OF THE Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons. When we consider that the obligations of benevolence which are founded on the precepts and examples of the Author of Christianity, are not cancelled by the follies or crimes of our fellow-creatures; and when we reflect upon the miseries which penury, hunger, cold, unnecessary severity, unwholesome apartments, and guilt (the usual attendants of prisons) involve with them, it becomes us to extend our compassion to that part of mankind who are the subjects of those miseries. By the aid of humanity, their undue and illegal sufferings may be prevented; the links which should bind the whole family of mankind together, under all circumstances, be preserved unbroken; and such degrees and modes of punishment may be discovered and suggested, as may, instead of continuing habits of vice, become the means of restoring our fellow-creatures to virtue and happiness. From a conviction of the truth and obligations of these principles, the subscribers have associated themselves under the title of "THE PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY FOR ALLEVIATING THE MISERIES OF PUBLIC PRISONS." For effecting these purposes, they have adopted the following CON STITUTION: ARTICLE I. The officers of the Society shall consist of a President, two VicePresidents, two Secretaries, a Treasurer, two Counsellors, and an Acting Committee; all of whom shall be chosen at the Stated Meeting to be held in the First Month (January) of each year, and shall continue in office until their successors are elected; but in case an election, from any cause, shall not be then held, it shall be the duty of the President to call a Special Meeting of the Society within thirty days, for the purpose of holding such election, of which at least three days notice shall be given. ARTICLE II. The President shall preside in all meetings, and subscribe all public acts of the Society. He may call special meetings whenever he may deem it expedient; and shall do so when requested in writing by five members. In his absence, one of the Vice-Presidents may act in his place. ARTICLE III. The Secretaries shall keep fair records of the proceedings of the Society, and shall conduct its correspondence. |