Rules of the Debating Society, 1768
Rules of the Debating Society
[New York, 1768]1
- 1. That ever Member attend regularly every Thursday Evening at six oClock at Mrs. Brass’s.
- 2. That every Member in Turn agreeable to the order of the Alphabet shall sit as President for one Evening.
- 3. That the President for the Time being take the Chair at fifteen Minutes after six.
- 4. That every Member coming in after the President has taken the Chair shall be fined 6d—If he does not come till the Disputes are ended or if any one is absent the whole Evening He shall be fined in 2/.
- 5. That the Members shall speak alternately, One on the affirmative Side of the Question to open, to be answered by one on the other Side of the Question to open, to be answered by one on the other Side of the affirmative Side to reply & the other to rejoin ^& conclude^—
- 6. That if any Doubt arise about the true Sense of the Subject such Doubt shall be suggested to the President, who without hearing any Argument or Altercation, shall ascertain the Meaning in which it is to be considered for the Evening.
- 7. That the President shall have the same decisive Power with Respect to all other Doubts.
- 8. That every Evening three of the Members, alternis Vicibus,3 regarding the order of the Alphabet, shall produce Subjects stated in writing from which the President shall select one for Discussion at the next Meeting.
- 9. That every honorary Member pay for each Night’s Attendance the Sum of two Shillings.
- 10. That the Admission of Members shall be by Ballot
- 11. That every Person intended to be introduced into the Society shall be proposed, one Evening before that, in which he shall be balloted for.
- 12. That there shall be no one admitted without the Consent of two thirds of the Members present
- 13. That the Society depart at ten oClock, unless &ca.
Rules of the Society2
AD, in the hand of Peter Van Schaack, NHi: Peter Van Schaack. These notes come from the collection of Peter Van Schaack, donated to the New-York Historical Society by his son Henry, who made notations on many of the documents. Most of the notes are fragmentary at best and include drafts of Van Schaack’s comments. The notes were taken on the verso of drafts of legal letters and other miscellaneous papers.
1. The only dated document in the notes is the notes for the debate “Whether in an absolute Monarchy it is better that the Crown should be elective than hereditary?” 22 Jan. 1768, in Egbert Benson’s hand.
2. Noted in pencil on verso: “Rules of the Society in handwriting of Peter Van Schaack.”
3. Legal term for “alternately.”