CONGREGATION JESUAT ISRAEL
Organized MAY 28,1893.
Chartered June 13, 1894.
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
-OF THE-
K. K. JESHUAT ISRAEL,
Newport, R.I.
_____
CONSTITUTION, BY-LAWS AND RULES
- of the-
K.K. JESHUAT ISRAEL.
ARTICLE I.
This Congregation shall be known by the name of K, K. Jeshuat Israel.
ARTICLE II.
The government of this congregation shall be vested in the President, Vice-President and three Trustees elected by this Congregation, and Four Trustees appointed by the Spanish and Portuguese Congregation Shearith Israel, of New York City, who shall be guided in all spiritual affairs by such laws as are now in force or may hereafter be adopted by this Congregation, and shall have the arrangements of all temporal matters appertaining to the Congregation and school connected thereto.
ARTICLE III.
The selection of President and Vice-President and three Trustees elected by this congregation shall be held annually on the fourth Sunday immediately preceding the first day of Passover, at which election there shall also be elected a Secretary and Treasurer, and those elected shall enter upon their respective duties on the second Sunday immediately preceding the first day of Passover, but as to the four Trustees of this Congrgation and Board of Trustees, so long at they are Trustees of the Spanish and Portuguese Congregation Shearith Israel of New York City, they are declared to be Trustees,and may vote as such personally, or by proxy, at all meetings of this Congregation and Board of Trustees, so long do they are Trustees of the Spanish and Portuguese Congregation Shearith Israel of NewYork City, and have been appointed by that body to act as such.
ARTICLE IV.
Upon the demand of the Trustees, the Treasurer shall give a bond or bonds with sufficient securities, within a reasonable time after his election, in an amount to be fixed by the Board of Trustees, for the safe-keeping of all moneys and property entrusted to his care, and for their prompt and proper delivery to his successor in office.
ARTICLE V.
Sec, 1. The Board of Trustees shall appoint all other officers that may be necessary for the welfare of the general government of the Congregation, excepting the Chazan or Rabbi. All officers appointed by the Board of Trustees shall hold office during the plasare of the Board of Trustees and their salaries shall be fixed and regulated by said Board.
Sec. 2. The Chazan or Rabbi, shall be elected for a term not exceeding 5 years by the members of the Congregation at a congregational meeting, to be held within four weeks before Passover, and shall receive for his salary, the income of the Judah Touro Ministerial Fund, excepting for such sum as may be set apart from said fund, for the embellishment and care of the Jewish cemetery. The Chazan or Rabbi elected, to conform to the rules and regulations as established by this Congregation.
Sec 3. Should the office of Chazan or Rabbi become vacant, the Board of Trustees shall immediately advertise in a Jewish periodical twice a month declaring the position vacant and stating the requisite qualifications for the position and such other and further information as the The Board of Trustees may deem advisable.
ARTICLE VI.
Sec. 1. The President and Vice-President shall be respectively, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Sec, 2. The President shall convene a meeting of the Board of Trustees at least once every three months, or oftener, if he deem It necessary, or upon the request in writing of at least three Trustees, at least five days' written notice shall be given to each Trustee, stating the time and place of such meeting and the object thereof.
Sec. 3. The President shall convene an annual meeting of the congregation on the second Sunday Immediately preceding the first day of Passover, at which meeting, it shall to the duty of the Board of Trustees to lay before the members a full statement of the receipts and expenditures of the congregation, for the past year, and of such other business as they may think proper to present to the body at large.
ARTICLE VII.
Sec. 1. Special meetings of the Congregation shall be convened by the President whenever he deems it necessary, or when requested in writing by at least three Trustees, which request shall state the purpose for which a meeting is desired, at least five days’ notice in writing shall be given to every member stating the purpose of the meeting and the time and place thereof.
Sec. 2. Should any member or members, desire to be heard upon any special subject, at a special meeting, he shall state his desires to the Board of Truetooe and they, in their judgment, may request the President to call such meetings.
ARTICLE VIII.
Immediately after the officers elected, enter upon their respective duties as specified in Article II. of these By-Laws, it shall be the duty of the President to call a meeting of the Board of Trustees, at which meeting it shall be the duty of the President to appoint the following Committees from among the Board of Trustees, such Committee to consist of three members.
Committee on Finance.
Property.
Repairs and Supplies.
Order in Synagogue.
