Article III. Sec. 1. A person to become a member of any subordi-
nate council must be twenty-one years of age; he must believe in the
existence of a Supreme Doing as the Creator and Preserver of the Uni-
verse; he must be a native-born citizen; a Protestant, either born of
Protestant parents or reared under Protestant influence, and not united
in marriage with a Roman Catholic: Provided nevertheless, That in this
last respect the State, district, or territorial councils shall best promote
the interests of the American cause in their several jurisdictions: And
provided moreover, That no member who may have a Roman Catholic
wife shall be eligible to office in this order: And provided, further,
should any State, district or territorial council prefer the words'' Roman
Catholic" as a disqualification to membership, in place of "Protestant"
as a qualification, they may so consider this constitution, and govern
their action accordingly.

Sec. 2. There shall be an interval of throe weeks between the confer-
ring of the first and second degrees, and of three months between the
                  conferring of the second and third degrees: Provided, That this restric-

tion shall not apply to those who may have received the second degree
previous to the first day of December next: And provided, further,
That the Presidents of State, district, and territorial councils may grant
dispensations for initiating in all the degrees officers of new councils.

Sec. 8. The national council shall hold its annual meeting on the first
Tuesday in the month of June, at such place as may be designated by
the national council at the previous annual meeting, and it may adjourn
from time to time. Special meetings shall be called by the president on
the written request of five State councils: Provided, That sixty days'
notice shall be given to the State councils previous to said meeting.

Sec. 4. The national council shall be composed of seven delegates
from each district or Territory, where a district or territorial council
shall exist, and shall be entitled to send two delegates to be chosen from
said council: Provided, That, in the nomination of candidates for Pres-
ident and Vice President of the United States, each State shall be enti-
tled to cast the same number of votes as they shall have members in the
houses of Congress. In all sessions of the national council thirty-two
delegates, representing thirteen States, Territories or districts, shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Sec. 5. The national council shall be vested with the following pow-
ers and privileges:

It shall be the head of the organization for the United States of North
America, and fix and establish all signs, grips, and pass-words, and
such other secret work as may seem to it necessary.

It shall have power to decide upon all matters appertaining to nation-
al politics.

It shall have the power to exact from the State councils quarterly or
annual statements as to the number of members under their jurisdiction,
and in relation to all other matters necessary for its information.

It shall have the power to form State, territorial or district councils,
and to grant dispensations for the formation of all such bodies, when five
subordinate councils shall have been put in operation in any State, Ter-
ritory or district, and application made.

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