A Prize of one hundred dollars and a gold medal is offered by the Naval Institute for the best Essay presented, subject to the following rules:
- Competition for the Prize is open to all members, Regular, Life, Honorary and Associate, and to all persons entitled to become members, provided such membership be completed before the submission of the Essay. Members whose dues are two years in arrears are not eligible to compete for the Prize until their dues are paid.
- Each competitor to send his essay in a sealed envelope to the Secretary on or before January 1, 1885. The name of the writer shall not be given in this envelope, but instead thereof a motto. Accompanying the essay a separate sealed envelope will be sent to the Secretary, with the motto on the outside and writer’s name and motto inside. This envelope is not to be opened until after the decision of the Judges.
- The Judges to be three gentlemen of eminent professional attainments (to be selected by the Executive Committee), who will be requested to designate the essay, if any, worthy of the Prize, and, also, those deserving honorable mention, in the order of their merit.
- The successful essay to be published in the Proceedings of the Institute, and the essays of other competitors, receiving honorable mention, to be published also, at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
- Any essay not having received honorable mention, to be published only with the consent of the author.
- The subject for the Prize Essay is, “Inducements for retaining trained seamen in the Navy, and best system of rewards for long and faithful service."
- The Essay is limited to forty-eight printed pages of the “Proceedings of the Institute.”
- The successful competitor will be made a Life Member of the Institute.
- In the event of the Prize being awarded to the winner of a previous year, a gold clasp, suitably engraved, will be given in lieu of a gold medal.
Chas. M. Thomas,
Secretary.
Annapolis, Md., April 3, 1884.