For the Thanksgiving Festival.

"Our opinion on the Eastern Question: We agree with Russia, that Turkey ought to be gobbled.”

"The health of our venerable host: Although an American citizen, he is one of the best Grand Seniors that ever presided over Turkey." "Thanksgiving: The magnetic festival that brings back erratic wanderers to the Old Folks at Home."

"The thanksgiving board: While it groans with plenty within, who cares for the whistling of the wind without."

"Thanksgiving: The religious and social festival that converts every family mansion into a Family Meeting House."

For the Fourth of July.

"The American Eagle: The older he grows the louder he screams, and the higher he flies."

"The Union of the States, and the Union of the Sexes: The one was the beginning of man's independence, the other is the end of it." "Our Standard Sheet: It has often been badly mangled, and terribly scorched, but is, nevertheless, the noblest sheet that ever covered a hero on the bed of glory."

For the Crystal Wedding.

"Crystal Weddings: The medium through which the bliss of enduring affection is magnified, reflected, and made transparent to everybody."

"The fifteenth year of Wedlock: A matrimonial Stage, chiefly remarkable for its Tumblers."

"Our Hospitable Hostess: And may it never be her fate to look on life as through a glass darkly.'"

"The New Married Couple: They will not find the friendship of their friends as brittle as their gifts."

For a Silver Wedding.

"A quarter of a century of Married Happiness: The best five-twenty bond in the world."

"The Bridal Pair: Their admirable performances in double harness well entitle them to the plate."

"Our Kind Entertainers: Know all men, by these presents, how sincerely we love them."

For a Wooden Wedding.

"Our Host and Hostess: The fire of affection they mutually kindled five years ago has not gone out; on the contrary, we are glad to see them wooding up."

For the Golden Wedding.

"Matrimony's Pleasant Autumn: May it always bear golden fruit." "The Bridegroom's Prize: Not toys of gold, but the more attractive metal by his side."

BAKER COM

Public Meetings.

HE people of every community, in order to introduce laws, regulations, and organizations by which they shall be governed and benefited, find it necessary to meet from time to time in public assemblages. Thus, before a school can be established, it is necessary to have a meeting of the citizens, to take the preliminary steps towards obtaining the school. Before a church organization can be had, a meeting of persons favorable to such proceeding must first take place, to secure sufficient concert of action to accomplish the object. To obtain unity of sentiment, and harmony of action, in the carrying forward of any important enterprise, the people must be called together, and the minds of a sufficient number directed into the desired channel to effect the contemplated purpose.

In educating public sentiment, calling the people together, and introducing the resolutions that shall embody the sense of the meeting, much written business is required that may properly be considered here.

To show the manner in which a meeting is convened, called to order, organized, and conducted, we will take a political gathering as an example.

To illustrate: William Jones, who lives in the town of Monroe, being a zealous politician, is desirous of having a republican meeting in his town, just before election. He, therefore, consults with John Belden, Arthur Bennett, George Moody, and others, who have a certain influence, as to time and place. Arrangements are also made with two or three persons, accustomed to public speaking, to address the meeting.

Notice is then given, by written placards or printed posters, as follows:

"Republican Meeting.

ALL CITIZENS of Monroe, who favor the principles of the REPUBLICAN PARTY, are requested to meet on THURSDAY EVENING, OCT. 1st, at the TOWN HALL, at SEVEN O'CLOCK, to take such action as may be deemed best to promote the Success of the Party in the COMING ELECTION. The Meeting will be addressed by the HON. WILLIAM SPENCER, THOMAS HOPKINS, Esq., and OTHERS."

The projectors assemble at the Hall early, and decide, from an examination of the audience, who will make a suitable presiding officer, and secretary, or these persons may be selected

previous to the meeting, with the understanding that they will be present.

Selection of Chairman.

Half or three-quarters of an hour is usually given from the time when the meeting is appointed, for general conversation, while the audience is assembling. At half-past seven, Wm. Jones steps forward, and says:

"The meeting will please come to order." As soon as the audience becomes still, Mr. Jones continues:

"I move that Samuel Lockwood act as President of this meeting."

