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Medford Amicable Singing Society.
[Document on file in office of City
Clerk of
Medford, Massachusetts.]
We, the subscribers hereunto being desirous of better informing ourselves in the art of singing, do agree to form ourselves into a society for that purpose, to be known by the name of the
Medford Amicable Singing Society, and we further agree to observe and be governed by the following articles:—
art. 1ST.
There shall be a chorister chosen by the society, whoes duty it shall be to lead and instruct the said society in the art of singing to the best of his abilities, and we on our part agree to be under the said
Chorister's direction in all our performances of musick, with an intent to make ourselves as respectable as posable in the object of our undertaking.
art. 2D.
There shall be three meetings in each week of said society for four weeks from sunday next, to be held on Tuesday, Thursday and sunday evenings, and we each of us agree to attend such meetings punctually unless some unforseen circumstance should take place which shall make such meeting very inconveniant for us, and we further agree to do every thing in our power to unite, encourage, cherish, strengthen & harmonize said society, and promote the intentions of the institution—and after the expiration of the four weeks, we will meet at such times as a majority of the society shall from time to time agree upon.
art. 3D.
We each of us agree to set in the singing seats in the
Medford meeting house every Sunday for one year from the date of these articles, when we can conveniently attend public worship, unless on particular occasions it shall be excusable to set elsewhere in said meeting house, provided however, the expenses which will necessarily arise in carrying the intentions of said society into effect, can be defrayed without any expense to any individual of said society other than their time.
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art. 4TH.
there shall be a standing committee chosen for the purpose of selecting such tunes as the society will perform in the meeting house generally, also for the purpose of selecting the tunes to be sung each sunday.
art. 5TH.
There shall be a committee chosen to wait on
Doctr
Osgood to request him to favour the society with the Psalms & Hymns he intends reading on sundays, in each week preceeding sunday as early in the week as he can with convenience.
art. 6TH.
There shall be a committee chosen for the purpose of giving invitations to persons who are singers, who may hereafter come into town to reside, that the said committee may
Judge will be advantagious to the said society, and it is to be understood to be the wish of said society that no singer now belonging or living in
Medford shall be invited into this society by any member thereof other than what may be expressly authorized by these articles—but notwithstanding this article, it is not intended to prevent any member from asking his friend into the society occasionally as they may have chance to call on them, provided they do not belong in Town.
art. 7TH.
On a proposition being made to admit into the society any singer belonging to town, such proposition having the support of two thirds of the members of said society present at any of their stated meetings, the person so proposed and supported, shall be notified by the secratary immediately of the vote of invitation stating also, if they accept the invitation, where they are requested to meet the society.
art. 8TH.
It is requested that in case any circumstance should happen that any member should wish to leave the society, that he would make his request known to the secratary of said society that they may honourably vote him a discharge.
art. 9TH.
Any member conducting himself improperly in the Judgment of the society it shall be in the power of the majority to excommunicate him, and he,
[p. 35] when so excommunicated by a vote of the majority, shall not be admitted into the society.
art. 10. There shall be a secratary chosen whose duty it shall be to keep in a Book, to be kept for the use of the society, a record of the proceedings of the society, and make a record of each members name belonging to the society, and to draw all orders on the
Treasurer, which the said society may direct.
art. 11. There shall be a treasurer chosen whose duty it shall be to receive all monies paid for the use of the society, and to pay over the same to the order of the secratary as aforesaid, also to keep a record of all monies received as aforesaid also of all monies paid out and for what paid for.
art. 12. The foregoing articles shall be subject to revision at all times when two thirds of the members of said society shall think proper.
Accepted March 15, 1815.
The forgoing is a copy of the constitution
M. A. Singing society, with the names subscribed, and the following is a list of names who have had billets of invitation to Join the society by the unanimous vote of the said society, who have accepted the invitation as we the subscribers understand.
Namely
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making in all forty nine
| 12 | Tenor |
| 22 | Bass |
| 15 | Trible |
| — |
| 49 |
To the selectmen of the Town of Medford
Gentlemen—
We the subscribers, a committee chosen from the within named M. A. S. society for the purpose of making a statement, of the intentions and situation of said society as well as a statement of the assistance they think they must have to enable them to carry their intentions into execution; beg leave to state to you gentlemen, that the society think that, in case they carry into effect their intentions agreeing with the principles of the foregoing constitution, they will want at least fifty dollars, and it is further calculated that it is actually necessary to have twenty five dollars immediately, as it is found necessary under existing circumstances to procure one and a half dozen of singing books of the eleventh Edition of the village harmony, which probably will cost fifteen dollars, and that we want room & lights, beside other expences which will occur unavoidably which we think must certainly take the remaining ten dollars so that sum of twenty five dollars will probably satisfy for the expenses of said society till they may want to meet
[p. 37] for practice next fall as existing circumstances of late has made the formation of the said society very deficult, it must be believed that the undertakers and supporters in pursuing and establishing the principles and organizing the said society thus far, have had a task which ought to excuse them from all further trouble in obtaining the assistance requested: other than making it known to the citizens of
Medford aforesaid.
We therefore with confidence, rest assured that the gentlemen composing the board of selectmen to whom we submit the above statements will leave nothing undone that they with propriety can do to procure the amount of the said society's request, and in time to facilitate their undertaking.
Medford, March 20th 1815.
Gentlemen, with due respect we remain your obt Servts
E. Bailey) Medford Amicable Singing Societies Committee. Gershom Tufts Medford Amicable Singing Societies Committee.
