Leon Hirsh,
Joseph L. Moss,

Henry Heller,
Lucien Moss,

L. Hecht,
Ernst Nusbaum,

S. Hecht,
John Nusbaum,

Samuel Hunt,
Jacob Nirdlinger,

L. Hochstadter,
Joseph Newhouse,

Charles Hochstader,
Rev. S. C. Noot,

Abraham Hart,
Solomon Oelsner,

H. Hirshberg,
Abrm. Oppenheimer,

Gustav Isaac,
M. Picare,

Alfred T. Jones,
John Ponder,

Abraham Kahn,
Rev. Gabriel Pape,

Adolf Klopfer,
Isaac Rhine,

Rev. I. Leeser,
M. Rosenbach,

Jacob Langsdorf,
F. J. Rosenberg,

B. Lieber,
Henry Rau,

Lewis Lang,
Joseph Rau,

J. Levy,
Isaac Rheinstrom,

M. B. Loeb,
Joseph Rosenbaum,

Aug. B. Loeb,
Rudolph Stein,

L. Lipser,
Simon Sternberger,

Charles Lauferty,
Lazarus Shloss,

Jacob Lyons, (N. C.)
H. Shloss,

24
LIST OF MEMBERS.

B. Strouse,
David Teller,

Henry Simson.
R. Teller,

Lewis Seidenbach,
M. Troutman,

M. Seidenbach.
A. Voge,

J. Strook,
J. Vendig,

A. Sondheim,
Rev. H. Vidaver,

Moses Sternberger,
M. Vogel,

Julius Stern,
A. S. Wolf,

Emanuel Strouse,
Moses Weiler,

F. Strouse,
Elias Wolf,

Isaac Saller,
Abraham Wolf,

David Salomon,
L. Walker,

Levi Strouse,
Herman Weiler,

J. Selig,
Isaac Wolf,

Solomon Teller,
Abraham Weill, (N. C.)

E. Teller,

Hebrew
He that is liberal to the poor lendeth unto the Lord, and his good deed will he repay unto him.—PROV. xix. 17.

Identifier

LSKAP13-1135

Date

1860-01-01