Any man of the age of eighteen years, of good moral character and reputation, and a citizen of the United States, who is lineally descended, in the male line of either parent, from an ancestor who settled in any of the colonies now included in the United States of America prior to May 13, 1657; and one or all of whose intermediate ancestors in the same line, who lived in the period of the American Revolution, from 1775 to 1783, adhered as Patriots to the cause of the colonies, shall be eligible for membership in the Order. Members are called Associates.
In addition, any man as described above is qualified for membership upon proving that his father or either grandfather was qualified, even though they may not themselves have become Associates. Male descendants of any Associate are also qualified to become members.