School.
Cemetery, Funerals, etc.
Abraham and Judah Touro Funds.
Printing and Stationery,
Applications for membership.
ARTICLE IX.
It shall be the duty of the President to issue written orders on the Secretary and Treasurer for all moneys appropriated by the Board of Trustees.
ARTICLE X.
The President shall have the superintendence of all religious ceremonies in the synagogue which, in his absence shall devolve upon the Vice-President, secondly upon the Secretary and thirdly upon the members of the Board of Trustees in the order at their seniority.
ARTICLE XI.
Sec. 1. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive all moneys due the Congregation and give a voucher therefor, immediately after the receipt of same.
He shall also prepare a report of the state of Finance for submission to the Board of Trustees every six months, and to pay no money, except upon written orders from the President and as previously voted upon by the Board of Trustees.
Sec. 2. All moneys due the congregation, shall be collected by the Secretary under such rules and regulations as the Board of Trustees may prescribe.
He shall make quarterly returns of his collections to the Treasurer.
Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep a record of the proceedings of the Congregation, prepare and keep a register of the name of members, with dates of their admission, also an historical record and register of the birth and deaths of members of this Congregation, to attend all meetings take charge of all books and accounts; keep a record of all papers and property in the hands of any
and all officers of this Congregation; hee shall on receipt of all moneys, hand the same to the Treasurer, receiving a receipt therefor.
ARTICLE XII.
Sec. 1. Any Israelite desiring to become a member of this Congregation, must make application in writing to the Board of Trustees. Said Applicant must be above the age of 13 years, and a resident of Nowport, excepting the said four trustees of the Congregation, Shearith Israel, who are hereby declared to be members of this Congregation. The application shall be submitted at the Congregational meeting, at which time it shall then be referred to the Committee of Application for membership. Said Committee shall consider the application and report thereon, and if considered favorable, shall then be referred to the congregation for a ballot.
Sec. 2. Application for membership,
-
Newport, R. I.
To the President and Board of Trustees and members of the K. K. Jeshuat Israel.
The undersigned hereby applies for membership in the Congregation Jeshuat Israel, declares he is not married contrary to the Mosaic or Rabbinical Laws, and agrees that if his application is accepted, he will conform to and obey all the laws now in use, or in force, or which hereafter may ba adopted by the congregation,
(Signed)
Article XIII.
The election of members should be by a majority of the votes cast by the members present, and of those voting by proxy.
ARTICLE XIV.
At the annual meeting held for the election of officers and Chazan or Rabbi, and at all times when candidates for membership are voted for, the President shall appoint two inspectors of election, whose duty it shall be to receive the votes of the members and they shall declare who, By a majority of the votes, has been elected.
ARTICLE XV.
The dues for members of this congregation shall not be less than six (6) dollars per annum, payable quarterly, in advance.
ARTICLE XVI.
Any member of this Congregation, being married to, or who shall marry any person out of the Jewish faith, or contrary to, or in violation of the Mosaic or Rabbinical Laws, or who has neglected to, or who shall neglect to have the rite of circumcision performed on each and every one of his male children, or who shall publicly renounce Judaism, shall forfeit all his rights, privileges and benefits in the Congregation, and his name shall, upon proof of these facts to the Board of Trustees, be erased and stricken from the list of membership of this congregation.
ARTICLE XVII.
This Congregation shall be supported by dues and offerings under such regulations as may be adopted by the Board of Trustees, and from the income of any property which may belong to the Congregation: alao by subscriptions and bequests.
ARTICLE XVIII.
Sec. 1. Any member being indebted to this congregation for six months dues shall not be entitled to vote at any election, or Congregational meeting and shall not be eligible to office.
Sec. 2.
It shall be the duty of the Board of Trustees to enforce payment of all moneys due this Congregation, arising in any manner whatever, and it is hereby expressly understood that all offerings made by members are included in this Article, and shall be considered as, and be enforceable in law, as dues.
Sec. 3. If any member failed to pay his dues or offerings or other obligations to this Congregation at the end of one year, from the date of which each of such obligation or obligations were incurred, it shall be the duty of the Secretary to send such member written notice of such indebtedness, with a demand, In writing, that said indebtedness be liquidated within thirty days thereafter, on pain of nating his name stricken from the roll of morborship, and loss of all rights and privileges of membership in this congregation, and the Board of Trustees shall strike from the roll such members whose indebtedness, as aforesaid, remains unliquidated, as hereinbefore specified.
