r member, frequently conducts the
presiding officer to the chair, and the chairman makes a short speech,
thanking the assembly for the honor conferred on him.]

When Mr. A. takes the chair, he says, "The first business in order is
the election of a secretary." Some one then makes a motion as just
described, or he says "I nominate Mr. B," when the chairman puts the
question as before. Sometimes several names are called out, and the
chairman, as he hears them, says, "Mr. B. is nominated; Mr. C. is
nominated," etc; he then takes a vote on the first one he heard, putting
the question thus: "As many as are in favor of

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Mr. B. acting as secretary of this meeting, will say aye;--those
opposed will say no." If the motion is lost the question is put on Mr.
C., and so on, till some one is elected. In large meetings the
secretary takes his seat near the chairman: he should in all cases keep
a record of the proceedings as described in Sec. 51.

(b) Adoption of Resolutions. These two officers are all that are
usually necessary for a meeting; so, when the secretary is elected, the
chairman asks, "What is the further pleasure of the meeting?" If the
meeting is merely a public assembly called together to consider some
special subject, it is customary at this stage of the proceedings for
some one to offer a series of resolutions previously prepared, or else
to move the appointment of a committee to prepare resolutions upon the
subject. In the first case he rises and says, "Mr. Chairman;" the
chairman responds, "Mr. C." Mr. C., having thus obtained the floor,
then says, "I move the adoption of the following resolutions," which he
then reads and hands to the chairman;* [The practice in legislative
bodies, is to send to the clerk's desk all resolutions, bills, etc., the
title of the bill and the name of the member introducing it, being
endorsed on each. In such bodies, however, there are several clerks and
only one chairman. In many assemblies there is but one clerk or
secretary, and, as he has to keep the minutes, there is no reason for
his being constantly interrupted to read every resolution offered. In
such assemblies, without there is a rule or established custom to the
contrary, it is allowable, and frequently much better, to hand all
resolutions, reports, etc., directly to the chairman. If they were read
by the member introducing them, and no