THE FIRST MEETING IN ZEPHYR HALL
In another fortnight the boat-house was entirely completed, furnished,
and ready for the occupancy of the club. School had closed for the
season, and the summer vacation had begun; but most of the boys, in
anticipation of the pleasure which the boat club promised them,
preferred to stay at home rather than go to the seashore or the
mountains, or visit their friends at a distance.
Mr. Burlap, the tailor, had exerted himself to the utmost; and the new
dress of the boat club was soon ready for use. The tarpaulins had been
purchased and lettered, and the uniforms had been hung up in the little
closets in the club-room of the boat-house. One was appropriated to
each member, whose number was painted upon the door.
Uncle Ben had given the boys several extra lessons in rowing in the
meantime, and the discipline of the club and the rowing were pronounced
perfect. The first meeting in the new hall was appointed to take place
on Monday morning, and punctually to the hour the members were all
assembled.
The hall had been tastefully furnished and decorated, under the
direction of Captain Sedley. On the floor was a very pretty carpet with
bright colors; on the walls hung several large maps and engravings in
frames, illustrative of various boat-scenes; and over the door leading
to the boat-house proper was painted in blue letters,--
ZEPHYR BOAT CLUB.
On the window-curtains the name of the club was also painted. In the
middle of the room was placed a long table, around which were arranged
thirteen chairs for the members. The library cases were filled with
books, which had been selected with great care by Mr. and Mrs. Sedley.
On the table were placed various pamphlets and periodicals; and when
the club assembled, Uncle Ben was there, seated in the coxswain's
armchair, poring over the pages of the _Sailor's Magazine_.
The boys all came in and took their chairs, each of which was numbered;
and Uncle Ben cheerfully resigned his place to the coxswain.
"Order!" said Frank, rapping on the table.
Captain Sedley had instructed Frank in some of the forms of conducting
a public meeting; and the matter had been made the topic of
conversation among the others, so that they had a tolerable idea of
parliamentary usage. They were all enthusiastic and eager to learn; and
some of them had attended a special town meeting a few days before, for
the purpose, as they expressed it, of "seeing how the thing was done."
And when Captain Sedley came in to breakfast on the morning of that
eventful day, he found Frank intently perusing the pages of Cushing's
"Manual."
When, therefore, the coxswain called the meeting to order, all noise
and conversation immediately ceased; and the members of the club seemed
determined to conduct themselves with more propriety than the "legal
voters" of Rippleton had at the town meeting they had attended.
Frank, in the words of the newspaper reporters, "made a neat and
appropriate speech," on the occasion of taking possession of the new
hall. After this important matter had been disposed of, the coxswain
remarked that the first business of the club would be to select a name
for the hall.
"Mr. Chairman," said Charles Hardy, rising with the utmost gravity and
decorum.
Uncle Ben laughed outright; but immediately apologized for his unseemly
mirth, and fearful lest he should disturb the dignified body again, he
withdrew from the hall, and busied himself in polishing up the brass
work of the boat.
"Charles Hardy," said the young chairman, bowing to the member who had
obtained the floor.
"I move that this hall, hereafter, henceforward, and for all time to
come, be called Sedley Hall," said Charles, who, in the absence of any
work on parliamentary tactics in his father's library, had carefully
studied the "Business Man's Assistant," from which he had stored his
memory with a variety of legal and technical phrases. He had the jingle
of them in his head, and did not mind much about the substance.
Captain Sedley entered the hall just as he made his motion.
"Second the motion," said Fred Harper.
"It is moved and seconded that this room be called Sedley Hall,"
continued the coxswain, rising from the chair. "The question is open
for discussion."
"Mr. Chairman," said Captain Sedley, scarcely able to control his
inclination to indulge in a hearty laugh at the dignity and formality
of the proceedings, "though not, strictly speaking, a member of the
club, perhaps you will indulge me in a few remarks on the question
before the house. I am very grateful to you for the honor to my name
and family which is contemplated by the excellent member on the other
side of the table; but for reasons of my own, I must beg the gentleman
to withdraw his motion."
"He cannot withdraw without the consent of the house--of the club, I
mean," said Frank, blushing at his blunder.
"It is customary when no objection is made," replied Captain Sedley
gravely, "to permit a motion to be withdrawn."
"Mr. Chairman," said Charles, rising, "for the obvious reasons
mentioned by the honorable and distinguished gentleman, I withdraw my
motion."
At the risk of disturbing the dignity of the meeting, Captain Sedley
remarked that he had stated no reasons.
"I move that the room be called Zephyr Hall," said Tony Weston.
"Second the motion," said Charles.
Frank stated the question, and observed that it was open for any
remarks. But the members, not feeling disposed to indulge in any
flights of eloquence before Captain Sedley, maintained an obstinate
silence for full five minutes. The chairman, impressed with the idea
that some speeches must be made, anyhow, did not interrupt the
dignified quiet by putting the question.
