not practically certain to be approved by the whole body, or before the advertised time of beginning. 16. Debate Without Quorum. It is sometimes held that no discussions are in order without a quorum; but this rule, which obtains in some English assemblies, is not held in America. If, however, a discussion appears to be important, and the discussion of it without a quorum likely to bias the later action of the body, any member present may stop discussion by calling for a quorum. 17. Officers. Deliberative bodies may elect such officers as they require for the conduct of their business; but for the purpose of public assembly and the transaction of business the necessary officers are a Chairman or Moderator and a Secretary or Scribe. In religious assemblies the presiding officer is usually known as the Moderator, and the keeper of the records as the Scribe. In the local Church the Scribe is known as the Clerk. 18. Duties of the Moderator. The following are the duties of the moderator: To call the assembly to order, if it be not already in order when he takes the chair, and again after each adjournment or recess during the period in which he holds office. To ascertain the presence of a quorum. To call for the reading of the call of the meeting, or of the minutes of the last meeting. To lay before the meeting the order of business. To receive memorials, petitions, motions and reports as they are presented to the body. To secure attention and preserve order during the discussion of all questions. To put all motions to vote and to declare the results of the vote. To decide all questions of order and to give or cause to be given answers to questions for information upon business then pending. To authenticate with his signature such records and papers as may be required by the rules. To preserve an impartial bearing toward both sides and to facilitate the will of the assembly. 19. ness. The Part of the Moderator in Facilitating BusiThe moderator can often facilitate the business of a meeting, and that in an entirely orderly manner. Often a motion blunderingly made can be so stated by the Chair as to preserve its meaning and relieve the member making it from embarrassment. Not infrequently a member offers a good suggestion and takes his seat. "Does the brother desire to put his suggestion in the form of a motion?'' is a question which the moderator may properly ask, and one that often will result in bringing the question directly before the house. The moderator is never to usurp the rights of members, but can often assist the inexperienced by tactful suggestions, and at the same time facilitate the progress of business. Such suggestions are to be avoided, however, whenever the business is of such a nature that a suggestion from the chair will appear to be offering assistance to one side. The moderator must offer only such assistance as is consistent with strict impartiality, and it is better to err by helping too little rather than too much. 20. The Moderator's Vote. The moderator retains all his rights as a member of the body and may vote on any question, but usually does not vote excepting when yeas and nays are called for, or when the house is equally divided. In case a motion would prevail by a majority of one and the moderator not having previously voted votes against it, thus tying the house, the motion is lost. When a two-thirds vote is required and the moderator voting in the negative brings the vote of that side above one-third, the motion is lost. 21. The Moderator in Debate. The moderator may participate in discussions, but not from the chair. Any suggestions which he may make from the chair should be confined to those designed to facilitate the business of the meeting, and not to assist one side as against the other. It is the parliamentary right of the moderator to debate any and all questions from the floor, and there can be no rule excepting his own good judgment as to when he shall exercise that right, but while all things are lawful not all things are expedient. The moderator should be impartial and seem impartial; and the occasions in which he engages in discussion should be infrequent. Whenever the moderator engages in discussion he must call another member to the chair and speak from the floor subject to all the rules and restrictions that govern other members in debate. 22. Calling Another Member to the Chair. The moderator on leaving the chair for the purpose of discussion or for the purpose of temporary retirement may call another member to the chair. Ordinarily the person so called should be the assistant moderator, if there be one, but for any brief absence this is not mandatory. It is the right of the presiding officer on leaving the chair for a brief interval to call any other member of the body to his place. But if the house so desires, it may elect its temporary presiding officer, or insist that the assistant moderator take the chair. When the moderator is absent at the beginning of a session, he may not appoint a substitute. The assistant moderator presides, or if there is no assistant the assembly elects its own presiding officer. 23. The Necessity for Decision. Vacillation on the part of a moderator is very nearly an unpardonable sin. When he is called upon for a decision, if he is in doubt, he may ask the house to decide upon its own course, or give its interpretation of a proposal. But when he must make a decision, it is better for him to rule and rule mistakenly than to hesitate and waste time. If he is wrong, the house can correct his decision on appeal; but it will not be likely to do so unless he is very far wrong. If a presiding officer is fair, courteous, intelligent and generally right, the house will almost invariably accept a faulty ruling without complaint, if it leaves the assembly free to go on with the busi ness. 24. The Scribe. The duties of the scribe in general are the following: To prepare and preserve a roll of members. To call that roll whenever a vote of yeas and nays is demanded. To record all motions and resolutions for permanent preservation. To keep on file all documents, reports, and papers referred to in the minutes, whose nature does not require their full incorporation into the records. To read all papers demanded by the body. To furnish to the chairman of each committee a full list of its members. To publish or send out seasonable notices of meetings as the rules of the body may require. To sign all papers and records, usually with the moderator, and to authenticate the proceedings of the body. When the duties of the scribe are arduous he may request an assistant, and it is his privilege to require that any motion which is not entirely simple in its character be furnished him in writing. 25. Other Officers. A President and a Recording Officer are all that are strictly necessary for the conduct of a deliberative assembly, but other officers, |