Page:Pocket Manual of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies (1876).djvu/130

130 nounces his name, when the member proceeds to state the object of the meeting. Having finished his remarks, the Chairman may call on other members to give their opinions upon the subject, and sometimes a particular speaker is called out by members who wish to hear him. The Chairman should observe the wishes of the assembly, and, while being careful not to be too strict, he must not permit any one to occupy too much time and weary the meeting.

When a sufficient time has been spent in this informal way, some one should offer a resolution, so that definite action can be taken. Those interested in getting up the meeting, if it is to be a large one, should have previously agreed upon what isto be done, and be prepared, at the proper time, to offer a suitable resolution, which may be in form similar to this: “Resolved, That it is the sense of this meeting that a society for [state the object of the society] should now be formed in this city.” This resolution, when seconded and stated by the Chairman, would be open to debate, and be treated as already described [§ 46 (b)]. This preliminary motion could have been offered at the commencement of the meeting, and, if the meeting is a very large