1. The Society shall consist of Ordinary Members and Honorary Members.
2. The affairs of the Society shall be conducted by a Council, consisting of the President of the Society, the Vice-Presidents, the Honorary Secretary, and twenty-four Members elected out of the general body of the Subscribers: one-fourth of the latter shall go out annually by rotation, but shall nevertheless be re-eligible. Five Members of the Council to constitute a quorum.
3. The Council shall meet to transact the business of the Society on the second Thursday in the months of March, June, September, and December, and at any other time that the Secretary may deem it expedient to call them together. The June Meeting shall always be held in London: those of March, September, and December, at Canterbury and Maidstone alternately.
4. At every Meeting of the Society or Council, the President, or, in his absence, the Chairman, shall have a casting vote, independently of his vote as a Member.
5. A General Meeting of the Society shall be held annually, in July, August, or September, at some place rendered interesting by its antiquities or historical associations, in the eastern and western divisions of the county alternately: the day and place thereof to be appointed by the Council. At the said General Meeting, antiquities shall be exhibited, and papers read on subjects of archaeological interest. The accounts of the Society, having been previously allowed by the Auditors, shall be presented; the Council, through the Secretary, shall make a Report on the state of the Society; and the Auditors and the six new Members of the Council for the ensuing year shall be elected.
6. The Annual General Meeting shall have power to make such alterations in the Rules as the majority of Members present may approve; provided, that notice of any contemplated alterations be given, in writing, to the Secretary, before the 1st June in the then current year, to be laid by him before the Council at their next Meeting; provided, also, that the said contemplated alterations be specifically set out in the notices summoning the Meeting, at least one month before the day appointed for it.
7. A Special General Meeting may be summoned, on the written requisition of seven Members, or of the President, or two Vice-Presidents, which must specify the subject intended to be brought forward at such Meeting; and such subject alone can then be considered.
8. Candidates for admission must be proposed by one Member of the Society, and seconded by another, and be balloted for, if required, at any Meeting of the Council, or at a General Meeting, one black ball in five to exclude.
9. Each Ordinary Member shall pay an Annual Subscription of 10s., to be due on the 1st of January in each year; or £5 may at any time be paid, in lieu of future subscriptions, as a composition for life. All subscriptions to be paid in advance.
10. All Subscriptions and Donations are to be paid to the Bankers of the Society, or to one of the Secretaries.
11. All Life Compositions shall be vested in Government Securities, in the names of four Trustees, to be elected by the Council. The interest only of such funds to be used for the ordinary purposes of the Society.
12. No cheque shall be drawn, except by order of the Council, and every cheque shall be signed by two Members of the Council, and the Secretary.
13. The President and Secretary, on any vacancy, shall be elected by a General Meeting of the Subscribers.
14. Members of either House of Parliament, who are landed proprietors of the county or residents therein, shall, on becoming Members of the Society, be placed on the list of Vice-Presidents, and with them such other persons as the Society may elect to that office.
15. The Council shall have power to elect, without ballot, on the nomination of two Members, any lady who may be desirous of becoming a Member of the Society.
16. The Council shall have power to appoint as Honorary Member, any person likely to promote the interests of the Society. Such Honorary Member not to pay any subscription, and not to have the right of voting at any Meetings of the Society; but to have all the other privileges of Members.
17. The Council shall have power to appoint any Member, Honorary Local Secretary, for the town or district wherein he may reside, in order to facilitate the collection of accurate information as to objects and discoveries of local interest, and for the receipt of subscriptions.
18. Meetings for the purpose of reading papers, the exhibition of antiquities, or the discussion of subjects connected therewith, shall be held at such times and places as the Council may appoint.
19. The Society shall avoid all subjects of religious or political controversy.
20. The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of the Society, to be communicated to the Members at the General Meetings.
