Case Name: Edwin V. Brendon, Resp't, v. George S. Worley, as President, etc., App'lt
Court: New York Court of Common Pleas
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1894-05-07
Citations: 59 N.Y. St. Rep. 237
Docket Number: 
Parties: Edwin V. Brendon, Resp’t, v. George S. Worley, as President, etc., App’lt.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York State Reporter
Volume: 59
Pages: 237–239

Head Matter:
Edwin V. Brendon, Resp’t, v. George S. Worley, as President, etc., App’lt.
(New York Common Pleas, General Term,
Filed May 7, 1894.)
1. Contract—Employment at pleasure op employer.
Under a provision of the by-laws that the physician shall be elected and remain in office during the pleasure of the lodge, a majority vote, at a regular or stated meeting, is an expression of the “pleasure of the lodge.”
2. Same—By-laws—-Construction.
Where the language of a by-law pf a lodge is perfectly plain, its construction is for the court, and not for the witnesses.
Appeal from a judgment of the district court in the city of New York for the first judicial district, rendered for plaintiff upon a verdict in his favor. Action for services as a physician against a voluntary association of more than seven members.
William R. Wilder, for app’lt; Morris Putman Stevens, for resp’t.

Opinion:
BiSCHOFF, J. J
Plaintiff, a member of "Nelson Lodge No. 64, • Order Sons of St. George," was elected its physician, purusant to a provision of the by-laws of the lodge, as follows: "A legally qualified physican (who shall be an Englishman) shall be elected and remain in office during the pleasure of the lodge." The com pensatibn was payable quarter-yearly. At a stated or regular meeting of the lodge, held on November 28, 1892, upwards of thirty qualified members being present thereat, it was resolved by a majority vote that plaintiff's employment should be discontinued from henceforth. This action was brought to recover compensation as such physician, and it was conceded that every part of the compensation claimed had accrued, if at all, subsequently to the adoption of the resolution above alluded to, and notice thereof to - plaintiff. On the trial plaintiff contended that his dismissal at a regular meeting was unauthorized and that such dismissal could be effected only at a special meeting called for that purpose. Upon his successful issue from that contention, plaintiff's right to recover in this action was dependent. No ambiguit}' was apparent from the by-law under which plaintiff's election was made, the words "during the pleasure of the lodge" plainly having no other significance than that plaintiff's continuance as physician should at all times be at the will of the lodge, and that upon the refusal of the lodge to continue the employment the latter should cease. Elsewhere thé constitution and by-laws of the lodge provided that " seven valid votes or ballots shall be required to determine-any election, motion or question before the lodge, but a majority of all the valid votes cast shall decide all elections, motions or questions, not otherwise provided for." No provision was made for the removal of the physician to-the lodge, at a special meeting, or one called for that purpose, nor was there anything inconsistent with the right of the lodge to discontinue its employment of the physician at a regular or stated meeting. It was conceded that upwards of thirty qualified members were present at the meeting of November-28, 1892, and that a majority of the members present voted for the adoption of the resolution. The lodge therefore, expressed its will in the premises as provided for by its by-laws. Hence, with the adoption of the resolution for plaintiff's dismissal, . and notice thereof to him, his employment must be deemed to have come to an' end. The trial justice, against the protest of defendant's counsel, admitted evidence tending to show that it was the opinion of some of the officers of the Supreme and Grand Lodges, to which "Nelson Lodge" was subordinate, that the physician was removable only at a meeting specially called for that purpose. This evidence was improperly admitted. Obviously its sole office was to add to the by-laws, not to interpret them. No ambiguity was apparent with reference to the by-laws in evidence.' Their meaning was clear and precise. Granted, as respondent's counsel contends, that in case of uncertainty in the meaning of a by-law the opinions of officers and members of the association may be competent in aid of interpretation, the proposition is irrelevant to the facts. So far as the by-laws in evidence extend, they appear to be definite and certain beyond dispute. They do not even remotely sustain an inference of the probability of an intention to subject the exercise of the right of the lodge to dismiss its physician to the requirement of a meeting specially called for the purpose. It may be that it would have been wiser to have so provided, but with that we are not concerned, for upon no proper theory of interpretation can the latter be made to supply an omission to express a particular intention. For error in the admission of the evidence alluded to the judgment must be reversed and, as upon the conceded facts, plaintiff is not entitled to recover in any event, the complaint should be dismissed upon the merits, with costs of this appeal, and of the court below, to the appellant.