Charter and by-laws -OF- THE PENNSYLVANIA RETREAT -FOR BLIND-MUTES AND Aged and Infirm Blind Persons, INCORPORATED, APRIL 13, 1882. PHILADELPHIA: John H. Culbertson & Co., Printers, 721-727 Jayne Street. CHARTER AND BY-LAWS —OF— THE PENNSYLVANIA RETREAT FOR BLIND-MUTES AND Aged and Infirm Blind Persons. INCORPORATED, APRIL 13, 1882. PHILADELPHIA: John H. Culbertson & Co., Printers, 721-727 Jayne Street. OFFICERS. PRESIDENT : Right Rev. WM. BACON STEVENS, D.D.,LL. D FIRST VICE PRESIDENT : Rev. Bishop MATTHEW SIMPSON, D. D., LL. D. SECOND VICE PRESIDENT : WILLIAM CHAPIN, A. M. TREASURER: LEVI KNOWLES. SECRETARY: EDWARD P. BORDEN. FINANCIAL AGENT : H. L. HALL. Board of Managers. Wm. Bacon Stevens, No. 1633 Spruce Street, C. J. Milne, No. 2030 Walnut Street, Robert Patterson, Germantown, Levi Knowles, No. 126 N. Eighteenth Street, William Chapin, No. 2000 Summer Street, M. Simpson, No. 1334 Arch Street, Alex. Brown, cor. Nineteenth and Walnut Sts., B. B. Comegys, No. 4205 Walnut Street, Daniel M. Fox, No. 551 York Avenue, Alex. C. Fergusson, No. 3305 Arch Street, Edward P. Borden, No. 2038 Spruce Street, Chas. W. Wharton, Branch town, Alfred C. Harrison, No. 1616 Locust Street, II. J. Morton, No. 909 Clinton Street, James H. Hutchinson, No. 2019 Walnut Street, E. A. Rollins, No. 4000 Spruce Street, Chas. D. Norton, No. 4428 Chestnut Street, George B. Collier, No. 3617 Locust Street, George Dana Boardman, No. 3815 Walnut St., Galloway C. Morris, Germantown. CHARTER OF 7 he (Pennsylvania (Retreat for (Blind=Mutes and Aged and Infirm (Blind (Persons. Be it known, That the subscribers, citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, having with their as- sociates formed an Association, for the purpose of providing a Home for blind-mutes and aged and infirm blind persons, and desiring to be incorporated agreeably to the provisions of the Act of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, entitled “An act to provide for the incorporation and regulation of certain corporations,” approved April 29th, 1874, and the supplements thereto, do hereby declare, set forth and certify that the follow- 6 ing are the articles, objects and conditions of their said Association, agreeably to which they desire to be in- corporated, that is to say : I. The name of the said corporation shall be “ The Pennsylvania Retreat for Blind-Mutes and Aged and Infirm Blind Persons,” by which name it shall have all the rights and powers conferred by said acts and such other rights and powers as are usually incident to such corporations. II. The purpose for which the said corporation is formed is to provide a home for the care and support of blind- mutes and aged and infirm blind persons, irrespective of sect. III. The place where the said corporation is located and its affairs transacted, is the City of Philadelphia. IV. The term for which it is to exist is perpetual. V. The said corporation has no capital stock, nor are there any shares therein. It shall be supported by dona- tions and annual subscriptions, and by such other aids as may be available for its charitable objects. VI. The membership of the said corporation shall be composed of the subscribers and their associates and of such other persons as may comply with the By Laws re- specting membership to be enacted from time to time. VII. The government of the said corporation shall be vested in a Board of Managers consisting of twenty per- 7 sons, all of whom shall be residents of this Common- wealth, to be elected annually by ballot at the annual meeting which shall be held on the second Tuesday in January in each year. The officers of the said Board shall consist of a President, two Vice Presidents, a Sec- retary and a Treasurer, who shall be chosen from among the members of the Board at its annual meeting. The Board shall have exclusive control of all the invest- ments, property and assets of every description belonging to this corporation, and shall enact for its own govern- ment such By-Laws as may be necessary, not inconsistent with this Charter and the Constitution and Laws of this Commonwealth. Should at any time the Board deem it expedient so to do, it shall have power to elect six or more lady managers, who shall have the same rights and privileges as other members of the Board. VIIL Until the first election the members of the Board of Managers shall be as follows: Wm. Bacon Stevens, Xo. 1633 Spruce Street ; C. J. Milne, Xo. 2030 Walnut Street; Robert Patterson, Ger- mantown ; Levi Knowles, Xo. 126 Xorth Eighteenth Street; William Chapin, Xo. 2000 Summer Street; M. Simpson, Xo. 1334 Arch Street; Alex. Brown, cor. Nineteenth and Walnut Streets; B. B. Comegys, Xo. 4205 Walnut Street; Daniel M. Fox, Xo. 551 York Avenue; Alex. C. Fergusson, Xo. 3305 Arch Street; Edward P. Borden, Xo. 2038 Spruce Street; Chas. W. Wharton, 8 Branchtown; Alfred C. Harrison, No. 1616 Locust Street; H. J. Morton, No. 909 Clinton Street; James H. Hutchinson, No. 2019 Walnut Street; E. A. Rollins, No. 4000 Spruce Street; Chas. D. Norton, No. 4428 Chestnut Street; George B. Collier, No. 3617 Locust Street; George Dana Boardman, No. 3815 Walnut Street; Galloway C. Morris, Germantown. Witness the hands and seals of the said subscri- bers : Geo. B. Collier, No. 913 Walnut Street, Chas. D. Norton, No. 328 Walnut Street, Galloway C. Morris, Germantown, Alex. C. Fergusson, No. 3305 Arch Street, Edw. P. Borden, No. 2038 Spruce Street, Daniel M. Fox, No. 551 York *Avenue, B. B. Comegys, No. 4205 Walnut Street. On the Thirteenth day of April, A. D. 1882, before me the subscriber, Recorder of Deeds in and for the City and County of Philadelphia, personally appeared B. B. Comegys, Chas. D. Norton and Alex. C. Fergusson, and in due form of law acknowledged the above and forego- ing Indenture to be their and each of their act and deed and desired that the same might be recorded as such. Witness my hand and official seal the day and year aforesaid. JOHN O’DONNEL, Recorder of Deeds. 