At last the silence was broken by a hearty laugh on the part of Captain
Sedley.
"Why don't you put the question, Frank?" asked he.
"The debate has not taken place yet."
"There are some questions which it is not necessary to debate."
"Question!" said Fred Harper, who had been to town meeting.
"Those in favor of calling the room Zephyr Hall, please manifest it by
raising the right hand."
"All up!" cried Fred Harper.
"It is a unanimous vote," added the chairman.
"Let the clerk record the vote," whispered Captain Sedley to his son.
"We have no clerk yet."
"Doing business without a clerk!" laughed his father.
"The next business will be to choose a clerk," continued Frank,
laughing. "Please to bring in your ballots for a clerk."
There were paper and pens at the other end of the table; and Fred
Harper, who seemed to have a very good idea of "the manner in which the
public business is transacted," commenced writing votes. In a few
moments they were all supplied.
"I move that a committee of three be appointed by the chair to collect,
sort, and count the votes, and report to the meeting," said Fred.
"Second the motion," added Tom Greene.
The motion was put and carried.
"The chair appoints Frederic Harper, Thomas Greene, and Mark Leman."
The votes were collected and reported.
"Whole number of votes, thirteen," repeated Frank; "necessary for a
choice, seven; Frederic Harper has one; Anthony Weston has twelve, and
is elected."
Captain Sedley clapped his hands at this evidence of good will on the
part of the members, and the club all joined heartily in the
demonstration. Three days before, the grand jury had found a bill
against Tony; but his friends still continued to regard and treat him
as an innocent person.
"I thank you for your kindness," said Tony, rising; "I am sure, I--"
but the poor fellow choked up, and could say no more.
His heart was full, and the great tears rolled down his cheeks.
"Never mind it, Tony; here is the record-book," said Fred Harper,
taking it from the library case.
Tony wiped away his tears, and seated himself at the foot of the table,
where a small desk had been placed for the use of the clerk.
"Mr. Chairman," said Charles Hardy.
Frank nodded to him to indicate that he had the floor.
"I move that a committee of three be appointed to draft and report a
constitution for the club."
"Second the motion," added Sam Harper.
The motion prevailed. Charles Hardy, Tony Weston, and Fred Harper were
nominated "at large," and chosen to serve on this committee. Leaving
the hall, they retired to the boat-room for deliberation; but the
constitution had already been prepared by Frank and Charles, with the
assistance of Captain Sedley. To make the business look more important
and dignified, Charles insisted on remaining out a few moments, during
which time they talked over the matter with Uncle Ben.
When they returned, the constitution was duly reported, and adopted
article by article.
Perhaps my young readers would not readily appreciate the moral of my
story without reading this important document; therefore I add, in
full, the
CONSTITUTION.
ARTICLE I.
This association shall be called the Zephyr Boat Club.
ARTICLE II.
The objects of the association shall be the instruction and
amusement of the members, and the acquiring of good morals, good
manners, and good habits in general.
ARTICLE III.
The officers of the club shall consist of a coxswain, as president,
and a clerk.
ARTICLE IV.
It shall be the duty of the coxswain to command the boat, to
preside at the meetings of the club, and to exercise a general
supervision over its affairs. He shall hold his office for two
weeks.
ARTICLE V.
The clerk shall keep a record of the meetings, and of all business
pertaining to the club, and shall hold his office for four weeks.
ARTICLE VI.
No member of this club shall use profane language at any time. No
member shall neglect his school, or his duties at home. No member
shall use vulgar or indecent language. No member shall provoke a
quarrel with another person, but shall do all he can to prevent
fighting and unkindly feelings one towards another. No member shall
use tobacco, or ardent spirits as a beverage, in any form. All
members shall obey the coxswain while in the boat. Any member
offending against either of the requirements of this article shall
be liable to suspension, and if incorrigible, to expulsion from the
club.
ARTICLE VII.
In order the more perfectly to carry out the beneficent and
reformatory purposes of the founder of the club, to whose bounty
we are indebted for the opportunities of instruction and amusement
the association affords us, we appoint him our Director. All
violations of Article VI., and all violations of the spirit of our
organization set forth in Article II., whether in word or in deed,
shall be reported to our Director, and the delinquent shall be
subject to such penalty as he shall determine.
ARTICLE VIII.
The hall and library shall be open every Wednesday and Saturday
afternoon, at such other times as the Director or coxswain may
order, and every evening except Sunday till nine o'clock.
ARTICLE IX.
This constitution may be altered or amended by a vote of two-thirds
of the members.
This constitution was transferred to the record book, and duly signed.
Some other business was transacted, and the meeting adjourned.
"Put on your uniforms," said Frank, as he rose from his chair, "and we
will make our first appearance."
"At twelve o'clock there will be a collation ready for you on Centre
Island, to which you are all invited," said Captain Sedley.
"Hurrah!" shouted Charles Hardy, as he rushed into the boat-room.