| 1779.
CHAP.
IX. |
LAWS of MARYLAND.
or those employed under them, in the lawful and conscientious performance
of
their several charges and authorities reposed in them, no vestrymen, being
personally
summoned, shall, without a lawful or reasonable excuse, absent himself,
under penalty
of such fine as the residue of the said vestry meeting shall lay upon him,
so as
the same never exceed three pounds currency; and upon default or neglect
of the
principal vestryman to summon a vestry where there is need for one, any
other three
of the vestry, or if there shall happen by any accident to be but two of
the said
vestry, besides the principal vestryman, residing in the said parish, such
three or two
shall have power and authority to summon and appoint a vestry to be holden,
and
all such omissions and neglects to be noted in the vestry's register of
proceedings. |
And procure
a table of marriages,
&c. |
VIII. And be
it enacted, That the several and respective vestries are hereby
further enjoined, with all convenient speed, and within six months at furthest,
to procure a fair table of marriages, according to the late act of general
assembly,
to be transcribed, and the same set up in their respective churches, and
the same
keep continually in their said churches, under the penalty of ten pounds
for the
first neglect, and also ten pounds for every neglect thereafter. |
Vestries, &c.
to choose
churchwardens,
&c. |
IX. And be it
enacted, That the several vestries, together with such order of
the inhabitants qualified as aforesaid, as shall think proper to attend,
once every
year, on Easter Monday, meet at their respective parish churches, and there
make
choice of two sober and discreet persons of their parishes, and residing
therein, to
be churchwardens for that year. |
When they
are to be first
chosen, &c. |
X. And be it
enacted, That the first choice of churchwardens shall be on the
first Monday in June next, by the inhabitants of each parish qualified
as aforesaid;
which churchwardens, so chosen, shall take and subscribe the oath to the
government
required by law as aforesaid, and also take the following oath, to be administered
under him by the vestry, to whom power is hereby given to administer the
same
accordingly, well and faithfully to execute that office for the ensuing
year, according
to the best of his skill and power, and until he shall be thereof duly
discharged;
and every such person, so chosen churchwarden, that shall wilfully refuse
to serve
in the said office and take the oaths aforesaid, shall be fined ten pounds
currency. |
How fines,
&c. are to be
applied. |
XI. And be it
enacted, That all fines and penalties by this act imposed, shall
be applied, one half to the use of the parish, the other half to the use
of the informer,
and when no informer, then the whole to be applied to the use of the parish. |
Penalty on
vestrymen refusing
to attend. |
XII. And be
it further enacted, That if any person or persons shall be chosen
and elected a vestryman in any parish of this state, and being so chosen
or elected,
shall (after convenient notice thereof to him or them given by the register
of the
respective parish or parishes where he or they shall be chosen and elected
as aforesaid)
refuse or neglect to repair to, and be present at, the next meeting of
such
vestry or vestries, and there qualify him or themselves as such vestryman
or vestrymen,
without a reasonable excuse, after such notice given to them as aforesaid,
and notice of such meeting to be given to him or them by the said register,
who
is hereby directed and required to give such notice, under the penalty
and forfeiture
of ten pounds currency, that then every vestryman, so refusing or neglecting
as aforesaid, shall forfeit and pay twenty pounds currency. |
In case of refusing
______
to be chosen. |
XIII. And be
it hereby further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That
it shall
and may be lawful to and for the vestry or vestries, and they are hereby
empowered
and directed, to proceed to the choice and election of some other person
or
persons to be vestryman or vestrymen, in the place or stead of such person
or persons
so chosen vestryman or vestrymen, and refusing or neglecting as aforesaid;
and the former choice of such person or persons as vestryman or vestrymen,
refusing
or neglecting, shall be void and of no effect. |
| Proviso. |
XIV. Provided
always, That the power and authority by this present act given
to the vestry or vestries, for the election of a vestryman or vestrymen,
churchwarden
or churchwardens, and the fines and penalties by this act imposed on the |
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