9 Be it Remembered, That on this Thirteenth day of April, A. D. 1882, the above and foregoing Certificate of Incorporation was presented to me a Law Judge of the Court cf Common Pleas hTo. 2, for the County of Philadelphia, accompanied by the due proof of the publication of the notice of application fcr incorporation according to the Statute in such case made and pro- vided, and that I have perused and examined the said Instrument,and find the same to be in proper form and within the first class specified in the Second Section of the Act of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, entitled “ An act to provide for the incorporation and regulation of certain corporations ” approved April 29, 1874 and that the same is lawful and not injurious to the community, and I do order and decree that the Charter is hereby approved, and upon the recording of the same and of this order the subscribers thereto and their associates shall be a cor- poration for the purposes and upon the terms therein stated. D. NEWLIN FELL. Recorded in the office for Recording of Deeds, etc., in and for the City and County of Philadelphia in Charter Book No. 6, page 452, etc. Witness my hand and seal of office this Fourteenth day of April, Anno Domini, 1882. JOS. K. FLETCHER, Deputy Recorder of Deeds. By-Laws OF (i he (Pennsylvania (Retreat for (Blind=Mutes and Aged and Infirm (Blind (Persons. ' Incorporated April 13th, 1882. Preamble.—The corporators desiring to carry into effect, the provisions of the Charter to establish a home for the care and support of blind-mutes and aged and in- firm blind persons, residents of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do associate themselves under the title specified in the Certificate of Incorporation as recorded at Philadelphia in Charter Book Xo. 6, page 452. I. The title shall be “ The Pennsylvania Retreat for Blind-Mutes and Aged and Infirm Blind Persons.” It 12 shall be located in the City of Philadelphia. It shall be supported by interests from investments; donations ; legacies; annual subscriptions; and such other aids as may be available for its charitable objects. II. MEMBERS FORMING THE CORPORATION. Any person may become a member who has been admitted at a regular meeting of the corporators by a majority of the votes thereat, or shall be elected at a stated meeting of the Board of Managers by a majority of the votes present thereat and shall pay in advance five dollars annually or in lieu thereof a gross sum of at least twenty-five dollars, which shall constitute him a member for life. III. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CORPORATION. The government of the corporation shall be vested in a Board of Managers which shall consist of twenty persons, who shall be elected annually by ballot on the second Tuesday of January. In case of failure to elect on that day, the existing Board shall remain in office until their successors are chosen. They must be citizens of Pennsylvania and contributors to the Institution. They shall have power to fill all vacancies which may occur during the year. 13 IV. The officers of the corporation shall be a President; at least two Vice Presidents, as the Board may from time to time determine ; a Secretary, and a Treasurer, all of whom shall be chosen from the members of the Board at their first meeting every year. The Board shall meet for organization annually within twenty days of the time of their election. OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION. V. OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS Section 1. Tlie Board of Managers may make such rules and regulations for the government of that body, and elect or appoint such agents or employees thereunder for such periods, or without expression of time, as they may from time to time in their discretion deem necessary for the good government and the promotion of the interests and objects of the said corporation. Section 2. They shall have power to adopt and use a Corporate or Common Seal, and to break, alter or renew the same at their pleasure. Section 3. The Board shall make an annual report to the members of the corporation at the annual meeting herein provided for by By-Law VI. Section 4- Stated meetings of the Board of Managers 14 shall be held quarterly on the third Tuesdays of January, April, July and October in each year; special meetings shall be called by the President or Secretary at the request of five members. Section 5. At any future time should the Board deem it expedient, they shall have the power to elect from the members of the corporation six or more lady managers, in addition to the number heretofore established for the Board of Managers, who shall have the same privileges as the other members of the Board. Section 6. All real estate, investments, personal se- curities and all funds of the corporation shall be under the control of the Board of Managers. No real estate stock or security for money shall be purchased alienated encumbered or released unless by a special resolution of the Board, of whom not less than nine shall be present when such matter is considered and determined; and any alienation encumbrance or release authorized shall be made by the President under the seal of the corporation verified by the Secretary; and all investments shall be made by the Treasurer under direction of the Board. Section 7. In the admission and treatment of the in- mates the government shall be strictly non-sectarian. Section 8. Five members of the Board shall form a quorum for the transaction of ordinary business at a meeting duly called. 15 VI. The annual meeting of the corporation shall be held on the second Tuesday in January in each year at such hour and place as may be directed by the Board of Man- agers. Special meetings thereof may be called by direc- tion of the Board of Managers. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CORPORATION. VII. These By-Laws shall take effect forthwith ; and may be suspended altered or amended at an annual meeting or at a meeting called for the purpose by a vote of two- thirds of those present. contemplated change in these By-Laws however shall be preceded by special notice thereof given by letter to each member through the mail to his or her address, where such address may be known. FORM OF LEGACY. I hereby give and bequeath to the “Pennsylvania Retreat for Blind-Mutes and Aged and Infirm Blind Persons, ” in Philadelphia and their successors forever (if Real Estate) all that, etc. ; (if Personal Property) the sum of, etc.