Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-07-16
The Ladies' Union League of Iowa,
PREAMBLE. ,..r-.....

, " HI % tiiuC Iihc tulS, WHcu tnc DniD Oi
State is upon the stormy ocean, our
Country's flag disgracei and trampled
under foot by armed minions, our glo-
rious Union threatened with destruc-
tion, our dearest friends weltering in
their blood upon the battlefield, mur-
dered by perjured villains, and we have
those in our midst who sympathise
with those in armed rebellion who have
brought all this desolation upon us;
and in moment blasted our dearest
earthly hopes, and forever caused our
sun to set in darkness, and clothed MS
in the habiliments of mourning, it be-
comes the duty of all loyal women, as
well as men,. to do all in their power
to maintain the integrity of the Union !;
to aid and encourage all loyal soldiers,
and especially our brave Iowa boys
who have contended SO nobly on many
q wellfought battlefield to let them
and the world know that, thus far, we
are not ashamed to read the history
which faithfully records the deeds Of
our husbands, sons and brothers, who
have left their loved homes to Join the
brothers from the Middle and the East
ern States, to hurl the rebel crew
from the land we love the best" We
therefore resolve to organize, and adopt
the following rf .qsh,a ,l3rg
'sa1 aa CONSTITUTION. 2ttta'
ARTICLE l. This organization shall
be known as THE LADIES' UNION LEAGUE
OF Iowa. s....... ~. ...,..,4f.,.
ART. 2. The object of this organi-
zatiOn shall be to effect a closer union
among loyal women, SO as to give
them concert of action in carrying out
the foregoing principles in support of
that Government under which we have
enjoyed so many blessings to encour-
age our soldiers, and aid their wives
and children by acts Of kindness and
benevolence. -, .f-.s., o...l
Arr. 3. Any loyal woman of res
pectable character, and over sixteen
years of age, may, by satisfactorily
the questions of the Ritual,
and taking upon herself the obligation,
become a member Of this order. i, =,
Arr. 4. New Councils may be form
ed wherever ten loyal women are found
who are willing to adopt this Consti-
tuition, answer the questions affirma-
lively and take the prescribed obliga-
tion. ..t. r...
ART. 5. Any three women, who have
been duly initiated into any Council of
the Order, by getting seven others Of
the age and character aforesaid to
unite with them, shall have power to
organize new Councils under this Con-
stitution, or any Council may author
ize person to organize new Councils
under the above restrictions. yb s-,,
Arr. 6. Each Council shall be SUI
preme in all matters pertaining to its
local affairs, but no Council shall have
power to alter this Constitution or
change any of the signs or pass
words. This must be done, either by
a convention of delegates from two
thirds Of all the Councils in the State.
OF by an executive committee of FIVE
assembled at some place fixed upon
by the majority Of the Councils as
their headquarters. 't.'s'i ~ y 3
ART. I. All candidates for member
ship shall be elected by ballot at q reg
ular meeting, and nine-tenths Of the
votes cast must be favorable to consti-
tute an election. q 'ti9aaa1iR Co.
Arr. 8. Each Council shall be enti-
tied to two delegates in all conven-
tions, and to one additional one for
every fifty members. y efe lu5itl
ART. 8. As soon as the majority oi
the Councils shall desire il, they shall
fix upon some place as their headquar.
tiers and request the election Of the
Executive Committee. aai hfeesi77sA
Arr. 10. Two of the Executive Com.
mittee shall be elected by the Council
located at the place fixed upon as the
headquarters Of the Order, and the
balance from the three adjoining Coun.
ellis. This committee shall have the
same powers as q general Convention
except that its acts must be ratifled by
three-fourths Of the Councils in the
State before they become law. This
does not apply to the signs and pass
words. These the Committee may
change at any time when the good q
the Order demands. .bi1e7' saf l.
ART. IL. Any Council, knowing tha1
the signs or passwords have beer
made public, shall immediately inform
the Executive Committee, that it may
take such action as the circumstance
require and inform all the Councils il
the State Of the same. nDs1t ~
ART, IL. The Oflcers of each Coun
Gil shall be . President, Vice President
Assistant Vice President, Chaplain
Recording Secretary, Corresponding