ARTICLE XIX.
Sec. 1. No real or other property owned, or which may hereafter be required by this congregation shall be sold or exchanged or mortgaged, unless by unanimous vote of the members present, and represented by proxy at a Special Meeting convened for that purpose.
Sec. 2. The Ritual rites and customs of this Congregation shall forever remain according to the Saphardic Minhag es at present practiced and constituted in this Congregation.
ARTICLE XX.
Sec 1. At all Congregational meetings, five members shall constitute a quorum.
Sec. 2. No person other than members shall be admitted to the meeting of this Congregation, excpt by a majority vote of the members present.
ARTICLE XXI.
It shall be lawful for the Trustees or any nombor in good standing to propose any additional rules of regulations or amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws, which they may deem necessary for the good government and welfare of this Congregation; such rules, regulations or amendments shall be voted upon at a special Congregational meeting, to be held for that purpose: a fortnight’s notice of which meeting must be given.
The notice of said meeting shall distinctly specify the nature of the proposed addition, alterations or amendments; if then adopted by a two-third vote of the members present and represented by proxy, the same shall become law until the next regular annual Congregational meeting, hold on the second Sunday immediately preceding the first day of Passover, when the proposed alterations, additions or amendments shall be again brought up for reconsideration, and if again adopted by a two-third vote of all the members present and represented by proxy, shall then finally become law, otherwise it shall be declared rejected. But no addition, alteration or amendment shall be made to this constitution and By-Laws that shall in any way add to, alter or affect the status of the four trustees of the Spanish and Portuguese Congregation Shearith Israel of the city of New York, or of Article XIX. of this Constitution and By-Laws, unless the said four Trustees of the said Congregation Shearith Israel vote affirmatively for such proposed addition, alteration or amendment,
ARTICLE XXII.
Sec. 1 Any member not coming to order at a congregational meeting, when requsted to do so by the Chairman, shall be fined fifty (80) cents,
Sec. 2. Any member leaving a meeting without permission from the Chairman shall be fined fifty (60) cents.
ARTICLE LXIII.
Elections for officers in this Congregation shall be by ballot. Preceding the balloting, nominations shall be made. Ballots for persons other than those nominated in accordance herewith shall be counted as blank votes. A majority of those present, and represented by proxy, shall in all cases be necessary to be elected.
ARTICLE XIV.
Rules of order for the Government of Meetings.
First: The presiding officer shall decide all questions of order, subject to an appeal to the meeting.
Second: The order of Business at every meeting
shali be as follows:
1. Reading and approving of the Minutes of the previous meeting
2. The special business for which the meeting was convened, if any.
3. Communications.
4. Propositions for membership.
5. Reports of Committees.
6, Balloting for Candidates.
7. Unfinished business.
8. New Business.
9. Good and welfare of the Congregation.
Third: No motion shall be entertained unless duly seconded.
Fourth:: When a resolution is under discussion, no other motion shall be in order, except to amend, to propose, to refer, to lay on the table or to adjourn.
Fifth: A motion to adjourn, to lay on the table, or the previous question, shall be voted upon without discussion.
Sixth: A vote of the meeting ordering the previous question shall preclude further debate.
Seventh. When two or more persons rise to speak at the same time, the Chairman shall designate the one who is entitled to the floor,
Eighth: No member shall speak more than twice on the same question, without the consent of the President,
Ninth: The ayes and nays upon all questions shall be called and entered upon the Minutes at the request of any member.
Tenth: The meeting may refer any matter to a committee of the whole, and go into a committee of the whole at its pleasure.
Eleventh. A motion to reconsider a vote may be made by any member having voted with the majority upon the question on which a reconsideration is demanded, but no vote of reconsideration shall be taken more than once on the same question.
Pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Congregation Jeshuat Israel, of Newport RI at a meeting held January 31st,1897, I hereby ratify and confirm the amendments to the foregoing Constitution as proposed by the Congregation Shearith Israel of New York assn embodied in the foregoing copy of the Constitution and By Laws of the Congregation Jeshuat Israel of Newport, R.I. which are hereby declared to be the permanent Constitution and By Laws the said Congregation.
Dated New York February 10,1897.
Eugene Schreier
President
Congregation Jeshuat Israel
Newport, RI