Page:Pocket Manual of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies (1876).djvu/106

106 be near that of the Chairman, and in the absence of the Chairman (if there is no vice-president present), when the hour for opening the session arrives, it is his duty to call the meeting to order, and to preside until the election of a chairman pro tem., which should be done immediately. He should keep a record of the proceedings, commencing in a form similar to the following: “At a regular quarterly meeting of [state the name of the society ], held on the 31st day of March, 1875, at [state the place of meeting], the President in the chair, the minutes were read by the clerk and approved.” If the regular clerk is absent, insert after the words “in the chair” the following: “The clerk being absent, Robert Smith was appointed clerk pro tem. The minutes were then read and approved.” If the minutes were not read, say “The reading of the minutes was dispensed with.” The above form will show the essentials, which are as follows: (a) The kind of meeting, “regular” [or stated] or “special,” or “adjourned regular” or “adjourned special;” (b) name of the assembly; (c) date and place of