ARISTON BY-LAWS AND MINUTES
FIRST VOLUME
APRIL 1900 TO MARCH 1915

Minutes of the “Ariston Club”

N.B. Records of meetings held from April 1900 to Nov 1901 are transcripts of minutes kept by J.W. Bixler, Sec’y.
A.H. Eggleston, Sec’y.
Dec 3rd, 1901

Constitution and by-laws

The name of the club shall be the Ariston Club of New London.

Its object shall be the promotion of literary culture by means of essays, criticisms and informal discussions.

The permanent offices of the club shall consist of a Recording Secretary and Treasurer elected annually whose duty it shall be to keep a correct record of the proceedings of the club, inform members of the place and time of meeting, and notify the reader of the essay at least one meeting before his paper is due. He shall also receive and disburse all money belonging to the club.

The presiding officer at each meeting of the club shall be chosen alphabetically from the list of members.

Membership in the club shall be limited to twenty four (24). After that number is complete members shall be elected only to fill vacancies. A name proposed at any meeting for membership shall lie over until the next meeting for action. Members shall be elected by ballot and a unanimous vote shall be necessary to election.

Members will be expected to entertain the club in alphabetical order. If a member is unable to do so in turn he will be responsible for providing a substitute to entertain for him.

Meetings shall be held on the second Monday evening of each month from November to April inclusive, beginning at 7.45 o’clock. After the minutes have been read, a half hour shall be given to informal discussion on any topic desired, of which time each of six members chosen in alphapetical oder shall have five minutes at his disposal. At the end of the half hour the paper will be heard and criticisms be offered upon it until half past nine o’clock. Thirty minutes will then be spent socially, after which the meeting will stand adjourned.

Amendment to membership claused Votes Mar. 11/1901. Voted that a committee of three be appointed to whom names for membership be presented. See pag. 9, 15.

Record of Meetings

April 9, 1900.

Club met with J.W. Bixler and Capt. Joshua Slocum of the famous sloop “Spray” was the guest of the club.

C.S. Buell read a paper on “The New Psychology” and the five minute discussions were as follows
        Eggleston P.C. on the Mail Service
        Hyde, questions Capt. Slocum
        Storrs, on Weather forecasts
        Towne, on the Cause of the Popularity of Historical Novels.

The following members were present, Messrs. Armstrong, Blake, Brandegee, Bixler, Buell, P. C. Eggleston, Grint, Hyde, McKeever, Noyes, Reeves, Stanton, Storrs, Towne, and Whittlesey.

Nov. 13, 1900.

Club met with B. L. Armstrong. Present Messrs. Armstrong, Bixler, Blake, Coit, Ferrin, Hyde, McKeever, Palmer, Reeves, Storrs, Towne, Whittlesey, P.C. Eggleston and Buell.

Minutes of previous meetings read and approved. Suggestions for name of club received. Names suggested to be considered in Dec meeting.

Five minute talks as follows:
        Hyde, spoke on the Sense of Humor
        Coit, “The Master Christian”
        McKeever, Growth of Art and Illustration in our Country.

A paper on “Telegraphy, With and Without Wires” was read by Mr. Storrs. After discussion of this paper entertainment was provided by the host.

The following names were suggested for the club:
        Gentlemens
        Literary
        Monday
        Century
        Grolier
        Round Table

Dec. 10, 1900

Club met with J.W. Bixler. Minutes of previous meeting read and approved.

Present - Messrs. Bixler, Blake, Buell, Coit, Eggleston P.C., Eggleston H, Ferrin, Grint, McKeever, Palmer, Reeves, Stanton, Storrs, Hyde, Towne, and Whittlesey.

Names of Walter Learned, W.M. Stark, and L.B. Sears proposed for membership.

Name for club discussed.  Buell proposed “Ariston”, in addition.
Informal ballots taken as follows:

It was moved that “Ariston” be the name and so voted.

Five minute talks were as follows
        Whittlesey, on “Heating”
        Stanton, on “Malaria”
        Reeves, on N.Y. Clearing House
        Palmer, on Industry and Culture

Papers read by Dr. Blake on “Certain Ecclesiastical Conditions of the 17th and 18th Centuries”.

Jan. 14, 1901

Club met with A. H. Chappell.

Present - Messrs. Armstrong, Bixler, Blake, Coit, Chappell, A.H. Eggleston, P.C. Eggleston, Grint, McKeever, Palmer, Storrs, Towne, Whittlesey, Reeves, Hyde, Noyes, and Stanton.

Minutes of previous meeting read and approved.

Voted that Walter Learned and W. M. Stark be added to present membership. Voted that the name of L.B. Sears lie over for another month.

Voted that name “Ariston” be reconsidered. Voted that actions on name for club be taken at next meeting.

Five minute talks were as follows:
        McKeever, on “Printing”
        Grint, on “Reading of the Young”
        Eggleston, A. H., on “Hunting trip of two young men in Africa”.

A paper was read by Mr. Coit on “The Reconstruction Period”.

Entertainment by the host.

[Further entries, detailing 5 minute discussions and papers, will be elided - the papers will be entered into the table of papers. Minutes of meeting in which organizational matters are mentioned follow below. - Ed.]

Mar. 11, 1901

…
Voted that a committee of three be appointed to procure suitable stationery for the club. Messrs. Bixler, Whittlesly, and P.C. Eggleston were appointed to act as such committee.

It was moved that a committee of three be appointed to act as a membership committee, to whom names for membership be presented.

This motion was amended to the effect that members be allowed to bring in names to be acted upon informally - the name receiving the greatest number of votes to be acted upon formally.

This amendment was lost and the original motion carried.

Voted that the membership committee appointed continue in office until one year from next month, afterward such committee shall be appointed annually. Messrs. Palmer, Whittlesey, and Buell were appointed as such committee.

Jan 13, 1902

…

Mr. Whittlesey reported progress for the membership committee. He also offered the following motion:

Moved: that the By-Law requiring the name of a proposed member to lie over for one meeting be rescinded.

That any name, proposed for membership in this club, shall be laid before the membership committee, who shall ascertain the feeling as far as possible of the members in regard to said proposed parties, and shall report any names recommended by them to the secretary. Names so reported shall be [unreadable - “nominated”?] by the secretary upon the call for the next meeting and shall be voted upon at said meeting.

Both the motions were passed.

Feb. 10, 1902

…
It was moved and voted: That the name of any member who removes permanently from New London shall be put on an honorary membership list.
…

April 14, 1902

…
Assessment of fifteen cents per member levied.
…

February 8, 1904

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A motion to amend the by-laws so as to have the dates for meeting extend from October to May inclusive was laid on the table and the Secretary was instructed to give notice that the same would be acted upon at the March meeting.
…

March 14, 1904

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Voted: To amend by-law in regard to time of meetings so as to read “Meetings shall be held on the second Monday evening of each month from October to May inclusive beginning at 7:45 o’clock.”
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Nov. 12, 1906

… After entertainment by the host the meeting was turned into a [unreadable] talk and Mr. Frederick S. Chapman, Treasurer of the Island of Panay with headquarters at [unreadable - looks like “Iboilo”] spoke of his experiences and the conditions in the Phillippines.

May 15 1909

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Voted: To hold meetings on the third Monday of the month.
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May 22, 1911

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Notice was given to amend the bylaws changing the limit of membership from 24 to 27.
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November 27, 1911

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Voted: That Membership in the club shall be limited to twenty seven (27) instead of twenty four (24).
…