Mr. Arthur Belden says: "I second the motion."

Then, Mr. Jones puts the question thus: "It has been moved and seconded, that Mr. Samuel Lockwood act as President of this meeting. All in favor of the motion will manifest the same by saying, 'Aye.'

As soon as the affirmative vote has been expressed, he will say:

"Those who are opposed will say, 'No.'" If the "Ayes" predominate, he will say: "The Ayes' have it. Mr. Lockwood will take the chair."

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If, however, the 'Noes' are in the majority, he will say:

"The Noes' have it; the motion is lost." Thereupon, he will nominate another person, or put the question upon the nomination of some one else.

The meeting is now organized. The Chairman will direct the Secretary to read the call, or, if a copy of the call is not to be obtained, he will ask one of the projectors to state the object of the meeting.

Order of Business.

That speech being concluded, the President will say:

"You have heard the call, and understand its object; what is the further pleasure of the meeting?"

Mr. Jones, thereupon, says:

"I move that a Committee of three be appointed by the chair to draft resolutions expressive of the sense of this meeting."

This is seconded.

The Chairman then says:

"Gentlemen, you have heard the motion; are you ready for the question?"

If any one desires to speak against the motion, or has any remark to make, he arises, and says: “Mr. Chairman.”

The Chairman turns towards the speaker, and listens to him, and each in succession. When they are all done, or in case no one responds to the call, he puts the question in the previous form, and declares the result.

Committee on Resolutions.

The resolution being adopted, the Chairman says:

"I will appoint as such Committee-William

Appointment of Secretary.

Mr. Arthur Bennett then says:

"I move that Mr. Hiram Cooper act as Secretary of this meeting."

This motion being seconded, the Chairman puts the question, and declares the result.

If considerable political excitement exists in the community, the opposite party will sometimes gather in large force, which is termed "packing" the meeting; will vote their own officers into place, and conduct the meeting according to their own wishes. When, however, a meeting is called in the interest of a certain political party, it is considered disreputable for another party to seck, through overwhelming force, to control the meeting in their own interest.

Where a motion is made moving the appointment of a committee, it is parliamentary usage to appoint, as the first person selected on such committee, the mover of the resolution.

The Committee withdraws to prepare the resolutions, or to examine those previously prepared for the purpose.

Upon the retirement of the Committee, the audience will call for the leading speakers of the evening to address the meeting. When the speeches are concluded, the Chairman of the Committee comes forward, and says:

"Mr. Chairman, the Committee report the following resolutions."

He then reads the resolutions, and gives them to the Secretary.

The Chairman now says:

"You have heard the resolutions. What shall be done with them?"

Arthur Bennett says:

"I move they be adopted." The motion is seconded.

The Chairman then says:

"The question on the passage of the resolutions is now before the house. Are there any remarks to be made on the subject?" *

If no objections are made, the President will put the question, and declare the result. The formality of appointing a Committee on Resolutions may be avoided by the resolutions being introduced and read by one of the projectors of the meeting.

The resolutions adopted, and the speeches concluded, the Chairman will ask:

"What is the further pleasure of the meet

ing?"

Adjournment.

If there be no further business, some one moves an adjournment. As the question is not debatable the Chairman puts it direct. If carried, he says:

"The meeting is adjourned."

If thought best to convene another meeting, the Chairman will declare:

'The meeting is adjourned to the time fixed upon."

The foregoing, it will be seen, by varying the call, and changing the business to suit, will answer for most political gatherings, or any public meeting.

If it is desirable to make the proceedings public, it is the duty of the Secretary to fully write up the business of the meeting, and transmit the same to the nearest newspaper favorable to the cause. If the meeting be of sufficient

If there is a good deal of business before the meeting, the chairman may dispatch such business much more rapidly by immediately putting a question, when moved and seconded, without inviting remarks.

importance, it may be well for him, immediately after being chosen to fill the position, to move the appointment of two Assistant Secretaries, who will aid him in writing up the proceedings for two or three newspapers.

The Secretary's Report.

