So You Are Being Proposed for Membership in a Hereditary Society

So You Are Being Proposed for Membership in a Hereditary Society Robert LeConte Halberstadt THE EVER INCREASING INTEREST IN GENEALOGY has brought many queries about joining one or more of the hereditary patriotic societies from people who discover that they might have some qualifying ancestors. There are dozens of these societies in the country, all with varying admission requirements. Often prospective members are confused, and even some of the societies are confused as to their own administrative procedures for new candidates and what documentation is required to prove the lineage. in an effort to be of service in this field, The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania through its Committee of Hereditary and Patriotic Societies recommends certain standards for admittance procedure and genealogical documentation. The Importance Of A Proposer And Seconder In most societies worthy of their name one does not ask to become a member but must be invited by a friend who is willing to act as the person's proposer, with another friend who seconds the proposal. It is important that both the proposer and seconder know the candidate well and are able to write meaningful letters in behalf of the applicant. Statements to the effect that they have known the person and family for many years and can attest to the person's outstanding characteristics and attainments carry a lot of weight. Casual acquaintances rarely make good proposers and can become an embarrassing problem to the candidate and the admissions committee. Most admission committees sense this and may insist on knowing the person and the person's family favorably before recommending the proposed to the Board for approval. Hereditary societies are social and patriotic in nature and have the right to set their own standards as to the basis for admissions. The Qualifying Ancestor The proposal form requires that the candidate name the qualifying ancestor through whom the person wishes to join the society and 208 Membership in a Hereditary Society 209 to cite documentary proof of the ancestor's service. The society must then verify the documentation of the ancestor's service prior to the acceptance of the proposal by the Board. Should it be found that the ancestor's service is not sufficient to qualify for the society, there is no point in further consideration of the candidate for membership. The Lineage Papers Once the candidate's proposal and ancestors have been approved by the board of directors and have been accepted, a set of lineage papers is provided to the candidate for completion in order to prove blood descent from the ancestor claimed. This is probably the most important step in the admissions procedure. By definition, hereditary societies are just what the name implies, blood descendants of a qualifying ancestor. The lineage must be documented, generation by generation, from the candidate all the way back to the ancestor. There are no known shortcuts. For those familiar with genealogical research it is a routine, never-changing procedure. For those who have never bothered to look up their family lines it can present a problem. This is why most societies state in their instructions that the candidate may seek the help of a professional genealogist. However, it can be most rewarding for the candidate to do the research, obtaining professional help when needed. Most professional genealogists are willing to give advice and make suggestions helpful to a beginner. One of the greatest causes of confusion in the proper completion of lineage papers is that the candidates fail to read and understand the instructions that accompany the worksheets or !lineage papers. Most of these problems could be avoided if the proposer is knowledgeable and takes the time to explain to the candidate just what the admission process involves at the time the invitation to join the society is made. It should be considered an honor to be asked to become a member of an hereditary society. It also places a responsibility on the candidate to fully comply with the requirements for membership without unreasonable delay. Some societies have limited membership with long waiting lists. In any event it would certainly be considered discourteous for a candidate to dawdle over the completion of the lineage papers. A well-documented lineage is one of the most valuable assets that can be passed down to one's children and grandchildren.