The Secretary's report of a meeting, will, of course, vary according to circumstances. In the record of the foregoing meeting, it would read as follows:

Pursuant to call, a meeting of the Republican citizens of Monroe was held in the Town Hali on Thursday evening, Oct. 10th, Samuel Lockwood being chosen president of the meeting, and Hiram Cooper appointed secretary.

On motion of Mr. William Jones, the chairman appointed as a committee on resolutions, Messrs Wm. Jones, Albert Hawkins, and Henry Peabody.

During the absence of the committee, the meeting was very ably addressed by Hon. W. Spencer, of Belmont, who reviewed the work that had been done by this party, in a speech of some forty minutes. Mr. Spencer was followed by Thomas Hopkins, Esq., of Cambridge, in a half hour's speech, in which he particularly urged upon all R‹ publicans the necessity of vigilant effort from this time forward till the election.

The committee on resolutions reported the following, which were unanimously adopted.

(Here the Secretary inserts the Resolutions.) On motion, the meeting was adjourned.

Government of Conventions.

While the foregoing form is applicable, with suitable variations, to the management of ordinary public meetings, it is generally necessary in political conventions, which contain frequently a large number of delegates with a great diversity of interests to subserve, several candidates being often before the convention seeking position, to make first a temporary, and afterwards a permanent organization.

Comprised, as the convention is, of delegates, who are representatives from constituencies of different parts of the county, or state, the assemblage is a legislature of the party, and is governed by nearly the same rules. The strictest application of these rules is often necessary, in order to preserve decorum in its discussions, and dignity in its action.

A convention may be called, either by some committee appointed by previous conventions to make the call, or it may be convened by invitation of the leading friends of a particular

The night before the convention a caucus is generally held in the several towns of the county, for the purpose of selecting delegates to attend the same. These delegates are sometimes instructed by the meeting to vote for certain men or measures, in the convention.

Two sets of officers are chosen in the convention-temporary, and permanent. The first is for the purpose of conducting the business preparatory to organization.

The temporary chairman is chosen in the manner heretofore designated. In selecting the permanent officers, it is usual to allow the delegation from each county, district or township, the right to name one member of the com

save time, it is common to appoint a committee, at the same time, on credentials, whose duty it is to ascertain if each delegate is entitled to vote in the convention.

During the interval that follows, it is customary, while the committees are engaged in their labors, to call upon various prominent men to address the gathering.

The officers recommended by the committee chosen for the purpose, are generally elected; the real business of the convention can now be performed.

It is customary to give the thanks of the convention to its officers just previous to adjournment. In that case, the member who makes the motion puts the question upon its adoption, and declares the result.

HE foregoing illustration of the method of conducting public meetings and conventions will give the reader a

SELECTION OF A SECRETARY.

in the organization and management

of any public gathering; as many questions arise, however, concerning parliamentary usage on disputed questions, the following rules of order will be of interest to all persons who may have occasion to participate in the work of public meetings:

Duties of the President of a Meeting.

The presiding officer of a meeting should possess acuteness of hearing, a clear, distinct voice, positiveness of manner, selfpossession, and a clear understanding of his duties, which are as follows:

First, if the meeting be temporary in its character, the president, having been appointed by the members of the congregation present, will, after taking the chair, proceed to state the object of the meeting, or call upon some member in the audience, who is supposed to know the object of the gathering, to do so.

same to vote and announce the result, as he will all motions and propositions properly presented, that may necessarily arise

in the course of the proceedings.

In making a statement to the assembly, or putting a question, it is customary for the chairman to arise and stand while doing so, though he may retain his seat if much more convenient, while reading any communication or message to the meeting.

ORDER.

He should strictly maintain order, or call upon some one or more persons in authority to do so; should see that members of the meeting, while engaged in the presenting of motions or in debate, observe the order and decorum enjoined by parliamentary rules; should decide all questions of order; should appoint members of committees when required by motion to do so, and should not leave his chair unless the same be filled by a vice president (if there be one) or by the appointment of a pro tempore chairman.

QUORUM.

When presiding over a deliberative assembly, such as a council or legislature, his actions will be largely governed